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jshettel's review against another edition
5.0
Join the Fletcher family as Papa, Dad, Jax, Sam, Eli, and Frog return to their favorite summer vacation spot - Rock Island. I loved this summer story of a diverse family and the joy of revisiting old traditions while creating new ones as well. Also they try to teach the cat to swim, so that is hilarious.
staceym's review against another edition
5.0
I think I liked this more than the first one and I liked that one a lot. Has some great topics to talk with kids about. Recommend!!
backonthealex's review against another edition
4.0
If you have already read the first book, The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher, then you are familiar with the make-up of this wonderfully diverse family. If not, let me introduce you. There is white, gentile Dad, white, Jewish Papa, blond, white Sam, 13, white Eli,11, African American Jax, 11, and Indian American Froggie, 6.
Now, it's August and that means it's time for the Family Fletcher to go on vacation. Fitting four (adopted) boys, one dog, two cats and two dads into their small cottage on Rock Island isn't easy, but luckily there has always been the vacant lighthouse next door in which the boys can play and even have sleepovers. Everyone is pretty excited about their month long vacation and, for all the boys, part of the beauty of Rock Island is that everything is always wonderfully, traditionally the same - that is, until this year.
First, the boys discover that the lighthouse is off limits, surrounded by a giant chain link fence, and on further exploration, a sign that reads For Sale: Contact Town Clerk. Not only is it now off-limits, but there is the possibility that the lighthouse may have to be demolished if it is found unsafe. And then they discover that the family who owns the house next door, the Galindo-Greens, are actually vacationing there this summer. At first, they seem to be pretty annoying, but when their visiting friend Janie leaves, all that changes. Val Galindo is around Sam's age and is obsessed with making videos, filming everything going on around her. Alex Galindo is not only the same age Jax, but likes to do the same kinds of things he does, and it doesn't take long for them to become fast friends.
And then there is the artist Chase Kark, who has plans to buy the lighthouse, and who carries an easel everywhere he goes, but who has never been seen painting. It doesn't take long for the Fletcher/Galindo kids to wonder what's up with him and why he wants to buy the lighthouse so badly, and so they do exactly what I would have done at that age - they follow him and make some surprising discoveries.
Meanwhile, Sam, is once again bitten by the acting bug and finds himself in a production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Eli is told that if he can overcome his fear of kayaking, he can name the baby seal that was rescued after her mother deserted her. And Frog is just beside himself with excitement after finding out that there is now an ice cream truck that drives up and down the streets of Rock Island - no more having riving into town for it.
As much as I anticipated it, I was afraid that the sequel would fall short, but in the case of The Family Fletcher Takes Rock Island, Levy has managed to maintain her character's individual personalities throughout, giving the reader a sense a continuity even as they grow and change.
I've spent almost every summer of my life on beaches - from Jones Beach to Rockaway Beach to Coney Island and the Jersey Shore and I could practically smell the salt air, hear the sea gulls cry and taste the ice cream reading The Family Fletcher Takes Rock Island. I thought Levy really did a spot on job of creating the Rock Island setting and that glorious feeling of waking up mornings at the beach (despite all the sand that gets everywhere), feeling that I know I share with the Fletcher boys.
And even though the mystery of the lighthouse and its future takes center stage in this novel, it doesn't overwhelm the wonderful chronicle of the family Fletcher's vacation and all the endearing everyday things that happen. The Fletchers are well-known and well-liked by almost everyone on the island and for the most part, the boys have the freedom to roam around, have fun and just be who they are.
For the most part, that is, until African American Jax and Latina Alex are profiled and accused of trying to steal the wallet of Kark's business associate. Jax is understandably very upset by the accusation and it's implication, leading to a serious talk with Papa about race and racists, handled sensitively by Levy. And while Levy doesn't really go into the Fletcher's diverse backgrounds as much in this novel as in her first one, I think she makes a very compelling point here about judging people by the color of their skin and the psychological damage it can cause.
And though the novel has its serious moments, there's also lots of gentle action and humor as well making this a book I highly recommend - it makes for especially wonderful summer reading.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was borrowed from the NYPL
This review was originally posted at Randomly Reading
Now, it's August and that means it's time for the Family Fletcher to go on vacation. Fitting four (adopted) boys, one dog, two cats and two dads into their small cottage on Rock Island isn't easy, but luckily there has always been the vacant lighthouse next door in which the boys can play and even have sleepovers. Everyone is pretty excited about their month long vacation and, for all the boys, part of the beauty of Rock Island is that everything is always wonderfully, traditionally the same - that is, until this year.
First, the boys discover that the lighthouse is off limits, surrounded by a giant chain link fence, and on further exploration, a sign that reads For Sale: Contact Town Clerk. Not only is it now off-limits, but there is the possibility that the lighthouse may have to be demolished if it is found unsafe. And then they discover that the family who owns the house next door, the Galindo-Greens, are actually vacationing there this summer. At first, they seem to be pretty annoying, but when their visiting friend Janie leaves, all that changes. Val Galindo is around Sam's age and is obsessed with making videos, filming everything going on around her. Alex Galindo is not only the same age Jax, but likes to do the same kinds of things he does, and it doesn't take long for them to become fast friends.
And then there is the artist Chase Kark, who has plans to buy the lighthouse, and who carries an easel everywhere he goes, but who has never been seen painting. It doesn't take long for the Fletcher/Galindo kids to wonder what's up with him and why he wants to buy the lighthouse so badly, and so they do exactly what I would have done at that age - they follow him and make some surprising discoveries.
Meanwhile, Sam, is once again bitten by the acting bug and finds himself in a production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Eli is told that if he can overcome his fear of kayaking, he can name the baby seal that was rescued after her mother deserted her. And Frog is just beside himself with excitement after finding out that there is now an ice cream truck that drives up and down the streets of Rock Island - no more having riving into town for it.
As much as I anticipated it, I was afraid that the sequel would fall short, but in the case of The Family Fletcher Takes Rock Island, Levy has managed to maintain her character's individual personalities throughout, giving the reader a sense a continuity even as they grow and change.
I've spent almost every summer of my life on beaches - from Jones Beach to Rockaway Beach to Coney Island and the Jersey Shore and I could practically smell the salt air, hear the sea gulls cry and taste the ice cream reading The Family Fletcher Takes Rock Island. I thought Levy really did a spot on job of creating the Rock Island setting and that glorious feeling of waking up mornings at the beach (despite all the sand that gets everywhere), feeling that I know I share with the Fletcher boys.
And even though the mystery of the lighthouse and its future takes center stage in this novel, it doesn't overwhelm the wonderful chronicle of the family Fletcher's vacation and all the endearing everyday things that happen. The Fletchers are well-known and well-liked by almost everyone on the island and for the most part, the boys have the freedom to roam around, have fun and just be who they are.
For the most part, that is, until African American Jax and Latina Alex are profiled and accused of trying to steal the wallet of Kark's business associate. Jax is understandably very upset by the accusation and it's implication, leading to a serious talk with Papa about race and racists, handled sensitively by Levy. And while Levy doesn't really go into the Fletcher's diverse backgrounds as much in this novel as in her first one, I think she makes a very compelling point here about judging people by the color of their skin and the psychological damage it can cause.
And though the novel has its serious moments, there's also lots of gentle action and humor as well making this a book I highly recommend - it makes for especially wonderful summer reading.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was borrowed from the NYPL
This review was originally posted at Randomly Reading
kidlitluv's review against another edition
5.0
I adore the Family Fletcher - the dads, the boys, and the pets. While this book is mostly a gentle, very funny story of the misadventures of a family with four adopted boys, the author doesn't shy away from some of the issues that may arise when two white dads adopt nonwhite kids. These issues are by no means the focus of the book. They are just one part of the Fletchers' story, which is a story filled with love, laughter, occasional grumpiness, and the wacky misadventures of a very close family. I find myself hoping for more Fletcher books because I would gladly spend more time with this delightful family.
couillac's review against another edition
3.0
Another classic-feeling family story with a wonderfully contemporary family. Fans of Levy's first book will enjoy spending time with the Family Fletcher again, even if the plot will feel familiar to many. It's a traditional summer story in a vacation town with new friends, old traditions, and a one-dimensional bad guy for good measure. Levy skims the surface of some tougher questions, such as gender identity and racism, without diving too deep, but that's to be expected from a book that isn't trying to be more than a feel-good summer story. Charming if not particularly original.
chelseymarie's review against another edition
5.0
There are so many things to live about this series - its casual diversity, the way it feels like a Ramona or Superfudge for the 21st century, the positive, loving male role models present throughout - but I want to touch on one part of the story in particular.
One of the kids, Jax, is black, and his dads are white. When Jax and a friend are caught spying on a shady businessman, Jax is immediately called a criminal and accused of pick-pocketing. When his white dad arrives, however, everybody tries to back pedal, because as his dad notes, if Jax were an eleven-year-old white boy, everyone would have just assumed he was nosy, and not a criminal.
I've never seen a kids book call something like that out. I've also never seen what follows: for the rest of the book, Jax is not really himself. He can't really put it into words, but he feels shaken and like he doesn't really belong in their world anymore.
This isn't an issue book, or a racism book, it's a fun family adventure book. What happens to Jax is just one part of the summer, which is realistic. And it effects him deeply, which is also realistic.
I had to ask my purchasing librarian to order this book about eight times, but I'm glad I did because I'm so excited to hand this around.
One of the kids, Jax, is black, and his dads are white. When Jax and a friend are caught spying on a shady businessman, Jax is immediately called a criminal and accused of pick-pocketing. When his white dad arrives, however, everybody tries to back pedal, because as his dad notes, if Jax were an eleven-year-old white boy, everyone would have just assumed he was nosy, and not a criminal.
I've never seen a kids book call something like that out. I've also never seen what follows: for the rest of the book, Jax is not really himself. He can't really put it into words, but he feels shaken and like he doesn't really belong in their world anymore.
This isn't an issue book, or a racism book, it's a fun family adventure book. What happens to Jax is just one part of the summer, which is realistic. And it effects him deeply, which is also realistic.
I had to ask my purchasing librarian to order this book about eight times, but I'm glad I did because I'm so excited to hand this around.
megschiebel's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't think I could fall more in love with the Fletcher's....and then they added another pet and went to Rock Island.
The boys, dad, papa, two cats, and Sir Puggington take on Rock Island and all they want is for it to be like every other awesome summer they have spent there. But, their summer plans gets flipped when they find out the lighthouse near their house may be closing forever, and there are girls living next door.
Each boy discovers more about his own differences and explores his own passions in this charming second book in the FAMILY FLETCHER series.
The boys, dad, papa, two cats, and Sir Puggington take on Rock Island and all they want is for it to be like every other awesome summer they have spent there. But, their summer plans gets flipped when they find out the lighthouse near their house may be closing forever, and there are girls living next door.
Each boy discovers more about his own differences and explores his own passions in this charming second book in the FAMILY FLETCHER series.
federo999's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't think I was going to enjoy this one as much as the first one. The author did a great job with the growth of each character in the book.
wordnerd153's review against another edition
4.0
Extremely satisfying sequel that made me wish I had a place like Rock Island in my life and knew a family like the Fletchers.
ordinarilybi's review against another edition
2.0
Content Note:
unquestioned use of racist terms, (criticised) racist behaviour by white characters, sexism
You'll find the entire review (in German) on my blog.
The Fletcher boys are funny bunch, whose story, sadly, can't be exactly recommended - thanks to the author (and/or the German translation). Racist words should not be used in books without any criticism (not even once), especially not in children's books and certainly not in a story that deals with racism to some degree.
unquestioned use of racist terms, (criticised) racist behaviour by white characters, sexism
You'll find the entire review (in German) on my blog.
The Fletcher boys are funny bunch, whose story, sadly, can't be exactly recommended - thanks to the author (and/or the German translation). Racist words should not be used in books without any criticism (not even once), especially not in children's books and certainly not in a story that deals with racism to some degree.