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bailee_c's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
kiraly's review
4.0
An easy read about some kids who build a fort in the woods over the summer. Brought back memories of my own childhood fort-building experiences, though we never tried to sleep in it.
mrskatiefitz's review against another edition
2.0
Eleven-year-old friends Wyatt and Augie are thrilled when they are given permission to build and sleep out in their very own fort. What they don't count on, though, is being discovered by Gerard, a teenager in the neighborhood with special needs, or becoming his defenders against some serious bullies.
There are so many wonderful things about this book. Wyatt and Augie are such believable boys, filled with mischief, excitement, plans, and ideas. Their treatment of Gerard as an equal, rather than as a burden, is realistic and inspiring, and the injury-free pranks they pull make it easy for young readers to bask in the enjoyment of seeing nasty bullies get their comeuppance. The adult characters, too, are involved with the kids, and they support them in the building of their fort, and look out for them when they sleep away from home. All the most significant elements of the story add up to a truly great middle grade novel with a strong, but mostly subtle message about defending others and doing the right thing.
Unfortunately, as morally uplifting as this book might sound, there is a major flaw in the story that essentially ruins it. From the first chapter, Wyatt spends a lot of time contemplating the size, shape, and softness of Augie's great-aunt's breasts. The boys also ogle a calendar featuring scantily clad women modeling next to cars. There is an undercurrent of sexism and sexuality that seems grossly inappropriate for a book that would otherwise appeal mainly to upper elementary readers. It would be less of a problem if these were just a couple of throw-away lines - or if this were a YA book - but the theme recurs throughout the story, and is even the punchline of the final line of the book. As the plot really isn't about sex at all, these details just seem gratuitous, as though the author can think of no other way to relate to boys than to objectify every female character. What a hugely disappointing problem for an otherwise great story.
For better books about male bonding and friendship, as well as bullying, try Twerp by Mark Goldblatt and Dump Days by Jerry Spinelli.
There are so many wonderful things about this book. Wyatt and Augie are such believable boys, filled with mischief, excitement, plans, and ideas. Their treatment of Gerard as an equal, rather than as a burden, is realistic and inspiring, and the injury-free pranks they pull make it easy for young readers to bask in the enjoyment of seeing nasty bullies get their comeuppance. The adult characters, too, are involved with the kids, and they support them in the building of their fort, and look out for them when they sleep away from home. All the most significant elements of the story add up to a truly great middle grade novel with a strong, but mostly subtle message about defending others and doing the right thing.
Unfortunately, as morally uplifting as this book might sound, there is a major flaw in the story that essentially ruins it. From the first chapter, Wyatt spends a lot of time contemplating the size, shape, and softness of Augie's great-aunt's breasts. The boys also ogle a calendar featuring scantily clad women modeling next to cars. There is an undercurrent of sexism and sexuality that seems grossly inappropriate for a book that would otherwise appeal mainly to upper elementary readers. It would be less of a problem if these were just a couple of throw-away lines - or if this were a YA book - but the theme recurs throughout the story, and is even the punchline of the final line of the book. As the plot really isn't about sex at all, these details just seem gratuitous, as though the author can think of no other way to relate to boys than to objectify every female character. What a hugely disappointing problem for an otherwise great story.
For better books about male bonding and friendship, as well as bullying, try Twerp by Mark Goldblatt and Dump Days by Jerry Spinelli.
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