Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that in this sequel to Donuthead, Sarah's father drinks, smokes, and is possibly abusive, though nothing is described. Also, Franklin is the product of a sperm donor -- young readers may ask what that is.
Families can discuss Franklin's obsessions. All of them are based in science and reality -- so why aren't they reasonable? Why is getting him to do unsafe things seen as beneficial?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Matt Berman
Try to ignore the hideous cover and the silly, pointless title. The hallmark of author Sue Stauffacher's books is characters so lovingly drawn, in all their quirkiness and (in Franklin's case, at least) neurosis, that the reader falls in love with them, too.
In real life, someone like Franklin might be irritating and weird but, as the author allows us inside his head, his quirks and obsessions become endearing, and readers can easily see past them into his large heart.
In fact, heart -- as the title indicates -- is what this book is about: Franklin's heart, enlarging as he learns to see beyond his own worries; the hearts of the adults, who see what is happening to Sarah and are powerless to do much about it; and Sarah's heart, held so tightly protected, that opens like a flower when she skates. It's also about the author's heart, which she shares so generously, and, most especially, about the reader's heart, which will be touched and expanded by this delightful, funny, poignant -- but never sentimental -- book.
From The Book
In the course of human events, it is sometimes necessary to reduce one's water intake to delay natural functioning. Using the boys' bathroom at Pelican View Middle School was to be avoided whenever possible. I will spare you the details of my first visit; it's enough to know that it involved me, Franklin Delano Donuthead, an industrial-sized roll of toilet paper, and an eighth grader's knowledge of ancient Egyptian mummification techniques.
The problem is, the adolescent body is 75 percent water. And what goes in must come out. Just not in the boys' bathroom. Note that I did not say "the boys' and girls' bathrooms." All you need is a peek through the open door to realize that girls can attend to their business behind closed doors. I am still working through my feelings about this. Who decided -- and then proceeded to tell generations of architects -- that boys need less privacy than girls? Who? Girls are always saying they want everything to be equal. Hello? The restroom facilities are not equal.
Plot Summary:
In this sequel to Donuthead, Franklin is now in middle school. He's still obsessed with germs and safety, is starting to notice girls, and has to deal with public bathrooms.
Franklin and Sarah continue to help each other. Sarah guards the bathroom for him, and Franklin helps her with skating and school. But things aren't going well in Sarah's life, and she and her deadbeat father begin hinting that they won't be staying around much longer.
Related Books:
Other Books by Sue Stauffacher
Harry Sue
Donuthead
Quirky Friends
The Facts and Fictions of Minna Pratt by Patricia MacLachlan
Secret Letters from 0 to 10 by Susie Morgenstern
Losers, Inc. by Claudia Mills
Some Friend by Sally Warner
Sparks by Graham McNamee
Leon and the Spitting Image by Allen Kurzweil
Related Web Sites
Author's site
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Sexual ContentFranklin's mom smooches her boyfriend. Franklin is the product of a sperm donor. He's starting to notice girls (and women). |
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Social BehaviorFranklin overcomes personal neuroses that border on obsessive to help a friend. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoSarah's father smokes, drinks, and gets drunk. |
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