A bit dull, but more engaging than a civics textbook.
When third-grader Bobby Barton unexpectedly becomes the first kid president of the United States, he goes a little wild.
On a field trip to the National Archives in Washington, D.C., Bobby Barton stumbles upon a long-lost section of the Constitution allowing an American of any age to take over the office of president by challenging the current president to a game of checkers. Bobby wins. He then finds himself on a crash course through the American government as he becomes the country’s youngest president. When Congress won’t approve his kid-friendly bills—candy stores are to stay open 24 hours a day; movie theaters must let kids in for free—Bobby goes against the advice of his mentors and uses executive orders to put his laws into effect. He’s having a great time as president—his poll numbers for American children are surely through the roof—but he’s becoming unpopular among adults, and small business owners are hurting. As commander in chief, Bobby has some big decisions to make. The book reads a little like a “what I did on my summer vacation” essay. Characters tend to be one-dimensional, and in spite of including a girl vice president, the story is noticeably short on female characters. Betz’s impressive black-and-white, penciled illustrations have plenty of contrast and expressiveness, and young readers might appreciate the hand-drawn approach. Though the plot doesn’t have much substance, it successfully provides a civics lesson for American children, as Maguire (Professor Atlas And The Summoning Dagger, 2011) offers a kid-friendly breakdown of how American government works, complete with a basic outline of the nuts and bolts for the branches of the federal government and an easy-to-read glossary of political terms. Young readers are sure to walk away with a firm grasp of Bobby’s presidential struggles and why there’s more to running a country than giving out free candy.
A bit dull, but more engaging than a civics textbook.Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2012
ISBN: 978-1457509551
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Dog Ear
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A thrilling, history-filled adventure.
Cantwell concludes his Tollan trilogy with high school time-traveler Peter Collins’ greatest adventure yet.
In previous books in the series, Peter and his friend Rosa traveled to ancient Mexico with the help of the serpent god Quetzalcoatl. Now they journey to Tenochtitlan, the city of the Aztecs, where they must set history on its right course. Tasked with no little feat, Peter and Rosa reach the heart of one of the most contentious times in Mexican history. When a conquistador—known in Spanish as Cortes—comes to the Aztec city, Peter and Rosa help Emperor Montezuma deal with the newcomer. Together they must figure out if the man is Topiltzin—the human reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl—or a stranger bent on conquering the city by force. Eventually, Quetzalcoatl does in fact return, and he brings Peter and Rosa forward in history to the city of Choula, where they try to bring peace to the nascent country of Mexico by convincing the Spaniards that Mexicans deserve love, respect and equality. Cantwell superbly recreates ancient Mexico with colorful descriptions of city buildings, citizens’ attire and specific details like blood in the streets from human sacrifices. Despite offering an admirable message for kids, the trip to Choula feels out of place and more like a mere detour. Additionally, readers are swept away before seeing the fall of the Aztecs, which is a bit disappointing; the end of Topiltzin’s story is merely told to reader rather than shown. Nonetheless, Cantwell brings his trilogy to a satisfying conclusion, as Peter and Rosa realize they’re more than just friends, and Peter finally learns the shocking truth of his parentage.
A thrilling, history-filled adventure.Pub Date: Nov. 20, 2012
ISBN: 978-1475958492
Page Count: 122
Publisher: iUniverse
Review Posted Online: Jan. 21, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A simple, engaging dystopian YA tale of freethinking and self-determination.
In Fridgen’s debut young-adult dystopian novel, a young girl, her grandmother and her only friend race to escape the repressive, walled city of Philadelphia.
In a near-future, post-apocalyptic world, human society has separated into city-states based on religious belief. Teenager Ruth3:5 lives in Philadelphia, where all aspects of life are determined by the GovernChurch. Men and women are separated at age 13, electricity is rationed, and fathers visit their families for ChristBirth services and to threaten and beat their wives and children. Girls who show too much independence are forced to join the Magdalenes, where most die young after being used as prostitutes by the men of MensTown. Biblecation has replaced education—people are even named after Bible verses. No dissent or questions are allowed. But Ruth3:5 has a mind of her own and wants to use it. When she publicly challenges the accuracy of a Bible passage, she sets off a chain of events that leads her to flee from Philadelphia with her grandmother and male best friend, Two Sam, in search of the fabled city of Manhattan, where people are still allowed to think for themselves and believe what they want. The story delivers a dystopian fable in the vein of 1984 or Brave New World, but where Orwell warned about the dangers of a totalitarian state and Huxley wrote of mind control through drugs and distraction, Fridgen focuses on the dangers of religious fundamentalism. However, the novel is also a fast-paced adventure with likable main characters, written in a unadorned, competent style. Throughout, the author handles dialogue and character development well, although some readers may wish that both were a bit more complex at times. That said, Fridgen smartly explores the impact of his world’s version of fundamentalism on the daily lives of women and convincingly connects the rigid belief system to sexism and brutality. In the end, however, how compelling readers will find the fable may depend on how dangerous and believable they feel the threat of religious fundamentalism to be.
A simple, engaging dystopian YA tale of freethinking and self-determination.Pub Date: Nov. 27, 2012
ISBN: 9780615701790
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Dreamlly Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
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