Wonderfully weird and extremely entertaining.
New fifth grade student Harvey Hill discovers Strangeville School more than lives up to its name.
After attending four different schools in the space of four years, Harvey is familiar with the role of new kid. However, he’s not prepared for the bizarre and peculiar happenings that Strangeville students and staff find routine, like dangerous animals on the loose, a black hole in the cafeteria meatloaf, and mysterious disappearances orchestrated by a sinister force. Thankfully, he has classmate Stella Cho to help him navigate these increasingly surreal situations. Stella and Harvey can both relate to feeling like outsiders. Stella hides her loneliness behind defensive armor, while Harvey’s barrier in making friends is due to a closely guarded secret. The two initially stumble through their friendship but soon learn the value of camaraderie and support. Harvey’s self-acceptance is empowering and allows him to reach new heights to save the school. While the plot is solidly sci-fi, real-world issues like insecurity, friendship, and embracing what makes you different ground the story. The deadpan third-person omniscient narration, which includes frequent asides to readers, is infused with quirky and irreverent humor. Short, action-packed chapters and abundant illustrations add to the appeal. Harvey reads as White; Stella’s surname cues her as Korean American. Final illustrations not seen.
Wonderfully weird and extremely entertaining. (Science fiction. 7-11)Pub Date: Dec. 7, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-30950-6
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Sept. 28, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2021
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Plenty of baseball action, but the paint-by-numbers plot is just a vehicle for equally standard-issue advice. .
For his eponymous imprint, the New York Yankees star leads off with a self-referential tale of Little League triumphs.
In the first of a projected 10 episodes based on the same number of “Life Lessons” espoused by the lead author’s Turn 2 Foundation, third-grader Derek turns in an essay announcing that his dream is to play shortstop for the New York Yankees (No. 1 on the Turn 2 list: “Set your goals high”). His parents take him seriously enough not only to present him with a “contract” that promises rewards for behaviors like working hard and avoiding alcohol and drugs, but also to put a flea in the ear of his teacher after she gives him a B-minus on the essay for being unrealistic. Derek then goes on to pull up his math grade. He also proceeds to pull off brilliant plays for his new Little League team despite finding himself stuck at second base while the coach’s son makes multiple bad decisions at shortstop and, worse, publicly puts down other team members. Jeter serves as his own best example of the chosen theme’s theoretical validity, but as he never acknowledges that making the majors (in any sport) requires uncommon physical talent as well as ambition and determination, this values-driven pitch is well out of the strike zone.
Plenty of baseball action, but the paint-by-numbers plot is just a vehicle for equally standard-issue advice. . (foundation ad and curriculum guide, not seen) (Fiction. 7-9)Pub Date: Sept. 23, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4814-2312-0
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Jeter/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: July 15, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2014
EllRay, a likable everykid with a sense of humor, is getting picked on; he doesn't know why, nor what to do about it....
The creator of the series about third-grader Emma McGraw (Only Emma, 2005, etc.) focuses on a new character here: EllRay Jakes, one of Emma's classmates.
EllRay, a likable everykid with a sense of humor, is getting picked on; he doesn't know why, nor what to do about it. EllRay's voice is chatty and authentic, especially in articulating kids' and adults' perceptions of the playground dynamic: "Ms. Sanchez is smart about what goes on inside her classroom, but she doesn't know what goes on outside—before school and during nutrition break, lunch and afternoon recess. And outside is when school really happens for kids." When bully Jared reveals he's after EllRay because EllRay once hurt his feelings, it feels a bit pat, although the resolution is realistic: The boys don't become best friends, but they learn to get along. EllRay is African-American in a predominantly white school; race is addressed openly here (he sometimes wishes there were more kids who look like him; his father suspects—incorrectly—that race is the reason EllRay is getting teased) without serving as the main issue, which is refreshing.Pub Date: May 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-670-06243-0
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: April 5, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2011
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