Cover Image

8th grade super zero

by Rhuday-Perkovich, Olugbemisola.

Format: Print Book 2010
Availability: Available at 2 Libraries 2 of 2 copies

Available (2)
Location Collection Call #
CLP - Main Library Teen Department - Teen Fiction TEEN FICTION Rhuday-Perkovich
Location  CLP - Main Library
 
Collection  Teen Department - Teen Fiction
 
Call Number  TEEN FICTION Rhuday-Perkovich
 
 
Sewickley Public Library Young Adult Fiction YA RHU
Location  Sewickley Public Library
 
Collection  Young Adult Fiction
 
Call Number  YA RHU
 
 

Summary
Ever since a deeply unfortunate incident earlier this year, Reggie's been known as "Pukey" McKnight at his Brooklyn school. He wants to turn his image around, but he has other things to worry about: his father, who's out of a job; his best friends, Ruthie and Joe C.; his nemesis, Donovan; and of course, the beautiful Mialonie. The elections for school president are coming up, but with his notorious nickname and "nothing" social status, Reggie wouldn't stand a chance, if he even had the courage to run.Then Reggie gets involved with a local homeless shelter. Haunted by two of the clients there--George, a once-proud man whoshares his interest in comic books, and Charlie, a six-year-old kid--he begins to think about making a difference, both in the worldand at school. Pukey for President? It can happen... if he starts believing.
Published Reviews
Booklist Review: "Ever since his nervous stomach betrayed him on the first day of school and he threw up on the principal's shoes, Reggie has been universally known as Pukey. No wonder his main goal is now to be as invisible at school as possible. This starts to change when his church youth group becomes involved with a volunteer project at a neighborhood homeless shelter and Reggie discovers the value of community activism. Before you know it, he's declared himself a candidate for class president, become a Big Brother and an oral historian, and more. It may be an overstatement to call Rhuday-Perkovich's large-hearted first novel agitprop, but there's no question about the didactic purpose. Unfortunately, in her quest to persuade her readers to her point of view, she sometimes lapses into lecturing instead of creating, and a few too many subplots slow down the narrative pace. Nevertheless, she manages to bring both passion and compassion to a story that has its moments of humor and genuine emotion, and will be highly useful for classroom discussion.--Cart, Michael Copyright 2010 Booklist"
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Publisher's Weekly Review: "Rhuday-Perkovich delivers a masterful debut, telling a layered middle-school tale filled with characters who are delightfully flawed and, more importantly, striving to overcome those flaws. Reggie McKnight has been saddled with the nickname "Pukey" thanks to a disastrous incident on the first day of school. Attempting to get through the rest of the year unnoticed, he spends his time with his best friends, political activist Ruthie (who shares Reggie's Jamaican background) and aspiring rapper Joe C. While working on a project at a homeless shelter with his church's youth group, he becomes increasingly interested and involved in the community, leading to his participation in his school's presidential race, first as an adviser to a classmate, eventually as a candidate. Rhuday-Perkovich doesn't take shortcuts, forcing Reggie to deal with a world in which he doesn't always get the answers or successes he wants, and the book shines as a result. Messages of social justice-whether through church projects, parental discussions, or recognition of racial biases among his friends-complement the story and characters, rather than upstage them. Ages 10-14. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved"
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Additional Information
Subjects Homeless persons -- Juvenile fiction.
Voluntarism -- Juvenile fiction.
Politics, Practical -- Juvenile fiction.
Middle schools -- Juvenile fiction.
Schools -- Juvenile fiction.
Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction.
African Americans -- Juvenile fiction.
Homeless persons -- Fiction.
Voluntarism -- Fiction.
Politics, Practical -- Fiction.
Middle schools -- Fiction.
Schools -- Fiction.
Conduct of life -- Fiction.
African Americans -- Fiction.
Publisher New York :Arthur A. Levine Books,2010
Edition 1st ed.
Other Titles 8th grade superzero
Eighth grade super zero
Eighth grade superzero
Language English
Description 324 pages ; 22 cm
ISBN 9780545096768 (hardcover)
0545096766 (hardcover)
9780545097253 (pbk.)
0545097258 (pbk.)
Other Classic View