Community Reviews

Rating(4 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
29(29%)
4 stars
44(44%)
3 stars
27(27%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
0(0%)
100 reviews
July 15,2025
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One of my favorite books of all time is truly a remarkable piece of literature.

It has the power to transport me to different worlds and introduce me to a plethora of unique characters.

The story unfolds in a way that keeps me on the edge of my seat, eager to turn the next page and discover what lies ahead.

The author's writing style is engaging and descriptive, painting vivid pictures in my mind.

I can feel the emotions of the characters as if I were right there with them.

This book has not only entertained me but also taught me valuable lessons about life, love, and friendship.

It has become a constant companion, and I find myself coming back to it time and time again.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story that will touch their heart and leave a lasting impression.

July 15,2025
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This book tells the story of a boy named Roy.

Roy endeavors to defend the home of some extremely small owls. He takes a stand against the construction of a new pancake house on the very spot where these owls live.

It is truly a great read. The book is filled with thrilling action and exciting moments that keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

I am particularly fond of the vivid descriptions the author employs throughout the entire story. It effectively portrays the town in Florida where Roy resides, making it come alive in the reader's mind.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who has a passion for realistic fiction. In fact, it is a great choice for anyone who simply loves to read and embark on a captivating literary journey.
July 15,2025
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This book was an outstanding one.

I highly recommend this book to those individuals who have a penchant for mystery books. The reason I was so enamored with this book is that it was extremely interesting and didn't require a long time to engage the reader.

However, the one aspect I didn't like was the way it left you on a cliffhanger.

The main character, Sam, had issues with the bully on his bus, and the girl named Beatrice was also behaving rather poorly.

One day, he saw a random homeless kid on the street, got out, and started chasing him. Eventually, he met the kid, but when he went back, the kid was gone.

On the other side of the story, there were people trying to build a pancake house. However, every night, mysterious individuals would come and put alligators in the bathrooms and spray paint the police car while Officer Delinko was sleeping.

There were also owls that lived underground, and the people were planning to build over their habitat.

All in all, this was a really good book, and I strongly recommend that you read it. So, if you're interested, give this book a try.
July 15,2025
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Super cute!

This is an absolute must-read for young readers. The story is filled with charming characters and delightful adventures that will capture their hearts and imaginations.

The author has a wonderful way of bringing the story to life, making it both engaging and entertaining. The illustrations are also very well done, adding an extra layer of cuteness to the overall package.

Whether you're looking for a fun bedtime story or a book to keep your little ones occupied on a rainy day, this one is sure to please. So don't hesitate, pick up a copy today and let the magic begin!
July 15,2025
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First, I listened to this book with my kids during a long road trip.

Technically, young adults might be too old for the age range of this book. It is definitely a kids' book, probably targeting 6th - 7th grade. It was highly recommended, but to be honest, I have no clue why.

If I had to guess, I'd say every page has 3 or more cheesy similes or metaphors. Additionally, there was an overabundance of unnecessary adverbs. I understand it's a kids' book, but seriously, the author really overwrote each and every paragraph. The stereotypical characters aren't even sympathetic enough to root for. Most of them were just annoying.

My children did laugh at a couple of parts, which was good. However, on the whole, I think the author was completely out of touch with reality. The smartest character in the book was, of course, the main character Roy. As a middle school kid, he has more maturity than most 25-year-olds today. Every authority figure in the book is comically idiotic, almost to a slapstick degree. This includes Roy's D.O.D. employed father, whose solution to everything in life is to make formal apologies, regardless of the details of fault. The bullying theme doesn't seem to offer any moral or practical insights. It just presents a completely unrealistic image of a school administration that simply needs to be fired. (Perhaps this was a reflection of the author's opinion of FL public schools?)

There are several anti-climaxes. Any one of them could have easily ended the book, but most of them came with 2 or 3 CDs left to hear. This left me wondering exactly how much more of the story I would have to endure and why.

This author was praised for his sarcasm and wit, but I found both to be forced and not humorous at all. I won't be picking up anything else by him, whether it's targeted at adults or kids.
July 15,2025
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I got tricked.

I didn't realize this was Hiaasen's attempt at youth literature. At first glance, the book seemed like it might be something more profound or adult-oriented. However, as I delved deeper into the story, it became clear that it was targeted towards a younger audience.

Hiaasen's writing style, which is known for its wit and humor, was still present, but the themes and characters were more simplistic and accessible for young readers.

While I appreciate his efforts to reach a new audience, I couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. I was expecting something more complex and thought-provoking.

Nonetheless, I can see how this book would appeal to teenagers who are looking for an entertaining and lighthearted read. It has all the elements of a good adventure story, with a touch of Hiaasen's signature charm.

In the end, I guess I just have to remind myself that not every book is going to be a masterpiece, and that sometimes it's okay to enjoy something for what it is.
July 15,2025
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This was a truly adorable story that centered around the noble act of saving local wildlife and bravely standing up to bullies.

I vividly recall the excitement when the movie was released. And now, having read the book, I find myself compelled to watch it again.

The main character, Roy, is an exemplary kid. He fearlessly defends himself against his adversary Dana. Moreover, when he discovers a shoeless boy roaming the area, his kind heart compels him to offer help.

Some of the actions the kids took to halt the construction might have seemed a touch exaggerated, but they undeniably contributed to a highly entertaining story. I especially relished the fact that Roy managed to make a couple of great friends. It was heartwarming to witness people uniting to prevent something bad from occurring.

Overall, this story is a charming blend of adventure, friendship, and the importance of protecting our environment and standing up for what is right.
July 15,2025
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This book is really not the classic Newbery material, but it is good material nonetheless.

The humor it presents may seem a little immature at times. It doesn't have that refined and sophisticated comical touch that some might expect.

Moreover, the environmentalist message within the story caused me to roll my eyes. It felt a bit forced and perhaps not as subtly integrated as it could have been.

However, if you are someone who enjoys dry humor, then overall, this is not a bad read. It has its moments that can make you chuckle, even if it doesn't reach the heights of the most acclaimed literary works.

It's a book that might not be for everyone, but for those with a particular taste in humor, it could provide some entertainment and a different perspective on certain themes.

July 15,2025
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The recommendation of 10 years old and up seems rather young to me, to be honest.

Among the three main families discussed, domestic violence is clearly present in one and hinted at in another. The fact that this serious issue is not even properly addressed, but merely a detail in the story, is deeply concerning. Domestic violence is not something that should be normalized for our young readers.

The parents in the third family appear to be decent, yet they are quite clueless about what their son, Roy, is up to. When the mom attempts to give him advice, she tells him, “Your heart will tell you to do one thing, and your brain will tell you to do something different. In the end, all that’s left is to look at both sides and go with your best judgement.” She essentially just tells him to follow his own best thinking. There is no mention of him being able to come to her or his dad for guidance, nor is he told to seek other safe adults who might be able to assist. This leaves a terrible impression on kids who are already in a stage of life where they are渴望 independence. Of course, they have to start making their own decisions based on what they think is best, but even as adults, it is often wise to seek guidance from others.

The cops in the story seem incompetent, and the captain is clearly more interested in his own position and reputation than in justice. He doesn't seem to care that there is evidence suggesting they may have arrested the wrong kid. He is more than happy to lock him up because he has a record already, just so he doesn't look bad. What impression will a 10-year-old child be left with? Perhaps that cops aren't really the good guys as people make them out to be, and that they aren't actually capable of upholding the law.

The kids lying to their parents and other adults is a recurring theme throughout the book, which is also never addressed.

When Roy is initially bullied, he ends up being the one punished for defending himself. The school staff don't seem interested in what actually happened or in protecting their students. Apparently, they let the actual bullies go without a word. Again, what is the message here? Don't bother going to the school for help if you're being bullied, as you'll just end up in trouble.

This book has the potential to be a great read for my kids, but I was continuously disappointed in the way certain situations were presented. If you want to write for kids about big, difficult issues, you can't just leave them with the impression that the adults in their lives are inept and incapable of helping. It's completely irresponsible. I don't care what awards this book has won; it is not one that my children will be reading.

(I haven't even touched on the barefooted boy who was apparently better off living on the streets alone than calling CPS to intervene in his family, which was definitely experiencing domestic violence.

I could say more, but I've already almost written a book myself... maybe I should!)
July 15,2025
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This is a cute story, but I have to admit that I liked the movie version better.

The content of the story contains some elements that might be a bit concerning. There are expletives, which can be offensive to some people. Additionally, there is bullying, which is not a nice behavior and can have a negative impact on those involved.

Another aspect is the presence of nudity. While it might be a part of the story, it could also make some readers uncomfortable.

Overall, despite the cuteness of the story, these elements might limit its appeal to a wider audience. It would be interesting to see how the movie managed to handle these aspects and still create an engaging and enjoyable experience.

Perhaps the movie was able to tone down the more controversial elements or present them in a way that was more acceptable. It's always interesting to compare different adaptations of the same story and see how they vary in terms of content and presentation.

In conclusion, while the story has its charm, the movie seems to have done a better job in presenting it in a more palatable way.

July 15,2025
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The book that won a Newbery award actually shouldn't have! It is overly focused on the environment, which might seem like a good thing at first glance. However, when it comes to the overall quality of the story, it falls short. The plot may be lacking in depth and excitement, and the characters might not be fully developed. Just because a book has an environmental theme doesn't mean it automatically deserves a prestigious award like the Newbery. There are many other aspects that need to be considered, such as the writing style, the pacing of the story, and the ability to engage the reader on multiple levels. In this case, it seems that the environmental aspect overshadowed the other important elements, resulting in a book that is not very good despite its award.

July 15,2025
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Listened to/read this because Ashley loves it and wanted me to.

I can clearly understand why she likes it so much. The characters in this book are truly fun and engaging. They bring the story to life and make it a joy to follow along.

Moreover, the message conveyed by the book is not only good but also highly thought provoking. It makes you stop and think about certain aspects of life and relationships.

The story is clearly targeted at a middle grade audience. As a result, there are some elements of the plot that are only touched on lightly. However, this doesn't in any way harm the overall story. In fact, it adds to the simplicity and charm of the narrative.

There were also a few elements in the epilogue that didn't quite make complete sense. But once again, they were small details and didn't have a significant impact on the story as a whole.

Overall, this is definitely a good book that I would recommend to others. It has a great combination of fun characters, a thought provoking message, and an engaging story.
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