The Gollywhopper Games - Jody Feldman

Suspenseful, high-stakes contest of puzzles.

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Common Sense rates it
4
Read the book?
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Book details
  • Author:Jody Feldman
  • # of pages: 308
  • Publisher:Greenwillow Books
  • Original Publication Date: 03/01/2008
  • Genre: Fiction - Mystery
  • Hardcover: $16.99
  • Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: 10-14
  • Read Aloud: 9
  • Read Alone: 10

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that there is nothing to be concerned about here. Some characters cheat, but are caught, and the main character is honest, even when offered bribes.

Families can talk about the games and puzzles. Do you like word games? Were you able to solve any of them yourself? How did you do it?

Message

Social Behavior:

Several of the contestants cheat, but our hero is honest and true-blue.

Consumerism:

Video game brands mentioned.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

Sex

Language

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Matt Berman

Ten children are picked out of thousands to compete in the Gollywhopper Games, a contest sponsored by a toy company, with fabulous prizes to win. But Gil has more at stake -- the year before, his father, who worked for the company, was fired and arrested, falsely accused of embezzlement. Though acquitted, he and his family are still treated like criminals, and Gil wants to get enough money for them to move out of town. But the president of the company wants to bribe him to drop out, some of the other contestants are cheating, and one of them might have information about the real criminal.

Is it any good?

4
Start with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. Make Charlie a little more dynamic, and add a backstory wherein he is trying to exonerate his father. Lose the silly humor, keep the magical factory, but change the tour to a series of puzzles and games, and you're getting close to the idea of THE GOLLYWHOPPER GAMES, which the author says was inspired by a boy who loved Dahl's classic book and wanted something else like it.

OK, it's not really much like it, but the result is exciting and suspenseful, with puzzles that are just challenging enough, and characters to root for who are appealing, if not very fleshed out. Bright middle-graders will enjoy it, including pausing to figure out the riddles before the characters do, and may get interested in solving more word puzzles and playing word games afterwards. Good fun.

Other choices

More Contests:
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
The Big Bazoohley by Peter Carey
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Stone Fox by John R. Gardiner
Representing Super Doll by Richard Peck
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Words by Heart by Ouida Sebestyen
Benny and the Crazy Contest by Cheryl Zach
The View from Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling

Related Web sites:
Author's Site
Author's Blog

Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 1 reviews.

4


Posted on 07/05/08 by dragonsrule! Kid contributor, age 8

A great story!

I loved it! A boy enters some games so he can get money to move. This story has some puzzles in it and one at the end. A must read for both boys and girls!

Adult Reviews

There are 0 reviews.

There are no adult reviews.

Kids Reviews

There are 1 reviews.

4


Posted on 07/05/08 by dragonsrule! Kid contributor, age 8

A great story!

I loved it! A boy enters some games so he can get money to move. This story has some puzzles in it and one at the end. A must read for both boys and girls!
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