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kristenremenar's review against another edition
3.0
Fun, fast, realistic fiction with a bit of a mystery and plenty of "hey, I do that!" relate-able goofy guy stuff. His endless comments of "go to my website and...." seemed a bit too much of self-promotion at times, but still, a fun read.
wiseowl33's review against another edition
4.0
Cute book. I liked Cheesie and Georgie. Great characters. I am interested in seeing the website. I think this will be a big draw for many of my reluctant readers.
emdoux's review against another edition
3.0
I like Cheesie. I like his style, I like his constant pleas to check out his website, I like his vocabulary. HIs story isn't anything new... but I'm okay with that.
tami_provencher's review against another edition
3.0
Cheesie Mack is Not a Genius or Anything is the first book in a new series by author/performer Steve Cotler. (The second book is due out in June, 2012). The story is “written” by Ronald Mack, a fifth grader whose friends call him Cheesie.
The story happens in the last few days of fifth grade. Cheesie’s best friend, Georgie, has a gazillion wonderful ideas about how they could make their fifth grade graduation ceremony less boring. Cheesie doesn’t think they will actually commit to any of Georgie’s ideas–until Georgie gets a free bag of mice from the pet store. (Yes, I said “a free bag of mice.”)
In true fifth grade style, the prank goes horribly wrong, causing Cheesie & George to suffer through the boredom of graduation AND get in a lot of trouble. When their summer plans to have a blast at their traditional camp are derailed by Georgie’s not being able to go, Cheesie decides to forego camp as well and spend the summer at home with his best friend. These plans are also destined to go awry later in the story.
In the meantime Cheesie and Georgie find, have a misunderstanding and experience a moral dilemma over a valuable old coin and a mysterious elderly neighbor who lives in a creepy old house they call “The Toad.” Throw in an encounter with the police and a bossy older sister and you have a hometown adventure worth the read.
A unique element to the story which is first intriguing, then increasingly irritating to the reader is Cheesie Mack’s website. Cheesie Mack has his own website (CheesieMack.com–it’s a REAL website). He refers to his website a LOT in the book, telling readers to visit the site and comment on different aspects of Cheesie’s story and–because Cheesie loves lists–to contribute to the various lists on the website (including grandparent nicknames and goofy made-up words).
The references to the website within the story become annoying, as they happen every couple of pages. I have to preface my opinion on this by saying it could be because I read the book as an adult, but I started to become suspicious of the number of times the author told readers (mostly kids) to go to his website. Additionally, I felt it interrupted–instead of enhanced–the story of Cheesie Mack the way it could have if it was mentioned less.
Having said all that, I did visit the website to get an accurate and well-informed perspective. The website is a great one for kids. It does give them a place to talk about the story. And Steve Cotler responds frequently to the comments and questions posed by young readers. This, just by itself, is a wonderful opportunity! The website also has a lot of fun facts and can easily be used as a springboard for kids’ curiosity–which is what I believe the author intends.
Not simple in its plotting, Cheesie Mack is G-rated in language and content which makes it a fun read-aloud at home or in the classroom for 2nd-6th graders. This book is a great opportunity for the reader to become engaged in or celebrate curiosity and fun!
The story happens in the last few days of fifth grade. Cheesie’s best friend, Georgie, has a gazillion wonderful ideas about how they could make their fifth grade graduation ceremony less boring. Cheesie doesn’t think they will actually commit to any of Georgie’s ideas–until Georgie gets a free bag of mice from the pet store. (Yes, I said “a free bag of mice.”)
In true fifth grade style, the prank goes horribly wrong, causing Cheesie & George to suffer through the boredom of graduation AND get in a lot of trouble. When their summer plans to have a blast at their traditional camp are derailed by Georgie’s not being able to go, Cheesie decides to forego camp as well and spend the summer at home with his best friend. These plans are also destined to go awry later in the story.
In the meantime Cheesie and Georgie find, have a misunderstanding and experience a moral dilemma over a valuable old coin and a mysterious elderly neighbor who lives in a creepy old house they call “The Toad.” Throw in an encounter with the police and a bossy older sister and you have a hometown adventure worth the read.
A unique element to the story which is first intriguing, then increasingly irritating to the reader is Cheesie Mack’s website. Cheesie Mack has his own website (CheesieMack.com–it’s a REAL website). He refers to his website a LOT in the book, telling readers to visit the site and comment on different aspects of Cheesie’s story and–because Cheesie loves lists–to contribute to the various lists on the website (including grandparent nicknames and goofy made-up words).
The references to the website within the story become annoying, as they happen every couple of pages. I have to preface my opinion on this by saying it could be because I read the book as an adult, but I started to become suspicious of the number of times the author told readers (mostly kids) to go to his website. Additionally, I felt it interrupted–instead of enhanced–the story of Cheesie Mack the way it could have if it was mentioned less.
Having said all that, I did visit the website to get an accurate and well-informed perspective. The website is a great one for kids. It does give them a place to talk about the story. And Steve Cotler responds frequently to the comments and questions posed by young readers. This, just by itself, is a wonderful opportunity! The website also has a lot of fun facts and can easily be used as a springboard for kids’ curiosity–which is what I believe the author intends.
Not simple in its plotting, Cheesie Mack is G-rated in language and content which makes it a fun read-aloud at home or in the classroom for 2nd-6th graders. This book is a great opportunity for the reader to become engaged in or celebrate curiosity and fun!
jennikify's review against another edition
4.0
Overall this book is quite enjoyable with a nice, easily wrapped up story featuring the shenanigans of eleven-year-old boys.
Cheesie's voice is honest and does feel kid-like, but it also comes across as a little know-it-allish. Though this can be an accurate depiction of eleven-year-old boys, the inclusion of vocabulary words immediately followed by their definitions just felt condescending (perhaps this is just me knowing all the big words already), but it was not my favorite approach.
My major pet peeve was the constant mention of the website. It seemed that every few pages the words "visit my website" appeared together. I understand the importance (and need) to promote the book and the character (especially in the instance of a series), but I made audible annoyed sounds every time I read those words. My suggestion might be to include a symbol or some other easily-scanned-over-if-I'm-not-interested-in-sharing-something-related-to-this at the end of appropriate sentences and keep the "Visit cheesiemack.com" section at the end as a final reminder.
Even with my dislikes, I did enjoy the book and I'm happy to see that it's being ordered for my library. The next time someone asks for Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and it is inevitably checked out, I have another back-up to suggest.
I have to add that I keep thinking about this title. The story seems like it could turn into something unbelievable, but it doesn't. I really like that aspect of it; it's book of 11-year-old boys experiencing 11-year-old boy things.
Cheesie's voice is honest and does feel kid-like, but it also comes across as a little know-it-allish. Though this can be an accurate depiction of eleven-year-old boys, the inclusion of vocabulary words immediately followed by their definitions just felt condescending (perhaps this is just me knowing all the big words already), but it was not my favorite approach.
My major pet peeve was the constant mention of the website. It seemed that every few pages the words "visit my website" appeared together. I understand the importance (and need) to promote the book and the character (especially in the instance of a series), but I made audible annoyed sounds every time I read those words. My suggestion might be to include a symbol or some other easily-scanned-over-if-I'm-not-interested-in-sharing-something-related-to-this at the end of appropriate sentences and keep the "Visit cheesiemack.com" section at the end as a final reminder.
Even with my dislikes, I did enjoy the book and I'm happy to see that it's being ordered for my library. The next time someone asks for Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and it is inevitably checked out, I have another back-up to suggest.
I have to add that I keep thinking about this title. The story seems like it could turn into something unbelievable, but it doesn't. I really like that aspect of it; it's book of 11-year-old boys experiencing 11-year-old boy things.
allison_13's review against another edition
1.0
Part of my Caudill/Bluestem/Monarch challenge.
Cheesie Mack is graduating from fifth grade and looking forward to the best summer of all time. That is until his best friend can't go to summer camp. Cheesie decides not to go to summer camp either. Instead he'll have to work on winning the point war against his sister. And then, he and Georgie find a mysterious envelope with a penny and a necklace in it. Who does the penny belong to and can they find that person?
Blech... I did not enjoy this book at all. I know I complain regularly about characters acting too old for their age, and now I'm going to complain about characters acting their age. Perhaps Cheesie Mack was absolutely realistic, but I just found myself annoyed by him. And his sister was even worse. I understand fighting my siblings. In fact, we used to fight tooth and nail. But I would never have talked back to a teacher like that. The mystery was mildly interesting. I suppose people will enjoy reading that bit. Unfortunately, the whole thing was undermined by the annoying characters.
Cheesie Mack is graduating from fifth grade and looking forward to the best summer of all time. That is until his best friend can't go to summer camp. Cheesie decides not to go to summer camp either. Instead he'll have to work on winning the point war against his sister. And then, he and Georgie find a mysterious envelope with a penny and a necklace in it. Who does the penny belong to and can they find that person?
Blech... I did not enjoy this book at all. I know I complain regularly about characters acting too old for their age, and now I'm going to complain about characters acting their age. Perhaps Cheesie Mack was absolutely realistic, but I just found myself annoyed by him. And his sister was even worse. I understand fighting my siblings. In fact, we used to fight tooth and nail. But I would never have talked back to a teacher like that. The mystery was mildly interesting. I suppose people will enjoy reading that bit. Unfortunately, the whole thing was undermined by the annoying characters.
amdame1's review against another edition
3.0
4th book in the Cheesie Mack series.
Cheesie and his best friend Georgie are messing around at a construction site when they find a buried object. Turns out that this object might have significant historical value so Cheesie and Georgie start getting lots of media attention.
Full of humor, drawings, and lists this is a good read-alike for wimpy kid fans.
Cheesie and his best friend Georgie are messing around at a construction site when they find a buried object. Turns out that this object might have significant historical value so Cheesie and Georgie start getting lots of media attention.
Full of humor, drawings, and lists this is a good read-alike for wimpy kid fans.
pyrrhicspondee's review
3.0
Three on account of the slow start, high three on account of the pretty good finish.
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