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hollyrebeccasmith's review
5.0
Tons of fun. Readers will learn fun facts and clearly hear the conclusion encouraging them to look harder into history, because there are many cool stories we aren't taught.
sarahanne8382's review against another edition
5.0
The premise of this book - which of our dead Presidents would you bring back to life to fight off the robot apocalypse - seems ridiculous, but it's actually a really fun way to look at our country's Presidents. I laughed a lot and I even learned some new things, like what an underrated President Polk was, or just ill of health Woodrow Wilson was. I kept constantly pointing out parts of this book to whoever was close by. Sure it's written to grab the attention of middle-school boys, but this 30-something mom was entranced. Great for history noobs and know-it-alls.
kailawil's review against another edition
4.0
Favorite excerpt: "It could be argued that Wilson was from a different time, but it could also be argued that so was Lincoln, you racist jerk."
pwbalto's review against another edition
4.0
PRETTY sure - like 100% sure - this is a kids' version of How to Fight Presidents, which was super profane but a gigantic fave at our house. Only goes up to Reagan, which is a disappointment - I'd love to see where either Bush scores on the badassery scale. And he makes kind of a big deal out of "this is the history the grownups have been keeping from you," and mentions things like Kennedy's infidelity and Grover Cleveland's probable illegitimate child, but Sally Hemings? Does not show up.
michellest's review against another edition
3.0
I love Daniel O'Brien, but I didn't like this book nearly as much as How to Fight the Presidents (or as funny). This book seemed really unclear about the age of its target audience, and it ended up being a drag to get through.
sharonfalduto's review against another edition
5.0
This is, allegedly, a book for kids--although I'm not sure what kids Daniel O'Brien hangs out with that he thinks they will get his "Ocean's 11" reference. Regardless, this a great history book about all of our non-living presidents, and which ones you would want on your "fantasy dream team" as your brains, brawn, moral compass, loose cannon, and Roosevelt (really only a couple of choices there). O'Brien manages to fit in historical fact as well as interesting trivia about each president, in short vignettes.
I also learned that we have had other presidents who really just wanted to be president for the money and prestige, and who spent their way through decorating the white house in a lavish fashion even during economic recessions...so....although the current administration seems so out of place, it's really in keeping with a tradition of crummy presidents.
I also learned that we have had other presidents who really just wanted to be president for the money and prestige, and who spent their way through decorating the white house in a lavish fashion even during economic recessions...so....although the current administration seems so out of place, it's really in keeping with a tradition of crummy presidents.
shelly416's review
3.0
I love Daniel O'Brien, but I didn't like this book nearly as much as How to Fight the Presidents (or as funny). This book seemed really unclear about the age of its target audience, and it ended up being a drag to get through.
ash_thelibrarian_reads's review
2.0
In this offering from Daniel O’Brien readers are tasked with drafting their own presidential fantasy team much as you would draft a fantasy football team. The author presents five positions that need to be filled using the presidents. He then offers a chapter each for all of the deceased United States’ presidents from George Washington through Ronald Reagan. He purposefully leaves out any living presidents. In each chapter he discusses many things that were significant to their lives as well as presidencies while making a case as to why they should or should not be featured on your fantasy team.
The concept of this book is really intriguing and fun. I can see how this would be a good way to introduce late elementary or early middle school children to the presidents. Winston Rowntree's illustrations that accompany the chapters are well done and quite humorous. These may be the best part of the book. However, while reading this book I was really torn between whether I actually liked it or not. O’Brien uses humor to grab the reader’s attention, but he also glosses over many of the important yet unflattering pieces of the presidents' lives. Some examples where the author falls flat are when he neglects to mention Thomas Jefferson’s children from his relationship with his slave on Jefferson's stat sheet, Andrew Jackson is painted as a crazy, but likable hero without once mentioning the atrocities he committed against Native Americans and when describing Washington’s success in the Revolutionary War he attributes his wins to “magic”. Magic?? Is this a non-fiction work or fiction? At some points it is hard to tell.
O’Brien comes across extremely biased in his descriptions of the men and he does not stick strictly to the facts. He makes several inferences based on his own opinions and interpretations, which is obviously fine in a non-fiction work, but should be more carefully utilized when writing for readers who may be getting their first introductions to historical figures through this book. He uses some references that would most likely be lost on the target audience of this book. I do not know many elementary and middle school children that know who James Dean is for instance. At points I was laughing while reading this book, but then I would be cringing at other points. The use of humor is fine especially when trying to make a usually dull topic interesting to children, but the material should still be as accurate and unbiased as possible.
The concept of this book is really intriguing and fun. I can see how this would be a good way to introduce late elementary or early middle school children to the presidents. Winston Rowntree's illustrations that accompany the chapters are well done and quite humorous. These may be the best part of the book. However, while reading this book I was really torn between whether I actually liked it or not. O’Brien uses humor to grab the reader’s attention, but he also glosses over many of the important yet unflattering pieces of the presidents' lives. Some examples where the author falls flat are when he neglects to mention Thomas Jefferson’s children from his relationship with his slave on Jefferson's stat sheet, Andrew Jackson is painted as a crazy, but likable hero without once mentioning the atrocities he committed against Native Americans and when describing Washington’s success in the Revolutionary War he attributes his wins to “magic”. Magic?? Is this a non-fiction work or fiction? At some points it is hard to tell.
O’Brien comes across extremely biased in his descriptions of the men and he does not stick strictly to the facts. He makes several inferences based on his own opinions and interpretations, which is obviously fine in a non-fiction work, but should be more carefully utilized when writing for readers who may be getting their first introductions to historical figures through this book. He uses some references that would most likely be lost on the target audience of this book. I do not know many elementary and middle school children that know who James Dean is for instance. At points I was laughing while reading this book, but then I would be cringing at other points. The use of humor is fine especially when trying to make a usually dull topic interesting to children, but the material should still be as accurate and unbiased as possible.
quodfelix's review
4.0
Probably for a narrow audience, but I'm it! Love the presidents and love playing fantasy baseball and strategy games. Delightful sense of humor and some great tidbits to throw in for my history class once in a while.
betsy512's review
5.0
Both my nine year old son and I think this is the best book we have ever read about presidents. Only one of us has a real frame of reference, but he loves it so I won't point that out. Fun and funny, it's full of the kind of fun facts that make people fall in love with history.
Spoiler: Ronald Reagan is considerd the "Wolverine" of presidents. Discuss amongst yourselves.
Recommend if you like: one or more presidents, fun facts, people who agree with me that Warren G. Harding was a crappy president, or you have a sense of humor.
Spoiler: Ronald Reagan is considerd the "Wolverine" of presidents. Discuss amongst yourselves.
Recommend if you like: one or more presidents, fun facts, people who agree with me that Warren G. Harding was a crappy president, or you have a sense of humor.
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