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booksaregreat7777's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lanica's review
5.0
TEACHER/LIBRARIAN REVIEW: I read this book aloud to a fourth grade class I was subbing for (for three weeks) and the kids loved it! There are interesting characters and the story is really funny. Summary: Some kids from the same neighborhood want to earn a million dollars over the summer. They decided they are going to fake a UFO photo and sell it to the tabloids - but things don't work out quite the way they have planned.
While reading the book, the class used collected materials to create their own UFO's. We went outside and took our own photos by throwing them up in the air. They were warned at the very beginning that they might get broken, so there were no tears as things fell apart. If I had had more time I would have used those photos to have the kids write the tabloid article they thought could earn them a million dollars.
We were also talking in a parallel unit about the design process in science and that would be another great tie in for education, to have the kids work up a full design and plan before they started building the UFO.
Great book with wonderful educational opportunities, and the kids love the story, the humor and the thought provoking discussions it leads to. Highly recommended!
While reading the book, the class used collected materials to create their own UFO's. We went outside and took our own photos by throwing them up in the air. They were warned at the very beginning that they might get broken, so there were no tears as things fell apart. If I had had more time I would have used those photos to have the kids write the tabloid article they thought could earn them a million dollars.
We were also talking in a parallel unit about the design process in science and that would be another great tie in for education, to have the kids work up a full design and plan before they started building the UFO.
Great book with wonderful educational opportunities, and the kids love the story, the humor and the thought provoking discussions it leads to. Highly recommended!
trekbicycles's review
5.0
The Gutman misplaced nostalgia fest continues -- I love the translations of Australian to American English!
kleedc73's review
3.0
My niece recommended this to me and it was a very funny, quirky little book. I liked it alot. The characters are interesting and the plot was original. I hope there is a sequel!
carmenhartjensen's review
3.0
Another one I read as a preview for a kid's summer book club. I'm excited to discuss this one with a group of youngsters. I think their insights and opinions are going to be really interesting.
mckenzierichardson's review against another edition
4.0
For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. When looking for a short audiobook to listen to in the car, I stumbled across this one and gave it a try. I figured it would be a cutesy middle-grade read.
At first, I was a little apprehensive about the money-obsessed main character and the focus on lying to get rich, but by the end, I actually really enjoyed this one. The story itself was unique and interesting. The writing was engaging and fun. And I never saw the ending coming, which came as a great surprise to finish off a fascinating story.
Lying is a big plot point in the book, but by the end, it's clear why it's a problematic practice. The book treats the moral in a way that isn't preachy and feels natural rather than an in-your-face "lying is bad" message. The consequences of lying are perfectly integrated into the story so that the kids learn their lesson but the story remains fun and interesting.
An entertaining and silly read that sneaks in a moral as well.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. When looking for a short audiobook to listen to in the car, I stumbled across this one and gave it a try. I figured it would be a cutesy middle-grade read.
At first, I was a little apprehensive about the money-obsessed main character and the focus on lying to get rich, but by the end, I actually really enjoyed this one. The story itself was unique and interesting. The writing was engaging and fun. And I never saw the ending coming, which came as a great surprise to finish off a fascinating story.
Lying is a big plot point in the book, but by the end, it's clear why it's a problematic practice. The book treats the moral in a way that isn't preachy and feels natural rather than an in-your-face "lying is bad" message. The consequences of lying are perfectly integrated into the story so that the kids learn their lesson but the story remains fun and interesting.
An entertaining and silly read that sneaks in a moral as well.
reading_meg's review
4.0
- this was a book I enjoyed as a child and decided to reread! It was really interesting to see how much I remembered!
- this book is pretty ridiculous, but in a way kids would really enjoy.
- I really loved the ending, which I had almost completely forgotten from the first time I read it!
- this book is pretty ridiculous, but in a way kids would really enjoy.
- I really loved the ending, which I had almost completely forgotten from the first time I read it!
weminence's review
5.0
This book is important to me. In 2008, I was in fifth grade and in fifth grade I hated reading unless I was being read too. Most of the books I picked up were boring and long and useless, but I had to read for thirty minutes each day because our teacher made me. I hated it. I was mostly skimming over books instead of reading them and I just wasn't enjoying myself. Then I picked up this book and the dedication was 'to those children who don't like to read' or something along those lines. The book's on my desk, but honestly, I'm too lazy to get out of bed and get it. That dedication spurred me into reading this book, which led me to love this book, which led me to love reading. Without this book, I probably wouldn't be the avid reader I am today, I wouldn't love to sit still and live someone else's life like I do now. This book is important to me because without this book I wouldn't have a passion for books.
Thank you, Dan Gutman, for writing an engaging (to fifth grade me) funny story. I really appreciate it.
Thank you, Dan Gutman, for writing an engaging (to fifth grade me) funny story. I really appreciate it.
ansh777's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
very much elementary level, but it's also the kind of book you only read once