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msmelisa's review
5.0
I loved this book and spend hours imagining my life without a car. Best routes to get to work, grocery shopping, carting my kiddo around, etc. It sounded kind of nice, except for the sweating and beating down sun. Recommended for kids who bike and think outside the box.
carmenhartjensen's review
3.0
It must be summer because I'm reading/listening to books with my girls again.
I liked this book. I thought the story was original and characters likeable, my only complaint is a little bit of swearing. I just don't think that is necessary in a kids book.
My girls gave it 5 stars.
I liked this book. I thought the story was original and characters likeable, my only complaint is a little bit of swearing. I just don't think that is necessary in a kids book.
My girls gave it 5 stars.
britomarte's review
5.0
I'm rating this five stars even though I didn't finish it.
As a writer, I thought it was masterfully done. As a parent, it was just plain depressing. When I realized that I was dreading reading it because I was worried about the kids, I stopped. Apparently, I should stick to kids in danger from dragons, not politics, for a while. :)
As a writer, I thought it was masterfully done. As a parent, it was just plain depressing. When I realized that I was dreading reading it because I was worried about the kids, I stopped. Apparently, I should stick to kids in danger from dragons, not politics, for a while. :)
k_lee_reads_it's review
4.0
The cover of this book is totally deceptive. It is not a boy, a dog, and a bike on an adventure. It is a boy against the world book. The boy and his siblings are home alone. Mom and Dad are on a parent getaway when the nation runs out of gas. They get stuck. Everyone gets stuck. And the boy just happens to be managing the bike repair shop for his dad, until dad returns.
It's a children's book, but definately a fun read.
It's a children's book, but definately a fun read.
mon_ique's review
4.0
Not how I imagined it. But even though some characters aren't really there all through, you really got to know them. Didn't really stand out to me but I enjoyed it! Long book though!
shrutisri's review
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
jessalynn_librarian's review
4.0
While the fuel shortage premise might make this sound like a story that grapples with political and environmental issues, all of that takes a back seat to the story of how one family of kids manages on their own for a summer. With their parents stuck out of town without a way to get home, the kids have to decide how much responsibility to shoulder and how much they should "be the parents" (as Dewey and Lil say to each other). Throw in a little bit of a mystery, a cranky next-door neighbor, and a lot of bikes, and this turns into a great story.
Dewey narrates the story, and he's the kind of narrator who pulls you in close and lets you feel all the tension and the weight of running the bike repair shop. The younger kids add some comic relief and Lil, the oldest, alternates between being the responsible one and spending her days creating a barn-sized mural. Strangely, she's the only one of the older three who ends up having much time to call her own, and I started to wonder why Dewey didn't resent that more. On the other hand, Dewey is stuck in the repair shop because that's his choice - he doesn't want to turn anyone away. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how the kids would solve their problems, with a little help from the community and some creative thinking. It also really made me want to go for a bike ride, so watch out.
I'd peg this as a great middle school read, based on the age of the characters and the way they deal with responsibilities, but there's nothing here that would be inappropriate for a strong younger (unless you count the occasional "hell").
Dewey narrates the story, and he's the kind of narrator who pulls you in close and lets you feel all the tension and the weight of running the bike repair shop. The younger kids add some comic relief and Lil, the oldest, alternates between being the responsible one and spending her days creating a barn-sized mural. Strangely, she's the only one of the older three who ends up having much time to call her own, and I started to wonder why Dewey didn't resent that more. On the other hand, Dewey is stuck in the repair shop because that's his choice - he doesn't want to turn anyone away. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how the kids would solve their problems, with a little help from the community and some creative thinking. It also really made me want to go for a bike ride, so watch out.
I'd peg this as a great middle school read, based on the age of the characters and the way they deal with responsibilities, but there's nothing here that would be inappropriate for a strong younger (unless you count the occasional "hell").
lauralynnwalsh's review
3.0
This is a good book, with an interesting premise: the gas shortage has turned into a complete unavailability of gasoline. So bicycles are now the chief mode of transportation and the bike repair business is booming. But the parents are stuck away from home, so the kids have to manage on their own - with the help of the community.
I am always struck by the ways especially American authors seem to find ways to get rid of the parents so that the kids have agency on their own. I would have bet that this was an American book, even before I looked it up and found out that I am right. Many of the Australian kids' books keep the parents in the books. In the Australian books, the kids are allowed to try to solve their problems as much as possible themselves, with the parents there for backup if needed. In the American books, most of the time, the kids are left to solve the problems on their own, often with help from others in the community, but not usually the parents. I am not sure what that says about the two mindsets. It makes me feel that the Australian kids are trusted to venture out on their own, as they are able. The American kids aren't necessarily trusted to do so - they are thrust into the necessity to do so by various circumstances. Americans seem to expect that the kids will make it through the problems largely on their own, because they have to. Aussie kids are allowed to make it on their own, but support is there and given, if it is needed.
I am always struck by the ways especially American authors seem to find ways to get rid of the parents so that the kids have agency on their own. I would have bet that this was an American book, even before I looked it up and found out that I am right. Many of the Australian kids' books keep the parents in the books. In the Australian books, the kids are allowed to try to solve their problems as much as possible themselves, with the parents there for backup if needed. In the American books, most of the time, the kids are left to solve the problems on their own, often with help from others in the community, but not usually the parents. I am not sure what that says about the two mindsets. It makes me feel that the Australian kids are trusted to venture out on their own, as they are able. The American kids aren't necessarily trusted to do so - they are thrust into the necessity to do so by various circumstances. Americans seem to expect that the kids will make it through the problems largely on their own, because they have to. Aussie kids are allowed to make it on their own, but support is there and given, if it is needed.