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THE FAST AND THE FURRIEST

Name: THE FAST AND THE FURRIEST
Author: Andy Behrens
ISBN: 978-0-375-85922-9

by Andy Behrens ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 9, 2010

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Torpid 12-year-old Kevin Pugh, son of a gung-ho former football pro, and his even more sluggish beagle, Cromwell, are galvanized into activity when they watch a dog-agility competition on television. Suddenly Cromwell becomes a wunderhund, racing and jumping over and through obstacles, and Kevin’s right there with him. His best friend even pays for classes for boy and dog when Kevin’s parents firmly scotch the idea. Kevin, klutzy and unexcited by sports (except for exceptional prowess with football video games), doesn’t know how to counter his dad’s clueless expectations that he play ball for real and keeps his newfound interest a secret. In the end, though, Kevin revels in his abilities and earns the respect of Cromwell’s gruff trainer; and he and Cromwell win out in more ways than one. The ending is satisfying, if pat and predictable. Dog lovers will appreciate the canine-take-all theme, and all readers will appreciate the gentle humor and root for Kevin. (Fiction. 9-12)

Pub Date: March 9, 2010

ISBN: 978-0-375-85922-9

Page Count: 224

Publisher: Knopf

Review Posted Online: Dec. 30, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2010

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

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LUNCH MONEY

by Andrew Clements & illustrated by Brian Selznick ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 1, 2005

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Budding billionaire Greg Kenton has a knack for making money and a serious rival. When he issues his first Chunky Comic Book at the beginning of sixth grade, his neighbor and classmate Maura Shaw produces an alternative. Their quarrel draws the attention of the principal, who bans comics from the school. But when they notice all the other commercial messages in their school, they take their cause to the local school committee. Without belaboring his point, Clements takes on product placement in schools and the need for wealth. “Most people can only use one bathroom at a time,” says Greg’s math teacher, Mr. Z. Greg gets the message; middle-grade readers may ignore it in favor of the delightful spectacle of Greg’s ultimate economic success, a pleasing result for the effort this up-and-coming young businessman puts into his work. Clements weaves intriguing information about comic book illustration into this entertaining, smoothly written story. Selznick’s accompanying black-and-white drawings have the appearance of sketches Greg might have made himself. This hits the jackpot. (Fiction. 9-12)

Pub Date: July 1, 2005

ISBN: 0-689-86683-6

Page Count: 224

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2005

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
THE FRINDLE FILES
by Andrew Clements ; illustrated by Brian Selznick

- BOOK REVIEW
THE FRIENDSHIP WAR
by Andrew Clements

- BOOK REVIEW
THE LOSERS CLUB
by Andrew Clements

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TUCK EVERLASTING

by Natalie Babbitt ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 1, 1975

However the compelling fitness of theme and event and the apt but unexpected imagery (the opening sentences compare the...

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At a time when death has become an acceptable, even voguish subject in children's fiction, Natalie Babbitt comes through with a stylistic gem about living forever.

Protected Winnie, the ten-year-old heroine, is not immortal, but when she comes upon young Jesse Tuck drinking from a secret spring in her parents' woods, she finds herself involved with a family who, having innocently drunk the same water some 87 years earlier, haven't aged a moment since. Though the mood is delicate, there is no lack of action, with the Tucks (previously suspected of witchcraft) now pursued for kidnapping Winnie; Mae Tuck, the middle aged mother, striking and killing a stranger who is onto their secret and would sell the water; and Winnie taking Mae's place in prison so that the Tucks can get away before she is hanged from the neck until....? Though Babbitt makes the family a sad one, most of their reasons for discontent are circumstantial and there isn't a great deal of wisdom to be gleaned from their fate or Winnie's decision not to share it.

However the compelling fitness of theme and event and the apt but unexpected imagery (the opening sentences compare the first week in August when this takes place to "the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning") help to justify the extravagant early assertion that had the secret about to be revealed been known at the time of the action, the very earth "would have trembled on its axis like a beetle on a pin." (Fantasy. 9-11)