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Ron Bates

Auteur van The Unflushables

5 Werken 82 Leden 3 Besprekingen

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Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher at ALA Midwinter 2018.
 
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fernandie | Sep 15, 2022 |
This book is a delight in every possible way.

When I received this book in the mail, my first reaction was, "So cute!" and then "Perfect size!" and then "Perfect cover material!" and then "I sure hope it's good!" It was not a disappointment.

Howard Boward is a brilliant little nerd with a streak of passive sarcasm and probably one of my favorite main characters ever. Oh, and Franklin... Franklin Franklin Franklin. He's the BEST. Oh my gosh he's freaking (franklin'?) adorable. And then Reynolds and Winnie are great supporting characters, not to mention everyone in Howard's family. How often are ALL of the characters so well done? Very rarely, is the answer to that question.

If anyone dares say that the plot is too crazy and farfetched I might punch them in the face, because that is hardly a big issue in this book. I think the plot is perfect. Howard makes plenty of stupid decisions, but he learns his lesson in the end.

And the illustrations are franklin' adorable (can I coin that phrase?).

It's basically just an adorable little book.
… (meer)
 
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BrynDahlquis | 1 andere bespreking | Oct 10, 2013 |
Recommended Ages: Gr. 5-8

Plot Summary: Howard Boward has had his fair share of wedgies and swirlies. Clearly the victim of bullies, Howard has no friends. His mother tries to be helpful by giving him a book called "How to Make Friends." Of course, Howard interprets the recommendations a little bit differently than most would. He creates a secret hideout to do his science experiments and tries to get DNA from the UPs (uber-populars) to clone them as his friends. When Reynolds sneaks into his secret lab, everything gets messed up and a monster is created. Howard takes a few days to watch the monster take shape, and Howard plugs the motherboard into his computer so the monster can learn who Franklin is through his FaceSpace account and learn what to wear from a search engine. Franklin learns to talk and becomes Howard's best (and first) friend. But Franklin expresses a desire to go to school. Howard and his uncle get Franklin enrolled as a foreign exchange student from Canada. At first, the teachers and kids are scared of Franklin, but eventually they admire him for his athletic ability and invite him to events with UPs. Howard, but association, is getting cooler too. They join the football team, and Howard finally is invited to the events too. Is he suddenly too cool for Franklin? Howard and Franklin have a big fight and Franklin runs away. Will he be back in time before the championship game? Will they ever be friends again? What will happen when the UPs find out he created Franklin?

Setting: unnamed, suburb?

Characters:
Howard Boward - very knowledgeable about inventors, loves science
Reynolds Pipkin - younger neighbor kid
Winnie McKinney - girl at school who floats between every social group of friends, very smart, knows many of the same facts as Howard
Franklin Stine - monster that Howard and Reynolds create
Mr. Boward - catches wild animals, very sad about bears being locked up in a cage and not able to be a bear
Coach - big and angry, only wants Howard on the football team if Franklin is on it, succumbs to peer pressure and puts Howard in the game during a big moment in the championship game, his pep talk after their tough loss is very general about how everyone is probably thinking if only I did this or he did that but really they are all winners
Nathaniel - AKA Stick, Howard's older brother, always super annoying and pulls bad pranks on Howard, who gets him back
Katie Beth - Howard's older sister, usually ignores Howard but isn't so bad
Uncle - Howard's uncle who works at a computer shop, a big nerd who agrees to help Howard get the parts he needs and get Franklin enrolled in school

Recurring Themes: bullies, popularity, friendship, family, football, family, internet

Controversial Issues:
none that I remember

Personal Thoughts: I thought this book was laugh out loud funny at the very beginning. After the first few chapters, the author toned down the humor, but it was still there. I usually have a hard time with fantasies and that would be true with this one as well. I really needed to suspend my disbelief MANY times during the story, especially when everyone seemed to accept the monster as a human and when he made more monsters for the popular kids. I did like how Winnie didn't automatically forgive Howard for a perfect happy ending.

Genre: Humor, Fantasy

Pacing: Medium
Characters: Pretty well developed but don't get to know the entire family or
Frame:
Storyline:

Activity: Sci fi or fantasy?
… (meer)
½
 
Gemarkeerd
pigeonlover | 1 andere bespreking | Jul 27, 2013 |

Statistieken

Werken
5
Leden
82
Populariteit
#220,761
Waardering
4.8
Besprekingen
3
ISBNs
25
Talen
1

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