 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Chew on This
- By Charles Wilson, Eric Schlosser
- Genre: Learning
Common Sense Media says
Fast Food Nation for kids is quite meaty.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this book features some upsetting details about how livestock is raised and killed. There are disturbing photographs of rotten body parts. The book also has a pro-union/anti-big business stance. Like Fast Food Nation, from which it was adapted, this book encourages readers to think about what they eat -- and how they spend their money.
What's the story?
This book teaches kids the history of fast food, and shows them the impact it has had on society. Kids learn about the chemicals in the food, how junk food is marketed (and why kids make great targets), how animals are raised and killed, and what it is doing to our bodies.
Is it any good?
Fast Food Nation fans will certainly recognize much of the material here; this book features many of the same stories and facts about junk food. Even so, the subject matter remains fascinating -- and repulsive. You don't want to look, and yet you can't turn away.
Teens may be especially drawn to the profiles of kids throughout the book: The McDonald's employee working long hours at the expense of her school work, the Native American girl working to stop soft drink sales at her school, the obese teen boy worried about having gastric bypass surgery. The photographs seem randomly placed throughout the book, and the narrative can wander a bit. Even so, teens probably will be inspired to rethink their habits.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about their eating habits. How do your kids think they are doing versus most American teens and tweens?
The authors encourage kids to vote with their dollars and "stop buying" junk food from fast-food companies. Ask your kids: Do they think that individual behavior can really make an impact on society? What else could you do to make a difference? Check out the publisher's press release for some ideas.
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AGE
this book teachests lot of stuff
this book is good for all ages. After I read this book i never wanted to go to another fast food reatrount. it trachers You about the smille and the counter of your favoret fast food place. You will never regret reading this book.
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AGE
Must Read witty book about the fast food industry...
This book is an excellent look on fast food's impact on society. The invention of the hamburger, the role of soda in toothless Yupik Eskimos, the people behind the counter of a McDonalds, the teen getting gastric bypass, how McNuggets are made...it's all here. Chew On Thishas some gross content like depiction of a slaughterhouse and organs that were damaged from fast food, but I really think that this book was awesome! Five stars, hands down!
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AGE
Perfect Book
I think this book is very educational for kids and adults cause it teaches you some of the weirdest things but they are things that someone would never tell you in person plus you get the idea to not go to McDonald's cause you see how they treat there employees and how they treat there food. To me this may be the best book for kids ever. I think all kids all over the world should read this.
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AGE
A Student's View Point
I had to read this book for my language class. We had a number of high point assignments based off of it, so I had no choice in the matter of whether to read it or not. I was born and raised on a beef farm and we also have chickens. This book is biased and unfair to small farmers like my father. It is also written in a manner that is not necessary for competent tenth graders. We can definitely handle the full on version of Fast Food Nation for any teachers out there wondering.
You must understand that not all, in fact, many farms are NOT at all inhumane or bad to their animals. I am very disappointed by this author and frustrated with my teacher for making us read such childish materials.
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AGE
Student Review for Chew On This
Chew On This is getting many praises.
But for what?
everyone knows what is going on in the fast-food industry. We're just choosing not to acknowledge these "truths"
Every student except for two in my classes dreaded reading the book for our summer reading.
No high school student cared what was in our food or what fast food chain used what company for potatoes.
So they use an ingredient from bugs in strawberry milkshakes.
Nothing will be able to stop a high school student from having what they like.
I never finished reading it. I had to force myself to read through the introduction.
This book was full of dry information with dull "facts".
Call me ignorant, but i live in reality where no book is powerful enough to start boycotts on fast-food.
Nothing will change and this dull sligtly fictional book is not going to make a slight difference.
Do yourself a favor: don't buy this book, and if you are concerned about fast food- just don't eat it!
And as principal for your school or in charge of your school district, do your school(s) a favor: don't buy this book, or you will see kids wih chickfila bags and reluctant english students with less than perfect scores.
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AGE
^__^ AMAZING!!!!
I *L*O*V*E*D* this book! It was amazing in my view, I feel that it took me where I wanted to go within fastfood places. It shows history, facts, causes, ect of fastfood. Not everyone will enjoy this book because it may ruin their view on the fastfood they loved, or it may get 'gross'. But for someone like me it was perfect, I like the truth and that is what it gave me ^__^
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AGE
Very Interesting
I really liked this book,it tells you a lot about how fastfood harms us.The book amazed me when I first read it.Because I was younger and I had no idea how terrible fast food was.Sure I knew it was bad for you,but I did not know how bad.this really opens a window for kids my age.Read it!
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AGE
Let them see the advertising ploys!
Excellent book for teaching the way big business in America works. You can see how McDonald's has its hand in so much of our culture and economy. Add to that the 12 year-olds love the disgusting facts and practical applications of science, math, business,etc, and you have a great book.
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| Authors: | Charles Wilson, Eric Schlosser |
| Book type: | Non-Fiction |
| Genre: | Learning |
| Publisher: | Houghton Mifflin Children's Books |
| Publication date: | May 9, 2006 |
| Number of pages: | 270 |
| Hardcover price: | $16.00 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 12 - 12 |
| Read aloud: | 12 |
| Read alone: | 12 |
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