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A review by jennikify
Cheesie Mack Is Not a Genius or Anything by Steve Cotler
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.