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dhlunique's review
challenging
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
shirleytupperfreeman's review
This middle reader coming in October 2017 is a well told story of a family on the edge of economic security. Missing child support payments, a change in landlord arrangements and a father missing in action eventually cause Zig and his mother to become homeless. Zig is trying to manage school and friends while trying to find his father and deal with the complications of homelessness. Kids should gain understanding while also appreciating the positive resolution of Zig's story.
geo_curler's review
5.0
A beautiful, touching story about love and hope and a boy who will do anything to find one of the people he loves the most. This book really stops and makes you think about the lifestyles of people other than yourself. It helps you things from a different perspective. A unique story for all.
teresataylor's review
5.0
I actually snuck this ARC book from my 12y old son who said this was his first choice selection for his advisory board. Once I saw it I had to read it too and I couldn't put it down. I was immediately drawn into the main character, Zig and the relationship with his mom as well as the supporting cast. I honestly, think that every middle schooler and teacher should read this book. As an adult, I am always a fan for middle school books that make you think -- and ones that make you see another perspective, so you can then apply it to your own every day situation. I feel that this book makes you do exactly that. While I will admit I was able to predict some of the outcome, I still couldn't put it down because I wanted to see if I was right. I highly recommend this book and I will certainly be looking for other Kate Messner books.
nssutton's review
3.0
Read through to make sure it was a good fit for our library. Reader, I purchased it. Messner tackles the tough topics for kids so deftly. I love the way she sets the tone with Zig and presents an relatable story of how a hardworking mother could slide into homelessness after a string of tough months. I like the way she touches upon other paths to the shelter and equally tough topics - middle school crushes, local environmental concerns, keeping hard news from your friends, and domestic violence to name a few.
thecampinglibrarian's review
5.0
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book – all opinions are my own.
Kirby “Zig” Zigonski is a middle school student who lives with his divorced mom. He loves anything electronic and while shopping at a yard sale with his friends Zig gets a goldmine of gadgets, including a GPS unit. Zig remembers the lesson his teacher taught them about geocaching. When he finds his first cache, signed by “Senior Searcher”, he is convinced it’s his dad. The dad he desperately wants to spend time with and who once again hasn't come to visit.
Kate Messner does a great job of incorporating issues plaguing our schools; bullying, homelessness, and single parent homes. There is also an environmental angle that plays an important role in the book. The middle school characters are very relatable and Messner finds a way to weave some learning into her book. I highly recommend this book. Recommended for upper elementary and middle school.
Kirby “Zig” Zigonski is a middle school student who lives with his divorced mom. He loves anything electronic and while shopping at a yard sale with his friends Zig gets a goldmine of gadgets, including a GPS unit. Zig remembers the lesson his teacher taught them about geocaching. When he finds his first cache, signed by “Senior Searcher”, he is convinced it’s his dad. The dad he desperately wants to spend time with and who once again hasn't come to visit.
Kate Messner does a great job of incorporating issues plaguing our schools; bullying, homelessness, and single parent homes. There is also an environmental angle that plays an important role in the book. The middle school characters are very relatable and Messner finds a way to weave some learning into her book. I highly recommend this book. Recommended for upper elementary and middle school.
mindfullibrarian's review
5.0
Thanks to Bloomsbury Kids for the advance copy of this novel for review purposes.
Messner has given us a compassionate and necessary middle grade story about the reality of homelessness for many children today. This story has a unique premise with the geocaching theme and I love that while the main character is in 8th grade he will be relatable for students both much younger and much older than he is. I would love to get this book into the hands of all teachers and administrators who struggle to understand how difficult school can be for children without a stable home life, and who make well-intended but thoughtless comments about the homeless population.
Highly recommended as a purchase for middle school classrooms and libraries.
(Note: Apparently this title was available as an ebook since 2014, but I had not heard of it until now. It is new in hard copy format on Sept 12, 2017).
Messner has given us a compassionate and necessary middle grade story about the reality of homelessness for many children today. This story has a unique premise with the geocaching theme and I love that while the main character is in 8th grade he will be relatable for students both much younger and much older than he is. I would love to get this book into the hands of all teachers and administrators who struggle to understand how difficult school can be for children without a stable home life, and who make well-intended but thoughtless comments about the homeless population.
Highly recommended as a purchase for middle school classrooms and libraries.
(Note: Apparently this title was available as an ebook since 2014, but I had not heard of it until now. It is new in hard copy format on Sept 12, 2017).
sc104906's review
3.0
Set in the same world as several of Messner's other characters, readers are given an inside look into Zig's life. Kirby Zigonski, or Zig, is a whiz with all electronics. He is a great responsible student. His best friends Gianna and Ruby are the best ever. Things become difficult for Zig, when he and his mom are evicted from their apartment for lack of payment. Zig believes that his absent father could resolve everything, if only his mom would call him. Zig uses a GPS he recently fixed to explore local geocache sites and decided that one of the other geocachers is his father. Zig knows that if he can track down his father, he will be able to resolve everything that is going wrong with his life.
This story brings up the many frustrations a child would feel in this situation. While Zig controls very little, he attempts grab what little control he can. The novel alludes to various issues of growing up and reinforces the idea that everyone has a hidden life and a potential hidden pain.
This story brings up the many frustrations a child would feel in this situation. While Zig controls very little, he attempts grab what little control he can. The novel alludes to various issues of growing up and reinforces the idea that everyone has a hidden life and a potential hidden pain.
noelle_vandermeid's review
5.0
This book should be required reading for all educators. It deals with the issues of homelessness, poverty, single parenthood in a way that will give any educator a gut check. I pray I've never been Mrs. Heath - or that if I were - someone else was Mr. Webster for that child.
It was sad but had sweet funny moments and didn't wrap up the ending too neatly. It's an important book - one that needs to be read.
It was sad but had sweet funny moments and didn't wrap up the ending too neatly. It's an important book - one that needs to be read.