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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Playground is the story of "Butterball," an 8th grader who finds himself in counseling after attacking a fellow student with a sock full of batteries. As Butterball opens up to his counselor, we learn about his motives and his personal struggles dealing with a sometimes-available father who is a terrible role model and a mother who Butterball has a hard time seeing eye to eye with.
Despite the simple text, Butterball is a complex character who faces many of the struggles most middle schoolers encounter, grappling with fitting in and doing the right thing. This is a coming of age story and I really enjoyed seeing the main character grow and mature as the story progressed. Despite his inner battles, Butterball is a very likable character and I found myself cheering for him at the end of the book as his life finally starts to settle into place.
I was happy to see a book about an African-American teen that does not focus on basketball or gangs. Butterball is artistic and winds up attending an arts high school to focus on his love for movie making.
This is a great title for reluctant readers and the addition of 50 Cent as the author will be an additional draw.
Despite the simple text, Butterball is a complex character who faces many of the struggles most middle schoolers encounter, grappling with fitting in and doing the right thing. This is a coming of age story and I really enjoyed seeing the main character grow and mature as the story progressed. Despite his inner battles, Butterball is a very likable character and I found myself cheering for him at the end of the book as his life finally starts to settle into place.
I was happy to see a book about an African-American teen that does not focus on basketball or gangs. Butterball is artistic and winds up attending an arts high school to focus on his love for movie making.
This is a great title for reluctant readers and the addition of 50 Cent as the author will be an additional draw.
An oddly good book. Not what I was thinking, and the twist was really not what I expected.
I saw this book randomly at Ollie's for 0.50, it's definitely a kids book but it was also worth the read!
A really well done story about bullying from the bully's perspective. Reading with my foster kids bookclub.
I like this one.
Easy to read,
students would relate well,
realistic,
thoughtful.
Easy to read,
students would relate well,
realistic,
thoughtful.
this is an important YA book about bullying and I will definitely recommend it to teens and teachers. it's well-written, too, and I love the art interspersed with the short chapters.
I didn't have high expectations with this book,probably because i wasn't really a huge fan of 50cent. But i have to say that he really surprised me with this one. That yes, he can really write and make you love his characters and feel really proud of Butterball. I loved it, an honest to goodness book about a bully who triumphs in the end. :)
This was okay, it seemed to me like a lot was missing and it kind of ended abruptly. You could tell this was not written by a professional but it doesn't take away from the story at all.