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gmamartha's review against another edition
4.0
Kathi Appelt has *improved* upon the bayou and swamp lore that she started in The Underneath, if that's possible. Instead of animal cruelty, the animal heroes provide humor and courage to save their home. I love the language as well as the message.
roseleaf24's review against another edition
4.0
I was not looking forward to this book, as The Underneath was firmly in three category odd books that peepee love and describe as lyrical, but that I can't stand because they're overwritten and have many more words than plot. But this book was entirely different. Though the language did as much to capture the setting and the characters as anything else, it was a quick moving dialect, with fun characters and tall tales come to life. This book was pure fun.
snowcone's review against another edition
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
showell's review against another edition
4.0
Very cute and occasionally joyful story about a boy who wants to save his family’s sugar pie restaurant and the surrounding swamp from being turned into a gator wrestling ring and the two raccoons, enormous rattlesnake, and cryptid who actually get it done. Reminds me of Hiaasen’s Hoot.
aoosterwyk's review against another edition
3.0
This is the second book I've read by Appelt and I loved The Underneath.
I liked several things about this book. There were some interesting bits of history scattered throughout: old DeSoto cars, the explorer the car is named for and his marauding pigs, Edwin Land and his polaroid camera. I also liked the environmental focus and conservation elements.
I do suffer from an aversion to talking animals, but that's a personal preference. I can see the appeal for certain middle grade readers, perhaps those who have enjoyed Erin Hunter.
I liked several things about this book. There were some interesting bits of history scattered throughout: old DeSoto cars, the explorer the car is named for and his marauding pigs, Edwin Land and his polaroid camera. I also liked the environmental focus and conservation elements.
I do suffer from an aversion to talking animals, but that's a personal preference. I can see the appeal for certain middle grade readers, perhaps those who have enjoyed Erin Hunter.
brandypainter's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
I have said it before: I don't love animal stories. I was pretty excited about The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp by Kathi Appelt despite that, and not only because I heard wonderful things about it from others. No. It was because of the raccoons on the cover. See, I've always had a thing for raccoons. They were my favorite animal growing up. They began my love with rascally thieves really. And this book features a pair of adorable rascally (rascally adorable?) raccoon brothers.
Bingo and J'miah were just as wonderful as I had hoped. Appelt gave them endearing personalities and maintained their raccoon nature perfectly at the same time. I loved how they were so different and yet the bond of their brotherhood was strong enough to keep them together through all of their adventures. In addition to the raccoons, I thoroughly enjoyed the character of Sweetums the cat. I wish there had been more of Sweetums. He didn't get nearly enough page time. The humans in the story were not as likeable for me. I can't believe I am saying this, but I would have preferred this story without them. (What is wrong with me? I may need to lay down.)
The swamp setting was well done. I could feel the humidity, the annoying mosquitoes, and hear the sounds of the night. I felt like I was there.
The style of the writing is brilliant in many ways. It flows well and Appelt used a variety of sentence structures to give the story a perfect rhythm. This will make an outstanding read aloud. One troubling aspect for me was the narrator talking to me. I understand why that was done given this has the feel of a spoken folk tale. But still. Nothing is going to through me out of a story faster than that. I was also annoyed by the use of the term "we". I could never quite figure out if the narrator was referring to me in that we or if they were using it in the royal sense.
This is a fun tale and great to give to the young animal lovers in your life. (Or to read aloud to them, because really truly it will make a spectacular read aloud.)
I have said it before: I don't love animal stories. I was pretty excited about The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp by Kathi Appelt despite that, and not only because I heard wonderful things about it from others. No. It was because of the raccoons on the cover. See, I've always had a thing for raccoons. They were my favorite animal growing up. They began my love with rascally thieves really. And this book features a pair of adorable rascally (rascally adorable?) raccoon brothers.
Bingo and J'miah were just as wonderful as I had hoped. Appelt gave them endearing personalities and maintained their raccoon nature perfectly at the same time. I loved how they were so different and yet the bond of their brotherhood was strong enough to keep them together through all of their adventures. In addition to the raccoons, I thoroughly enjoyed the character of Sweetums the cat. I wish there had been more of Sweetums. He didn't get nearly enough page time. The humans in the story were not as likeable for me. I can't believe I am saying this, but I would have preferred this story without them. (What is wrong with me? I may need to lay down.)
The swamp setting was well done. I could feel the humidity, the annoying mosquitoes, and hear the sounds of the night. I felt like I was there.
The style of the writing is brilliant in many ways. It flows well and Appelt used a variety of sentence structures to give the story a perfect rhythm. This will make an outstanding read aloud. One troubling aspect for me was the narrator talking to me. I understand why that was done given this has the feel of a spoken folk tale. But still. Nothing is going to through me out of a story faster than that. I was also annoyed by the use of the term "we". I could never quite figure out if the narrator was referring to me in that we or if they were using it in the royal sense.
This is a fun tale and great to give to the young animal lovers in your life. (Or to read aloud to them, because really truly it will make a spectacular read aloud.)
lizaroo71's review against another edition
5.0
This is a delightful story about scouts, the Sugar Man, swamps, sugar pies, hogs and greedy landowners.
The Scouts that protect the swamp are brothers Bingo and J'miah. The brothers' headquarters is an old, rusted out DeSoto. When there is an electrical storm, a voice comes through the radio that tells them bits of wisdom. When the voice tells them that wild hogs are on the way to the swamp, the brothers know they have to wake up the Sugar Man.
Nearby the Scouts' headquarters is a small tin shack, Paradise Pies Cafe, which is where Chap and his mother sell their delicious sugar pies. But their greedy landowner, Sonny Boy Beaucoup, has plans for all of the land he has inherited from his grandfather and Sonny Boy has no concern for the denizens of the swamp.
All of these forces collide one fateful night and it is a great journey. I love the raccoons, the history of the swamp, the legend of the Sugar Man and the brave hero, Chap.
I highly recommend this as a read for those with kids eight and over (or if you are an adult that loves great storytelling).
The Scouts that protect the swamp are brothers Bingo and J'miah. The brothers' headquarters is an old, rusted out DeSoto. When there is an electrical storm, a voice comes through the radio that tells them bits of wisdom. When the voice tells them that wild hogs are on the way to the swamp, the brothers know they have to wake up the Sugar Man.
Nearby the Scouts' headquarters is a small tin shack, Paradise Pies Cafe, which is where Chap and his mother sell their delicious sugar pies. But their greedy landowner, Sonny Boy Beaucoup, has plans for all of the land he has inherited from his grandfather and Sonny Boy has no concern for the denizens of the swamp.
All of these forces collide one fateful night and it is a great journey. I love the raccoons, the history of the swamp, the legend of the Sugar Man and the brave hero, Chap.
I highly recommend this as a read for those with kids eight and over (or if you are an adult that loves great storytelling).