A Season of Gifts (by Richard Peck)
common sense media says
Meet a crabby 90-year-old heroine kids will love.
parents & educators say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that teens smoke and drink, and one gets pregnant, though none of this is described. There's a wonderful message in this book about giving.
Educational value:
The story takes place in the '50s, and there are some details about that era. Also, Mrs. Dowdel hearkens back to an earlier time when people made everything they needed from scratch, and allowed nothing to go to waste. Readers may be interested in some of her projects.
Positive role models:
Mrs. Dowdel may be crotchety, but she works tirelessly behind the scenes to improve the lives of others.
Violence:
A large turtle is killed for soup. A boy is bullied and humiliated by a group of older boys who strip him and tie him up naked where Mrs. Dowdel will find him.
Sex:
An unwed teen is pregnant and forced to marry.
Language:
Not applicable.
Consumerism:
Beer and cigarette brands mentioned.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Drinking and drunkenness, including young teens, a drunk driving accident, teens smoke, kids smoke cornsilk.
More on A Season of Gifts
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Jonathan Lud
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
A season of gifts,Five star book
A season of gifts is a book about a boy named Bob. Bob and his family just moved in to the neighborhood(Excuse my spelling)Bob and his little sister think the house next door is haunted.Bob got his answer.NO! One day, he was walking home and a group of thugs took him to the crick and threw him in with his hands tied behind his back.The thugs took him out and made him walk home naked.They hung him with fishing line over Mrs. Dowdels Privy.Mrs Dowdel came into the privy and saw Bob hanging there.She took him in and gave him a tarp to wear.A few months later, Mrs Dowdel discovered a Kikapoo Princess's box in her Melon Patch.Bob's dad laid it to rest and bueied it in a cemetary.
One of the thugs, Roscoe crashes Bob's sister, Phyliss's car into Mrs Wilcox' Yard.He is Immediately arrested and Phyliss is grounded.She is forbidden to see him.
Now come christmas time,Mrs Dowdel, Mrs Wilcox And 13 year old Bob go to find a Christmas tree.Mrs. Dowdel makes Bob drive.They get their tree.
Christmas night,after church service,Bob's Mom gets a knock at the door.Mrs Dowdels grandson has come to town to distract Phyliss from Roscoe.
The End
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Jonathan L
kid, 12 years old
kid, 12 years old
An Awesome Book
A season of gifts is a book about a boy named Bob. Bob and his family just moved in to the neighborhood(Excuse my spelling)Bob and his little sister think the house next door is haunted.Bob got his answer.NO! One day, he was walking home and a group of thugs took him to the crick and threw him in with his hands tied behind his back.The thugs took him out and made him walk home naked.They hung him with fishing line over Mrs. Dowdels Privy.Mrs Dowdel came into the privy and saw Bob hanging there.She took him in and gave him a tarp to wear.A few months later, Mrs Dowdel discovered a Kikapoo Princess's box in her Melon Patch.Bob's dad laid it to rest and bueied it in a cemetary. One of the thugs, Roscoe crashes Bob's sister, Phyliss's car into Mrs Wilcox' Yard.He is Immediately arrested and Phyliss is grounded.She is forbidden to see him. Now come christmas time,Mrs Dowdel, Mrs Wilcox And 13 year old Bob go to find a Christmas tree.Mrs. Dowdel makes Bob drive.They get their tree. Christmas night,after church service,Bob's Mom gets a knock at the door.Mrs Dowdels grandson has come to town to distract Phyliss from Roscoe. The End
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