It's war—the younger sibs, fed to the teeth with the hazing they've gotten for as long as they can remember, organize a rebellion led by Violet Sparks, whose particularly obnoxious brother Simon (first seen swatting a juicy fly into Violet's hair while she's performing at a piano recital) becomes hostage and target for revenge: trapped at the Youngers hideout, he's read a list of gruesome deaths before being subjected to several stages of ``Death by Tickling.'' Meanwhile, the Youngers have learned to get the Olders' goats by ignoring their verbal abuse and issuing some of their own, as well as by giving them enough slapstick comeuppances to keep the farcical story moving and prod the Olders toward reform. The parents, sensibly, decide to butt out; and the broadly sketched antics are neatly rounded out as each sib realizes a basic bond with an erstwhile nemesis. Bringing a deft, light touch to her first children's novel, humorist- screenwriter Ephron focuses on dialogue and action that read almost like a script. Her five pairs of sibs are amusingly varied, with a middle child, an only child, and a trio of animals thrown in. Thank goodness sibling rivalry isn't always this bad (nor is it so easily dispelled); but the Youngers' feisty cure makes an entertaining romp. (Fiction. 8-11)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1993
ISBN: 0-395-66139-0
Page Count: 160
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1993
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Told from the point of view of two warring siblings, this could have been an engaging first chapter book. Unfortunately, the length makes it less likely to appeal to the intended audience. Jessie and Evan are usually good friends as well as sister and brother. But the news that bright Jessie will be skipping a grade to join Evan’s fourth-grade class creates tension. Evan believes himself to be less than clever; Jessie’s emotional maturity doesn’t quite measure up to her intelligence. Rivalry and misunderstandings grow as the two compete to earn the most money in the waning days of summer. The plot rolls along smoothly and readers will be able to both follow the action and feel superior to both main characters as their motivations and misconceptions are clearly displayed. Indeed, a bit more subtlety in characterization might have strengthened the book’s appeal. The final resolution is not entirely believable, but the emphasis on cooperation and understanding is clear. Earnest and potentially successful, but just misses the mark. (Fiction. 8-10)
Pub Date: April 23, 2007
ISBN: 0-618-75043-6
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2007
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Despite its lackluster execution, this story’s simple premise and basic vocabulary make it suitable for younger readers...
From the author of the Animorphs series comes this earnest novel in verse about an orphaned Sudanese war refugee with a passion for cows, who has resettled in Minnesota with relatives.
Arriving in winter, Kek spots a cow that reminds him of his father’s herd, a familiar sight in an alien world. Later he returns with Hannah, a friendly foster child, and talks the cow’s owner into hiring him to look after it. When the owner plans to sell the cow, Kek becomes despondent. Full of wide-eyed amazement and unalloyed enthusiasm for all things American, Kek is a generic—bordering on insulting—stereotype. His tribe, culture and language are never identified; personal details, such as appearance and age, are vague or omitted. Lacking the quirks and foibles that bring characters to life, Kek seems more a composite of traits designed to instruct readers than an engaging individual in his own right.
Despite its lackluster execution, this story’s simple premise and basic vocabulary make it suitable for younger readers interested in the plight of war refugees. (Fiction. 9-11)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2007
ISBN: 978-0-312-36765-7
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2007
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