 | 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. |
Shakespeare Bats Cleanup
- By Ron Koertge
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Common Sense Media says
Poetry helps a jock get well -- and get the girl.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that many types of poetry are discussed and modeled, perhaps prompting some readers to try some of their own. The power of words and writing to help us deal with life is shown (not to mention that writing poetry gets Kevin a terrific girlfriend!).
What's the story?
Kevin is a great baseball player -- until he's sidelined with mono. Forced to spend weeks in bed, out of boredom he picks up a journal his father gives him and starts experimenting with writing poetry, first free verse, then various forms that he picks up from a book on poetry he finds on his father's shelves. He writes about his life, his illness, and his mother's death.
Soon he's hooked, and even when he gets well and gets back to regular life, he finds that he can't stop writing, even in the dugout. Though teased by his teammates, his love of writing is noticed by others, including a beautiful new girl in school who is attracted by the idea of a boy with brains and sensitivity.
Is it any good?
Haiku, sonnet, pantoum, ballad, blank verse, sestina, rhymed couplets, and pastoral are just some of the forms Kevin tries, along with learning about rhythm, meter, and types of rhyme. The plot proceeds in the poetry, the poetry is integral to the plot, and the two together form a seamless whole that is accessible even to reluctant readers. The writing is believably that of a young teen; one can see progression in his skill, and the voice is real. It's about as well done as a novel in verse can be.
Kevin's laid-back, humorous personality gives this book a warm, light touch, even when dealing with a serious issue. Though Kevin is coping with his mother's death, by the time the book starts he's past the worst of it, and just feeling a sense of loss and a vague melancholy. But most of the book is concerned with his life, his attempts to get it back after the disease passes, and the new layers writing has added. It's a delightful confection.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about poetry. Which poem in the book was your favorite? What did you enjoy about it -- the use of form, the subject matter, both? What types of poetry do you enjoy reading and writing? Do you find some subjects better suited to certain forms of poetry than others?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
This is a must read for boys and girls
This book is filled with real life events of a tween or middle schooler.... every one knows how it feels to not be able to play a sport they love to play because they have a injury or health issue, in this case the young boy is on the baseball team and then gets told he has mono and won't be able to play... while he is recuperating he switched to poetry and figures out he really likes releasing his feelings in that way.... This is a must read for anyone, parents, grandparents, boy or girls
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Cute
It's a sweet, light read. Enjoyable but not touching. I would recommend it to anyone between ten and fourteen.
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Author: | Ron Koertge |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Contemporary Fiction |
| Publisher: | Candlewick Press |
| Publication date: | August 16, 2004 |
| Number of pages: | 116 |
| Hardcover price: | $15.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 12 - 17 |
Review It
Register now to save reviews and advice articles to your personal lists!
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already read it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
