Scan barcode
caithorton's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
iddylu's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
rkiladitis's review against another edition
5.0
Lowen Grover is a 12-year-old artist is using his comic book artwork to cope with the gun-related death of his young friend, Abe. He just wants to get away: away from the memories of Abe and the shooting; away from his neighborhood, where everyone knows. When he sees an article about a former mill town, Millville, holding a lottery of dollar homes to bring new life into the town, he mentions it to his parents, who apply and secure a home. It's a chance for his family to own their own home, and a chance for his mother to start up a business, but rural life isn't what Lowen expected, and the Millville families aren't as welcoming to the new "Dollar Kids" and their families as he'd hoped. As the Grovers and the other new families try to make inroads into their new town, Lowen works through his grief and tries to rediscover friendship, his love for art, and his place in the community.
The Dollar Kids unpacks a lot of ideas and moments, and it's beautifully done by author Jennifer Richard Jacobson and illustrator Ryan Andrews. It's a book about grief and loss, and the guilt that comes with grief. It's also about friendship, and accepting friendship, even when one doesn't think he or she deserves it. It's a book about family. Finally, it's a book about acceptance. Lowen is grieving the loss of a kid who was somewhat of a friend; a younger kid who hung around him constantly; he embraces this chance to start a new life in a rural town, but he and his family discover that a dollar home takes a great emotional and financial toll; the families in Millville don't like change much, even when it's to benefit their town, and feel almost contemptuous toward the newcomers. The characters are realistic and relatable, with the author giving as much attention to her supporting characters as she does her main characters. The comic book artwork by Ryan Andrews is an outlet for Lowen, and helps readers work through his grief with him.
A great middle grade book for realistic fiction readers. Explain to readers that dollar homes do, in fact, exist, and what the stigmas associated with buying a foreclosed home could entail: how may the Millvillians see the families that purchase them, in light of the town's history? I'd booktalk this with Beth Vrabel's Blind Guide to Stinkville and The Doughnut Fix by Jessie Janowitz, both of which look at life in a rural community, and The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin and Lisa Graff's Lost in the Sun for addressing grief.
The Dollar Kids unpacks a lot of ideas and moments, and it's beautifully done by author Jennifer Richard Jacobson and illustrator Ryan Andrews. It's a book about grief and loss, and the guilt that comes with grief. It's also about friendship, and accepting friendship, even when one doesn't think he or she deserves it. It's a book about family. Finally, it's a book about acceptance. Lowen is grieving the loss of a kid who was somewhat of a friend; a younger kid who hung around him constantly; he embraces this chance to start a new life in a rural town, but he and his family discover that a dollar home takes a great emotional and financial toll; the families in Millville don't like change much, even when it's to benefit their town, and feel almost contemptuous toward the newcomers. The characters are realistic and relatable, with the author giving as much attention to her supporting characters as she does her main characters. The comic book artwork by Ryan Andrews is an outlet for Lowen, and helps readers work through his grief with him.
A great middle grade book for realistic fiction readers. Explain to readers that dollar homes do, in fact, exist, and what the stigmas associated with buying a foreclosed home could entail: how may the Millvillians see the families that purchase them, in light of the town's history? I'd booktalk this with Beth Vrabel's Blind Guide to Stinkville and The Doughnut Fix by Jessie Janowitz, both of which look at life in a rural community, and The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin and Lisa Graff's Lost in the Sun for addressing grief.
readsewknit's review against another edition
4.0
The Dollar Kids is a middle grade story about friendship, grief, and forgiveness. Lowen is a 12-year-old boy mourning the loss of his younger friend. Abe was constantly around, offering advice or friendly criticism as Lowen worked on his comic strips to the sound of his friend's constant babbling in the background. When Abe is shot, Lowen feels responsible and, as he won't admit why he feels this way to others, he is stuck with his blame with no one to come alongside and shoulder it with him and speak truth to him.
The Grovers, in an effort to reset the whole family, apply to purchase a $1 home in a small town that has struggled to survive since the mill closed. The Grovers gladly leave their city behind to start over when they are chosen as one of four families. The agreement for the $1 homes hinges on enough repairs being made before the end of the year.
Lowen has turned his back on art, as it's too raw. But throughout the book we get little snippets of comic strips as he uses that medium to process his grief. The illustrations are lovingly done and fit the text well.
Some of the plot points seemed forced -- the family has a litany of reasons for why they can't accomplish house repairs and the mom's success (or lack of it) in her pasty shop seems hot and cold. However, I was touched at the close of the book, and I did find truth in Lowen's struggle with how much to engage in forming new relationships when he sees himself as a bad friend to have.
I am a creative person. As such, I dabble in new hobbies and well remember the struggle of my first knitting attempt, or how long it took me to throw clay successfully on a wheel or to spin something that looked legitimately like yarn, I recall how my brain knew intellectually how it was supposed to come together even as my hands failed at the execution. The trick is to stick with it and not give up. I resonated with Lowen's observation about the essence of creating:
"To become good at something, you had to be willing to live through the maddening time when you don't have the skills, when you don't come anywhere close to what you can picture in your head. You try, you struggle, your performance stinks. You fail. A lot."
I think this is a solid book, even as I admit that I never fully entered the world.
(I received a free digital ARC of this book from NetGalley and Candlewick Press in exchange for my honest opinion.)
The Grovers, in an effort to reset the whole family, apply to purchase a $1 home in a small town that has struggled to survive since the mill closed. The Grovers gladly leave their city behind to start over when they are chosen as one of four families. The agreement for the $1 homes hinges on enough repairs being made before the end of the year.
Lowen has turned his back on art, as it's too raw. But throughout the book we get little snippets of comic strips as he uses that medium to process his grief. The illustrations are lovingly done and fit the text well.
Some of the plot points seemed forced -- the family has a litany of reasons for why they can't accomplish house repairs and the mom's success (or lack of it) in her pasty shop seems hot and cold. However, I was touched at the close of the book, and I did find truth in Lowen's struggle with how much to engage in forming new relationships when he sees himself as a bad friend to have.
I am a creative person. As such, I dabble in new hobbies and well remember the struggle of my first knitting attempt, or how long it took me to throw clay successfully on a wheel or to spin something that looked legitimately like yarn, I recall how my brain knew intellectually how it was supposed to come together even as my hands failed at the execution. The trick is to stick with it and not give up. I resonated with Lowen's observation about the essence of creating:
"To become good at something, you had to be willing to live through the maddening time when you don't have the skills, when you don't come anywhere close to what you can picture in your head. You try, you struggle, your performance stinks. You fail. A lot."
I think this is a solid book, even as I admit that I never fully entered the world.
(I received a free digital ARC of this book from NetGalley and Candlewick Press in exchange for my honest opinion.)
tueller42's review against another edition
4.0
A good book. Your basic formula: new town, no friends, family struggles. But good twists and characters.
miszjeanie's review
4.0
Thanks to Candlewick Press for an e-ARC of this novel. I enjoyed this unique book about a family who buys a run down house in a former mill town for a DOLLAR! Despite being a over a whopping 400 pages long, this story is immersive and perfectly paced. There's always action, which is something that can be lacking for me in very long books.
I really liked all the characters and especially the way this book handles a child's grief and guilt about the death of his friend. Would definitely recommend this one!
I really liked all the characters and especially the way this book handles a child's grief and guilt about the death of his friend. Would definitely recommend this one!
newtons's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
axel_'s review against another edition
4.0
I found this was a very good book, the ending though had me sitting on the edge of my bed but all in all it was a very good read and easy to understand i highly recommend.
biblioemily's review against another edition
4.0
sweet, engaging, great look at being a newcomer to an insular small town; will recommend to grades 5-8
mlottermoser's review against another edition
5.0
A small town decides to sell four houses in the community for a dollar to attract more kids and pump some life back into the community and economy. In order to win the house families fill out an application and agree to fix up the dilapidated houses. This book is told from twelve-year-old Lowen's perceptive. He is hoping that a change in scenery will help him escape from the fact that his friend Abe was shot to death. But life in Millville has its own set of challenges in store. A great novel about grief, change, challenge, friendship, and community.