Book Reviews and More: AndrewClements

Showing posts with label AndrewClements. Show all posts

Friday, 7 July 2023

The Jacket - Andrew Clements

The Jacket

Andrew Clements

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Simon & Schuster

ISBN 9780689860102

eISBN 9780689848308

ASIN B000FC0QFM

Seven years ago, I discovered the works of Andrew Clements. I was instantly hooked and have now read almost 29 books from his masterful pen. Many consider him the ‘master of school stories’, and I would agree. I have a dual form of dyslexia and did not learn to read until after grade 7. So I never read ‘school stories’ when I was young. That combined with having my own school aged children has instilled a great appreciation for the genre and specifically for the works of Andrew Clements. Clements passed away in 2019 his last novel was The Friendship War, which is an excellent volume. He wrote amazing stories for children, but they are also stories that any of us can learn from. Back then I set the goal of reading all of his works, but as my own children have outgrown these books and they had slid by the wayside. I have now returned to them yet again.

This story is a little different. With race relations what they are in 2023 I doubt this book would have been published if it had gone to editors this year or last year. And yet it really does have a good message even if a little overly simplified, and the resolution comes too quick. In many ways the story feels unfinished, or at least that the ending was rushed. The description of the story states:

“Phil is on a mission. His absentminded little brother forgot his lunch money. All kinds of thoughts are running through Phil's mind as he searches for Jimmy in the throngs of fourth and fifth graders crowding the school hallway:...if I'm late for math today, then I might not be allowed to take the test -- and then I could flunk math! I might even flunk sixth grade and get left back!

Then Phil spots Jimmy's one-of-a-kind jacket and rushes to the corner of the hallway. Except the person wearing it isn't his brother; it's some black kid Phil's never seen before -- wearing Jimmy's jacket! Phil makes an accusation, tempers flare, and both kids wind up in the principal's office.

How will Phil react when he finds out how Daniel came to be the owner of this unique jacket? Will Daniel be able to forgive Phil for an accusation that was based on racial prejudice? What will each boy learn about the other, and most important, about himself?”

When Phil finds out how the jacket ended up on Daniel got the jacket he begins to question a lot of things. He soon notices the color of people more, who lives where, who works where and when jogging just 2 miles the difference in some neighbourhoods he passes through. But he also realized that he never notices or thought about it before. But how can he find a way to undo the mess he has made?

It is a good read, and it does have a great message from both sides. The ending felt rushed. And compared too many of Clements other volumes, overly simplified. There are 19 editions of this book that I have found with a variety of covers, I like the one that is traditionally illustrated and matches his other works best. On Goodreads it has 3.5 rating when I wrote this review and on Amazon 4.6 if you could actually give half stars I would give it a 5 for the concept, a 3.5 for the execution and a 2 for the ending. Thus rounding to 3.5. It is a good read but far from Clements best.

Books by Andrew Clements:
Bird Adalbert
Noah and the Ark and the Animals
Santa's Secret Helper
Temple Cat
Mother Earth's Counting Book
Billy and the Bad Teacher
Who Owns the Cow
Bright Christmas: An Angel Remembers
Frindle
(Adapter)Philipp's Birthday Book
Riff's BeBop Book
Real Monsters Go for the Mold
Things That Go EEK on Halloween
Real Monsters Stage Fright
Music Time, Any Time
Double Trouble in Walla Walla
Workshop
Gromble's Haunted Halloween
Hey Dad, Could I Borrow Your Hammer
The Landry News
Look Who's in the Thanksgiving Play
The Mouse Family
The Janitor's Boy
Circus Family Dog
The Christmas Kitten
The School Story
Things Not Seen
The Jacket
A Week in the Woods
Slippers at Home
Naptime for Slippers
The Report Card
The Last Holiday Concert
Slippers at School
Slippers Loves to Run
A Million Is a Lot of Dots
Lunch Money
Things Hoped For
Room One: A Mystery or Two
No Talking
Things That Are
Lost and Found
Extra Credit
Troublemaker
About Average
The Map Trap
The Friendship War
The Losers Club
...

Pets to the Rescue Series
Ringo Saves the Day!
Brave Norman
Tara and Tiree, Fearless Friends
Delores and the Big Fire

Jake Drake Series
Jake Drake Know-It-All
Jake Drake, Bully Buster
Jake Drake, Teacher's Pet
Jake Drake, Class Clown

Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School Series
We the Children
Fear Itself
The Whites of Their Eyes
In Harm's Way
We Hold These Truths

Reading Program Books
Karen's Island
Three Wishes for Buster
Bill Picket: An American Original, Texas Style
Hurricane Andrew
Ham and Eggs for Jack
Life in the Desert
Desert Treasure
Inventors: Making Things Better, Steck-Vaughn
Milo's Great Invention

...

Sunday, 26 February 2023

Jake Drake, Class Clown - Andrew Clements - Jake Drake Book 4

Jake Drake, Class Clown

Jake Drake Book 4

Andrew Clements

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Simon & Schuster

ISBN 9781416949121

eISBN 9781442462335

ASIN B007108PA4

This is the fourth and final book in the Jake Drake Series that we have read. The books seem to have two or even three different order lists. I am uncertain if one is publishing order and the other chronological? But this one is consistently listed as book 4. Much as Narnia was reordered in some editions. So I am really not sure what order the books belong in. But no matter what order you read them in they are great fun.

When I started reading this series I thought Jake Drake, Bully Buster was book 1. I enjoyed that book so much I mentioned it to my son, and he has since read to me both Jake Drake, Bully Buster in short order has read the rest of the series to me. My son is in grade 9, and yes, these books are below his reading level. But he has been dealing with some serious bullying for a number of years now. Most of it instigated by the same ring leader, a boy that would give Link Baxter, Super Bully, more than a run for his money. My son loved the first story he read and asked if we could read all four together, even though the other Jake Drake books do not deal with bullying, we have loved reading these books together.

Six years ago, I discovered the works of Andrew Clements. I was instantly hooked and have now read almost 26 books from his masterful pen. Many consider him the ‘master of school stories’, and I would agree. I have a dual form of dyslexia and did not learn to read until after grade 7. So I never read ‘school stories’ when I was young. That combined with having my own school aged children has instilled a great appreciation for the genre and specifically for the works of Andrew Clements. Clements passed away in 2019 his last novel was The Friendship War, which is another excellent volume. He wrote amazing stories for children, but they are also stories that any of us can learn from. Back then I set the goal of reading all of his works, but as my own children have outgrown these books and they had slid by the wayside. I have now returned to them yet again. I have read 1 a week over the last several weeks and plan to do so for a while yet.

This is another great read in a fantastic series. These are books I wish we had read with my son years ago. It is another excellent read. The description of this book is:

“Miss Bruce is the new student teacher in second grade, and she never smiles. Never. But when Jake cracks up the class during a spelling bee, he sees the tiniest hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth. Suddenly, Jake has a new mission in life: to be so funny that even Miss Bruce will laugh!

But then things get out of hand, and Jake finds himself in big trouble. Has Jake discovered -- too late -- that not everybody loves a clown?”

The chapters in this volume are:

New Boss

Scared Stiff

Scared Silly

Secret Information

Unstoppable

Mr. Funny Bone

Christmas in April

Judge Brattle

No More Clowning

Jake has a new teacher, actually a student teacher. And she is very by the book. She is following what she learned in school, and is afraid of losing control of the class. Because of that she comes across as harsh, mean and even hurtful. Jake tells a joke in class and the students react. And seems to lighten the mood. So Jake starts trying to figure out how to be funny in class. And it is a fine line between a funny guy and a smart Alec, and Jake might just cross it and things go from funny to sad and serious. Can he help undo the mess he has made? To find out how and if Jake can make amends you will need to read this terribly fun little story.

This is a great offering from the masterful pen of Andrew Clements. This is a wonderful early chapter book, for Middle Grade Readers. It is an excellent read for young readers, and for those of us who just love a great story! It will leave you wondering might have happened in further Jake Drake adventures.

...

Tuesday, 14 February 2023

Jake Drake, Teacher’s Pet - Andrew Clements - Jake Drake Book 3

Jake Drake, Teacher’s Pet

Jake Drake Book 3

Andrew Clements

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Simon & Schuster

ISBN 9781416939320

eISBN 9781442462465

ASIN B007108PPE

This is the third of the four books in the Jake Drake Series that we have read. The books seem to have two or even three different order lists. I am uncertain if one is publishing order and the other chronological? Much as Narnia was reordered in some editions. So I am really not sure what order the books belong in. But no matter what order you read them in they are great fun.

When I started reading this series I thought Jake Drake, Bully Buster was book 1. And the list we are working from has this os 3 of 4 in the Jake Drake quadrilogy. I enjoyed that book so much I mentioned it to my son, and he has since read to me both Jake Drake, Bully Buster and Jake Drake, Know-It-All, this one and is currently reading me Class Clown. My son is in grade 9, and yes, these books are below his reading level. But he has been dealing with some serious bullying for a number of years now. Most of it instigated by the same ring leader, a boy that would give Link Baxter, Super Bully, more than a run for his money. My son loved the first story he read and asked if we could read all four together. And even though the other Jake Drake books do not deal with bullying, we have loved reading these books together.

Six years ago, I discovered the works of Andrew Clements. I was instantly hooked and have now read almost 25 books from his masterful pen. Many consider him the ‘master of school stories’, and I would agree. I have a dual form of dyslexia and did not learn to read until after grade 7. So I never read ‘school stories’ when I was young. That combined with having my own school aged children has instilled a great appreciation for the genre and specifically for the works of Andrew Clements. Clements passed away in 2019 his last novel was The Friendship War, which is another excellent volume. He writes amazing stories for children, but they are also stories that any of us can learn from. Back then I set the goal of reading all of his works, but as my own children have outgrown these books and they had slid by the wayside. I have now returned to them yet again. I have read 1 a week over the last several weeks and plan to do so for a while yet.

This really is another great read in a really fun series. These are books I wish we had read with my son years ago. It is another excellent read. The description of this book is:

“Mrs. Snavin looked right past all those waving hands. She looked right at me and she smiled and said, "I think I'll have Jake take it." Then Mrs. Snavin said, "but be sure to hurry right back, Jake, because we're going to work on our number-line project, and you have to be my special computer helper, okay?" And I could feel every kid in the class looking at me. They weren't saying anything. They weren't even whispering. But right then, I heard what they were thinking anyway. They were thinking, teacher's pet.”

The chapters in this volume are:

Four Bad Days

Garbage Guy

Special Treatment

Dangerous

No More Mr. Nice Guy

Bad Jake

Bad Dream, Good Idea

Not So Special

Crash Landing, but Safe

Jake is getting a reputation as a ‘teacher’s pet’ and it is not a rep he wants. It starts in his class, continues in gym, art, lunch and even on the bus. He doesn’t like how others are now treating him. SO he comes up with a plan, a plan to be a stinker not a helper. But Things do not go as expected. Eventually in desperation he takes a big risk. And without risk there is not the possibility of reward, unfortunately there is also the risk of failure and punishment. To find out how it goes for Jake you will need to read this terribly fun little story.

This is an excellent offering from the masterful pen of Andrew Clements. This is a great early chapter book, for Middle Grade Readers. It is a wonderful read for young readers, and for those of us who just love a great story! It will leave you wondering what happens in the final Jake Drake adventure.

...

Monday, 6 February 2023

Jake Drake, Know-It-All - Andrew Clements - Jake Drake Book 1

Jake Drake, Know-It-All

Jake Drake Book 1

Andrew Clements

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Simon & Schuster

ISBN 9780689838811

eISBN 9781442462366

ASIN B007108PG8

When I started reading this series I thought this was book 2 and thus read, Jake Drake, Bully Buster before this one. But this is actually book one in the Jake Drake quadrilogy. I was enjoying that book so much I mentioned it to my son, and he has since read to me both Jake Drake, Bully Buster and Jake Drake, Know-It-All and is currently reading me book three in the series. My son is in grade 9, and yes, these books are below his reading level. But he has been dealing with some serious bullying for a number of years now. Most of it instigated by the same ring leader, a boy that would give Link Baxter, Super Bully, more than a run for his money. My son loved the first story he read and asked if we could read all four together. And even though the other Jake Drake books do not deal with bullying, we plan on reading them together in short order.

Six years ago, I discovered the works of Andrew Clements. I was instantly hooked and have now read almost 25 books from his masterful pen. Many consider him the ‘master of school stories’, and I would agree. I have a dual form of dyslexia and did not learn to read until after grade 7. So I never read ‘school stories’ when I was young. That combined with having my own school aged children has instilled a great appreciation for the genre and specifically for the works of Andrew Clements. Clements passed away in 2019 his last novel was The Friendship War, which is another excellent volume. He writes amazing stories for children, but they are also stories that any of us can learn from. Back then I set the goal of reading all of his works, but as my own children have outgrown these books and they had slid by the wayside. I have now returned to them yet again. I have read 1 a week over the last several weeks and plan to do so for a while yet.

This is another great read in a really fun series. These are books I wish we had read with my son years ago. It is an excellent read. The description of this book is:

“Jake Drake is excited about Despres Elementary School's first science fair. He wants to win the grand prize: a brand-new Hyper-Cross-Functional Bluntium Twelve Computer System. And he really wants to beat the third grade know-it-alls, Marsha McCall and Kevin Young. The trouble is, to beat the know-it-alls, Jake has to become a know-it-all himself. And he may just lose more than he wins.”

The chapters in this volume are:

One: The Catch

Two: Big News

Three: The Rules

Four: Hunters

Five: K-I-A/D-I-A

Six: What to Do

Seven: Secrets and Spies

Eight: Dropouts

Nine: Sticking Together

Ten: Teamwork

Eleven: Winners

In this story Jake really, really, really wants to win the science fair and the grand prize new Computer, a Hyper-Cross-Functional Bluntium Twelve computer system from Wonky’s Super Computer Store. It is a system Drake has had his eye on for a while. Jake learns some lessons long the way. One is that he prefers to work with a friend, have fun and learn. Second is that even though he and his partner did all the work on their projects, a lot of parents helped their kids. And Third if he focused just on winning and not the why and how it can cease to be fun. Overall this was a wonderful little read. Both my son and I loved it.

This is another excellent offering from the masterful pen of Andrew Clements. This is a great early chapter book. It is excellent book for young readers, and for those of us who just love a great story! And It will leave you wondering what happens in the final 2 Jake Drake adventures.

...