James Breakwell

"Tommy closed his eyes. If he were a pterodactyl, he wouldn't have to put up with this."

Like Judy Blume's Fudge wanting to be a bird, Tommy dreams of being a pterodactyl when he grows up. Classmates, teacher, and bus driver nix his idea and even tease him. At home, Tommy unloads to his dad, who listens, and asks, "Tell me why you want to be a pterodactyl." Tommy's dad helps him accomplish (or imagine) some of those things that day, and in a lovely ending - the illustration shows an adult Tommy flying a place with "Pterodactyl Sea Rescue" written on the side - "He grew up to be the best pterodactyl ever."

The humor of dinosaurs plus the magic of listening.… (meer)

First sentence: "You can be anything you want to be," the teacher said to the class.

Premise/plot: Did the teacher mean what she said? If she did, why did she and ALL the students in the class make fun of Tommy (the protagonist) for saying he was going to be a pterodactyl when he grew up???? The book essentially explores why he wants to be a pterodactyl when he grows up. His dad is supportive of his imagination and even joins in.

My thoughts: This book makes no sense at the end. It has a twist ending. But I can't unpack what it means. Perhaps because I'm too literal, too stuck in my ways. It's impossible for a boy to grow up to be a pterodactyl.

The book is silly but I'm not sure if there is a hidden message there.… (meer)

https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/the-chosen-twelve-by-james-breakwell-brief-note/

I felt it was a bit too derivative of Hunger Games and Earthsearch (for those with longer memories), and the powers of the AI (and indeed the human kids) are just sufficient for the plot to proceed as the writer wants.… (meer)