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3.38 AVERAGE
3.38 AVERAGE
not recommended unless you are willing to sit through about 350 pages of immature, ignorant, innane, creepy, overly-pretentious, somewhat sexist, and unrealistic (i dearly hope...) 15-year-old boys (and other characters who share some of these traits as well). fortunately there were about 25 pages crammed in at the end that showed some character development.
If Gary Paulsen and Andrew Smith had a book baby, it'd be this book. I loved every hilarious minute of it.
Not sure how to rate this. If you don't like crude humor, this is not the read for you. I do not mind bits, but it was fairly constant. Some scenes were pretty intense in that regard. But that said though, it takes a lot for a book to make me laugh out loud. Full on giggle snorts. Talking aloud to myself and groaning "ohhh noooo" and making my family look at me with concerned glances.
I can see this entire book as a film. It would be one of those highly successful, over the top humor bits staring someone like Adam Sandler or Will Ferral -- both kings of films with that kind of humor involved. It was entertaining. But there were moments where it was truly too much for me. And moments that were just uproariously hilarious.
Or maybe I am in dire need of more entertainment in this Covid isolationism. LOL
I liked it well enough to give it a three star. But some of the crudeness really have me thinking two star. Though it made me laugh and had a lovely plot line, a satisfying conclusion, I would put at a four star, and will stick with me a good long while, like a five star. Yeah, I am stuck on this one.
I can see this entire book as a film. It would be one of those highly successful, over the top humor bits staring someone like Adam Sandler or Will Ferral -- both kings of films with that kind of humor involved. It was entertaining. But there were moments where it was truly too much for me. And moments that were just uproariously hilarious.
Or maybe I am in dire need of more entertainment in this Covid isolationism. LOL
I liked it well enough to give it a three star. But some of the crudeness really have me thinking two star. Though it made me laugh and had a lovely plot line, a satisfying conclusion, I would put at a four star, and will stick with me a good long while, like a five star. Yeah, I am stuck on this one.
Grades: 9-12
Characterization: mediocre
Literary Value: mediocre
Ever since his father left, Dan’s mother has dated a string of losers who have disappointed her and left her broken hearted. Dan expects his mother’s latest boyfriend Hank to be the same. Things get serious quickly, and the two announce they are engaged after dating for only a few weeks. Dan quickly decides he’s got to put a stop to it for his mother’s sake and his own. Not only will Hank break his mother’s heart in the end, but they would have to move and he would change schools, which he does not want to do. When Dan’s mother arranges a survivalist camping adventure for Dan, his best friend Charlie and Hank, Dan has the perfect opportunity to drive Hank away. With the help of Charlie, Dan concocts an elaborate list of dangerous, destructive, and embarrassing pranks designed to show Hank that he is not cut out to be a stepfather.
Nothing goes as planned on the camping trip. In fact, the bush plane flying them out into the wilderness almost crashes on the way out. They become separated from their guide after the first night and are pursued by an enormous black bear throughout the entire trip. This makes the plot seem suspenseful, but, this novel is supposed to be funny and the dangerous situations are played for laughs. The reader knows that no one is actually going to die. Similarly, some serious issues are touched upon, but this book is not really trying to get deep. The potentially life threatening circumstances do not stop Charlie and Dan from following through with their pranks even though some of them make the situation worse for the entire group. The conclusion is predictable and in keeping with the light and humorous tone of the rest of the book. Readers who find humor in vomit, diarrhea, erections, and other bodily functions are in for a treat; others may not find much to keep them engaged for 375 pages. A lot of the content of this book seems like it would be most appealing to a middle grade audience, but the F-bomb is used a few times and there are some sex references that might make it most appropriate for high school readers.
Recommended as an optional purchase where there is a demand for humor of the bathroom variety.
Characterization: mediocre
Literary Value: mediocre
Ever since his father left, Dan’s mother has dated a string of losers who have disappointed her and left her broken hearted. Dan expects his mother’s latest boyfriend Hank to be the same. Things get serious quickly, and the two announce they are engaged after dating for only a few weeks. Dan quickly decides he’s got to put a stop to it for his mother’s sake and his own. Not only will Hank break his mother’s heart in the end, but they would have to move and he would change schools, which he does not want to do. When Dan’s mother arranges a survivalist camping adventure for Dan, his best friend Charlie and Hank, Dan has the perfect opportunity to drive Hank away. With the help of Charlie, Dan concocts an elaborate list of dangerous, destructive, and embarrassing pranks designed to show Hank that he is not cut out to be a stepfather.
Nothing goes as planned on the camping trip. In fact, the bush plane flying them out into the wilderness almost crashes on the way out. They become separated from their guide after the first night and are pursued by an enormous black bear throughout the entire trip. This makes the plot seem suspenseful, but, this novel is supposed to be funny and the dangerous situations are played for laughs. The reader knows that no one is actually going to die. Similarly, some serious issues are touched upon, but this book is not really trying to get deep. The potentially life threatening circumstances do not stop Charlie and Dan from following through with their pranks even though some of them make the situation worse for the entire group. The conclusion is predictable and in keeping with the light and humorous tone of the rest of the book. Readers who find humor in vomit, diarrhea, erections, and other bodily functions are in for a treat; others may not find much to keep them engaged for 375 pages. A lot of the content of this book seems like it would be most appealing to a middle grade audience, but the F-bomb is used a few times and there are some sex references that might make it most appropriate for high school readers.
Recommended as an optional purchase where there is a demand for humor of the bathroom variety.
funny
medium-paced
Great YA book for reluctant boy readers! Very funny!
Humorous but not really enjoyable for my taste.
Dan vs. Nature by Don Calame was exactly as hilarious as I had expected it to be.Read my full review here
Meh. The premised sounded fun, but the execution was just a series of gross-out pranks. Might be enjoyed by 7th grade boys, but not my cup of tea.
There are few books that get 5 stars from me, but I'd be an idiot not to on this one. Have you ever read a book that made you laugh so hard, you had tears rolling down your face? Or that one book that you know you couldn't read in public because it made you snort laugh? This was that book for me. I'm pretty sure I looked like I was convulsing at the pool as I read this one.
Dan's mom is newly engaged and thought some male bonding time was needed before Hank the dentist became part of their lives. Hank is an outdoorsy, sports loving dentist and has never been a parent before. Dan's 16th birthday is ruined when his mom gives him an outdoor survival trek to take Hank on. Dan's best friend, Charlie is a whiz when it comes to being manipulative, and the things that Dan does in order to scare Hank off are creative, hilarious, and don't always go as planned. Will the code names for their evil scare tactics be worse than the actual acts, or will Hank turn tail and run when they get back to civilization?
A well written story that will have me looking for the authors other books and a highly recommended book for anyone over 15.
Dan's mom is newly engaged and thought some male bonding time was needed before Hank the dentist became part of their lives. Hank is an outdoorsy, sports loving dentist and has never been a parent before. Dan's 16th birthday is ruined when his mom gives him an outdoor survival trek to take Hank on. Dan's best friend, Charlie is a whiz when it comes to being manipulative, and the things that Dan does in order to scare Hank off are creative, hilarious, and don't always go as planned. Will the code names for their evil scare tactics be worse than the actual acts, or will Hank turn tail and run when they get back to civilization?
A well written story that will have me looking for the authors other books and a highly recommended book for anyone over 15.
It feels unfair for me to rate this book, because it’s so extremely not my cup of tea, and I never would have finished it (...or started it) if I didn’t have to for class. (If I had to do a rating, it would maybe be...2 stars?)
It’s puerile, extremely gross, and at times offensive. It seems like it was written way earlier than 2016? I would have guessed like 2004.
The ending was sort of heartfelt and nice in moments? And I can imagine some teenage boys will love it. And it was a pretty fast/absorbing read. Those are all the nice things I can say about it lol.
It’s puerile, extremely gross, and at times offensive. It seems like it was written way earlier than 2016? I would have guessed like 2004.
The ending was sort of heartfelt and nice in moments? And I can imagine some teenage boys will love it. And it was a pretty fast/absorbing read. Those are all the nice things I can say about it lol.