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broncoannee's review against another edition
4.0
I got a kick out of this. While the main character makes some bad choices, he also learns some great life lessons. The letters from Ben Franklin could be hard to read for many kids (I even found myself having to slow down with the words he used and his sentence structures.) But there's a lot of humor throughout.
broncoannee's review against another edition
4.0
Fun and hilarious
“What is important is that the letter arrived in BF’s mailbox in the year 1776. And once we both stopped not believing who the other person was, BF and I became pen pals. It turned out we had a lot in common, because my junior high school is a vipers’ nest of backbiting and clique-building and fart jokes, and Colonial politics is exactly the same.”
“I made my way up the block with my heart hammering against my chest, half expecting all the people and even the horses to stop short at the sight of me and start pointing and whispering. But that type of thing never actually happens in real life, not even in Colonial times. We just think that way because each and every one of us secretly believes we’re the center of the universe, with nobody, including yours truly, actually bothering to remember that the other guy is just as caught up in his own life and feelings as you are in yours, and so we just barrel around acting like toolboxes all the time.”
“What is important is that the letter arrived in BF’s mailbox in the year 1776. And once we both stopped not believing who the other person was, BF and I became pen pals. It turned out we had a lot in common, because my junior high school is a vipers’ nest of backbiting and clique-building and fart jokes, and Colonial politics is exactly the same.”
“I made my way up the block with my heart hammering against my chest, half expecting all the people and even the horses to stop short at the sight of me and start pointing and whispering. But that type of thing never actually happens in real life, not even in Colonial times. We just think that way because each and every one of us secretly believes we’re the center of the universe, with nobody, including yours truly, actually bothering to remember that the other guy is just as caught up in his own life and feelings as you are in yours, and so we just barrel around acting like toolboxes all the time.”
ali_brarian's review against another edition
1.0
An NPL teen gives this book 1/5 stars and notes that it was boring, scary, suspenseful, surprising, and made them angry. This reader also says:
"I don't really like the book, because it is not funny..." Check out what else this reader had to say on our Monthly Teen Book Giveaway reviews page: https://www.libraryaware.com/1186/NewsletterIssues/ViewIssue/8e56a2d1-25b0-4f1f-a020-ed2b29ac70ef
"I don't really like the book, because it is not funny..." Check out what else this reader had to say on our Monthly Teen Book Giveaway reviews page: https://www.libraryaware.com/1186/NewsletterIssues/ViewIssue/8e56a2d1-25b0-4f1f-a020-ed2b29ac70ef
froggylibrarian1's review against another edition
2.0
Honestly I should have known based on the title but I decided to read it hoping it would be something for my reluctant readers, maybe boys. Yeah, no. I knew at the end of the first chapter that there was no way I was going to recommend it or buy it.
Franklin Isaac (who goes by Ike) has an assignment to write an imaginary letter to a famous person. He chooses to write to Ben Franklin whom he was namd after. In that first letter he mentioned Jungle Juice which "makes the chicks lose control". I was done at that point. A 13 yr old protagonist speaking about girls that way? Nope? In addition, he himself stole a six pack and drank 2 beers (they ended up being non-alcoholic but he didn't know it at the time). I also worry that the correspondence between Ik and Franklin (yes, it turns out they actually communicate) will be hard to read - Ben Franklin talks in the English of his day.
There were parts I did like and I can see middle school boys buying this and enjoying it but I don't feel I can promote it.
Franklin Isaac (who goes by Ike) has an assignment to write an imaginary letter to a famous person. He chooses to write to Ben Franklin whom he was namd after. In that first letter he mentioned Jungle Juice which "makes the chicks lose control". I was done at that point. A 13 yr old protagonist speaking about girls that way? Nope? In addition, he himself stole a six pack and drank 2 beers (they ended up being non-alcoholic but he didn't know it at the time). I also worry that the correspondence between Ik and Franklin (yes, it turns out they actually communicate) will be hard to read - Ben Franklin talks in the English of his day.
There were parts I did like and I can see middle school boys buying this and enjoying it but I don't feel I can promote it.
nerfherder86's review against another edition
3.0
This is a funny book for middle graders about a boy who accidentally starts a correspondence with the real Benjamin Franklin. Franklin Isaac Saturday ("Ike") has to write a letter to a historical figure for a school project, and he picks Benjamin Franklin, but complains to him about how he hates being named after him, along with other beefs that he's sure no one will ever read, like losing his best friend now that they're in junior high. To add to the authenticity and hopefully get extra credit, Ike puts really old stamps on the letter, in an envelope sealed with wax for full effect; as a joke he pops it into a mailbox and later receives a reply letter! It's a silly premise but it's totally cool once you get into it. Benjamin and Ike give each other advice about the issues in their lives--Ben's jealousy of Thomas Jefferson, Ike's troubles with bullies and his crush on a girl--and things escalate in both time periods; has Ike changed the course of history with his interference?It leads to a cliffhanger ending! Aaah! Very fun, has some slightly longwinded jokes, but perfectly captures the fears and insecurities of 12 year old boys, while also slipping in some historical stuff.
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