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liftyourheavyeyelids's review against another edition
4.0
When I was in 5th grade my teacher read this book out loud to my class. I loved it then, and after rereading it as an adult, I love it now. I think this is potentially an important book for kids to read around the time of 4th-6th grades, because it can teach empathy. It subtly deals with loneliness and bullying in ways that leave a more lasting impression than someone telling you outright that bullying is wrong. I guess, in a way it shows the reader the damage of bullying and making fun of others rather than telling the reader.
ashliha's review against another edition
3.0
Surprisingly grown up, and kinda sad. It just kind of ends. The book is a lot like a kid version of the kind of books I love: an absolute antihero, depressing ideas, and an abrupt ending without a real solution.
jennymock's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. This book would be an excellent read aloud or class read if you focused on how we perceive ourself and others as we grow up. I love that Zinkoff stays true to himself and never gives up. With a little explanation I think I could get a few students to check it out of the library. I'll find out in the Fall.
cdale8's review against another edition
3.0
This is one that I pre-read to see if I could leave it out for my reluctant reader (that has been on a Gordon Korman kick) to pick up for his required reading log. I liked the theme that you may not always fit in, or be good at what other people prize, but that doesn't mean you don't have worth.
janeeyre_914716's review against another edition
3.0
"At this time in his life Zinkoff sees no difference between the stars in the sky and the stars in his mother's plastic baggie. He believes that stars fall from the sky sometimes, and that his mother goes around collecting them like acorns. He believes she has to use heavy gloves and dark sunglasses because the fallen stars are so hot and shiny. She puts them in the freezer for forty-five mintues, and when they come out they are flat and silver and sticky on the ack and ready for his shirts. This makes him feel close to the unfallen stars left in the sky. He thinks of them as his nightlights. As he grows drowsy in bed, he wonders which is greater: the number of stars in the sky or the number of school days left in his life? It's a wonderful question."
Oh my heart! I've never read this one before and saw that my Libby app has some Spinelli audiobooks and I remember we had this book for years and I thought, why not? My mom was funny and asked why I was reading it and asked if there was going to be a movie on it and I said, "No, just wanted to read/listen to it." And I'm glad I did. This was a cute story about a misunderstood little boy and his life through grade school and yet, you couldn't help but root for Donald aka Zinkoff and his giraffe hat. I'm glad I picked this up when I did cause it was just what I needed. If you have a middle grade child who likes to read or needs to do reading in general for school, this book is one they'd probably like and it has so many good messages too. I would highly recommend this book regardless whatever age one is and being 30 and still single with no kids yet, I'm hoping one day to read this adorable story to my future kids and have them meet Zinkoff and see what a special person/boy he is. Zinkoff is truly one of a kind.
Oh my heart! I've never read this one before and saw that my Libby app has some Spinelli audiobooks and I remember we had this book for years and I thought, why not? My mom was funny and asked why I was reading it and asked if there was going to be a movie on it and I said, "No, just wanted to read/listen to it." And I'm glad I did. This was a cute story about a misunderstood little boy and his life through grade school and yet, you couldn't help but root for Donald aka Zinkoff and his giraffe hat. I'm glad I picked this up when I did cause it was just what I needed. If you have a middle grade child who likes to read or needs to do reading in general for school, this book is one they'd probably like and it has so many good messages too. I would highly recommend this book regardless whatever age one is and being 30 and still single with no kids yet, I'm hoping one day to read this adorable story to my future kids and have them meet Zinkoff and see what a special person/boy he is. Zinkoff is truly one of a kind.
rsohel's review against another edition
1.0
this book is not really good, and that is putting it lightly. if you are somewhere around a young adult then you should not read this book. it's plain boring and not very interesting. sorry, i hate making these kind of reviews but they're the truth :S
listen_learn's review against another edition
4.0
The voice of Spinelli's third person omniscient narrator in this book was "You and I both know this kid should be miserable, because he doesn't quite fit into society and is pretty clueless and hapless in many regards, but he's got a nice family, occasionally encounters kind teachers, and despite his "loser" existence is happy and kind, and doesn't that make you want to root for him?"
It certainly tugged at my heartstrings, and yes, I was rooting for Donald Zinkoff as he zipped through childhood. His endless laughing, trying, falling and rising, dreaming, burping, working on his atrocious handwriting, feeling empathy, and growing through his rather ordinary life made him a character to remember.
It's not going to make it to five stars, because I don't think this a story I will want to read again and again. It has a great message. It warmed my insides with some smiles. It gave me moments to reference when I'm faced with inadequacy. Yet, the voice made me feel removed from the story - it kept the whole thing a little too unreal. It kept me from falling in to Zinkoff's life and staying there. The whole time I was reading I felt like I kept being reminded, "Sweet, but not real. Close, but not quite."
Still I do recommend for those who like to read about school, who like stories about children who are ordinary heroes, and highly recommend to those who thrill at a story with well-adjusted, kind adults, specifically good parents. (Is there anybody else out there? Well, even if it doesn't thrill you, if you know of any stories with that last piece, please recommend them my way!)
It certainly tugged at my heartstrings, and yes, I was rooting for Donald Zinkoff as he zipped through childhood. His endless laughing, trying, falling and rising, dreaming, burping, working on his atrocious handwriting, feeling empathy, and growing through his rather ordinary life made him a character to remember.
It's not going to make it to five stars, because I don't think this a story I will want to read again and again. It has a great message. It warmed my insides with some smiles. It gave me moments to reference when I'm faced with inadequacy. Yet, the voice made me feel removed from the story - it kept the whole thing a little too unreal. It kept me from falling in to Zinkoff's life and staying there. The whole time I was reading I felt like I kept being reminded, "Sweet, but not real. Close, but not quite."
Still I do recommend for those who like to read about school, who like stories about children who are ordinary heroes, and highly recommend to those who thrill at a story with well-adjusted, kind adults, specifically good parents. (Is there anybody else out there? Well, even if it doesn't thrill you, if you know of any stories with that last piece, please recommend them my way!)
julianna_schock's review against another edition
1.0
i seriously did not understand this book and i thought everyone was really cruel
literaryk's review against another edition
3.0
Very low level, but sweet little book. I could hear "We are Going to be Friends" by the White Stripes playing every time I picked the book up. It reminds me that sometimes what seems sad or not quite right in life doesn't always gets fixed, but life goes on anyway and sometimes, that sad stuff doesn't matter.