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mtzbookworm64's review against another edition
1.0
I know this book received great reviews - but I don't get it.
It was confusing at first - all the comparisons of growing up in "Hokey Pokey" terms to current times of growing up. Yes - it reminded me of things I did when I was young and treats and pleasures that only your friends at that age shared - but the analogies were too much.
It does contain some explicit language (which could have been left out or changed) - middle school reading content or higher. I feel younger readers won't understand nor connect with the analogies in the writing.
Not on my books to recommend reading.
It was confusing at first - all the comparisons of growing up in "Hokey Pokey" terms to current times of growing up. Yes - it reminded me of things I did when I was young and treats and pleasures that only your friends at that age shared - but the analogies were too much.
It does contain some explicit language (which could have been left out or changed) - middle school reading content or higher. I feel younger readers won't understand nor connect with the analogies in the writing.
Not on my books to recommend reading.
gmamartha's review against another edition
4.0
Surprisingly, it does make sense - but only at the end. Up til then, it's really hard to go with it, to trust it, to accept the story, the setting - but this is jerry spinelli, after all.
roseleaf24's review against another edition
3.0
This is a setting-driven book. I love a setting strong enough to practically become a character, or one that intertwined beautifully with character and plot. But here it takes over. The characters are strong, but the plot wouldn't fill more than a page on its own.
mschrock8's review against another edition
A creative book about kids, their bikes and friendship.
Listening length six hr
Listening length six hr
hayleybeale's review against another edition
2.0
What a strange book. After struggling through the first 20 pages, I couldn't stand it in a similar way to the way I couldn't stand 'The Girl who Circumnavigated Fairyland...' - the archness and mannered style. But as I had to read it, I soldiered on and ended up quite liking it. However, it does not feel like a kid's book - the nostalgic view of childhood seems more appealing to adult readers, though only those who can be bothered to wade through Spinelli's quirky (and not in a good way) vocabulary and phrasing.
sparklethenpop's review against another edition
4.0
This book was really awesome and brings new meaning to the question, what if the Hokey Pokey really is what it's all about? That being said, it was a kids' book written with adults in mind. I think some kids will like it but not all.
in_and_out_of_the_stash's review against another edition
2.0
Not really sure what to make of this book.
villianess's review against another edition
4.0
Jack, Dusty, LJ,are Amigos. The play, ride and have all sorts of adventures in Hokey Pokey. While jack is sleeping his enemy, Jubilee steals his beloved Scramjet, his steed. As he and his friends try to steel it back you get to see and experience the town of Hokey Pokey. Every kids dream playground. while Jack is searching for ScramJet he lifts his arms and Dusty and LJ realize that the eye tattoo on his belly, that every kid in Hokey Pokey has, is almost gone, how could that be no ones tattoo has ever faded. They both realize that ever since Jubilee stole Jack's steed there is something different about him, something they and everyone else in Hokey Pokey don't understand. When Jack finally gets ScramJet back and tries to ride him, he realizes that ScramJet no longer is loyal to him and returns to Jubilee. Jack knows that the story of The Kid is coming true and his time in Hokey Pokey is coming to an end. He can hear the train whistling and calling to him.
This is a story of growing up and to be honest i didn't quite understand that until 3/4 way through the book. It was such a surprise that I found I really enjoyed reading it.
This is a story of growing up and to be honest i didn't quite understand that until 3/4 way through the book. It was such a surprise that I found I really enjoyed reading it.
sducharme's review against another edition
3.0
Inspired by the idea that children live "in their own world"
brandypainter's review against another edition
2.0
Originally posted at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
[a:Jerry Spinelli|12696|Jerry Spinelli|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1201118632p2/12696.jpg] is a prolific and much beloved children's book author. His books have always been sort of hit or miss with me. Loser, Crash, and 2011's Jake & Lily were hits. Maniac Magee and Wringer were misses. Spinelli's new book Hokey Pokey falls in this latter category. Those are the books the Newbery committees seem to like though so what do I know? I know that I did not enjoy this book even a smidgen.
Jack may have been an interesting character to follow if the narrative had not shifted perspectives so much. Jubilee may have been an interesting foil for him, an intriguing enemy, if the book wasn't so hung up on its own cleverness. That was the obstacle for me. Hokey Pokey is one big symbol for the joy of childhood. Jack is growing up. The problem with this world is that are all these made up words and places and things going on that are left unexplained so there is a healthy chance that the reader will just be confused and not want to continue. I can see that happening with many young readers who come at this book. The whole story is a metaphor and when I finished it the only word on my mind was pretentious. Just as there are adults who enjoy pretentious meta works of literature, I'm sure you can find kids who will too. Probably not as many, but when you find them they may enjoy this. I think it will be a hard sell for most kids.
I read a copy of this provided by the publisher via NetGalley. Hokey Pokey will be available on January 8.
[a:Jerry Spinelli|12696|Jerry Spinelli|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1201118632p2/12696.jpg] is a prolific and much beloved children's book author. His books have always been sort of hit or miss with me. Loser, Crash, and 2011's Jake & Lily were hits. Maniac Magee and Wringer were misses. Spinelli's new book Hokey Pokey falls in this latter category. Those are the books the Newbery committees seem to like though so what do I know? I know that I did not enjoy this book even a smidgen.
Jack may have been an interesting character to follow if the narrative had not shifted perspectives so much. Jubilee may have been an interesting foil for him, an intriguing enemy, if the book wasn't so hung up on its own cleverness. That was the obstacle for me. Hokey Pokey is one big symbol for the joy of childhood. Jack is growing up. The problem with this world is that are all these made up words and places and things going on that are left unexplained so there is a healthy chance that the reader will just be confused and not want to continue. I can see that happening with many young readers who come at this book. The whole story is a metaphor and when I finished it the only word on my mind was pretentious. Just as there are adults who enjoy pretentious meta works of literature, I'm sure you can find kids who will too. Probably not as many, but when you find them they may enjoy this. I think it will be a hard sell for most kids.
I read a copy of this provided by the publisher via NetGalley. Hokey Pokey will be available on January 8.