Excited about the prospects of playing practical jokes on the non-English-speaking French girl who will be spending the summer in his house, Lucas gathers his friends together for the fun. Reprint.
**
From Publishers Weekly
Hurwitz ( Class Clown ; Class President ) presents the irrepressible Lucas Cott in a new venue. Here, his high spirits are played out not at school but at home, with a French au pair who is spending the summer with the Cotts as his foil. The pranks and mischief Lucas undertakes, in the mistaken belief that Genevieve is as naive as she seems, are vintage Hurwitz: bright, funny and fast-paced. His gradual acceptance of Genevieve in particular; of other things that seem weird or "different;" and, even more broadly, of his own responsibiities within the family provide a solid emotional underpinning to this engaging chapter book. Hamanaka's ( The Journey) drawings add to the story's lively spirit. Ages 7-up.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 2-4-- Lucas Cott is back but he's lost some of his bubble. Hurwitz picks up where Class Clown (Morrow, 1987) leaves off--his last day of third grade. Lucas is a likable little prankster, and his story is told through an accessible, easy vocabulary. His summer is filled with homey activities and a little excitement when his mother hires an 18-year-old French girl to take care of Lucas and his two-year-old brothers. Although Lucas has a few successes at outsmarting Genevieve, she "has his number." By summer's end, he has begun to think of her as part of the family. Several themes are nicely handled: the idea that one must work to regain a parent's trust after misbehaving, the positive qualities of being a good older brother, and that daring enemies to do something can backfire, as can playing tricks on someone. The full-page black-and-white drawings, one per chapter, will encourage those just beginning chapter books, but they are quite static. This light summer fare is acceptable, if somewhat dull and predictable, and the dialogue doesn't ring as true as in the previous books. The many titles by Cleary, Blume, Lowry, and Gilson are funnier. --Susannah Price, Boise Public Library, ID
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Description:
Excited about the prospects of playing practical jokes on the non-English-speaking French girl who will be spending the summer in his house, Lucas gathers his friends together for the fun. Reprint.
**
From Publishers Weekly
Hurwitz ( Class Clown ; Class President ) presents the irrepressible Lucas Cott in a new venue. Here, his high spirits are played out not at school but at home, with a French au pair who is spending the summer with the Cotts as his foil. The pranks and mischief Lucas undertakes, in the mistaken belief that Genevieve is as naive as she seems, are vintage Hurwitz: bright, funny and fast-paced. His gradual acceptance of Genevieve in particular; of other things that seem weird or "different;" and, even more broadly, of his own responsibiities within the family provide a solid emotional underpinning to this engaging chapter book. Hamanaka's ( The Journey) drawings add to the story's lively spirit. Ages 7-up.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 2-4-- Lucas Cott is back but he's lost some of his bubble. Hurwitz picks up where Class Clown (Morrow, 1987) leaves off--his last day of third grade. Lucas is a likable little prankster, and his story is told through an accessible, easy vocabulary. His summer is filled with homey activities and a little excitement when his mother hires an 18-year-old French girl to take care of Lucas and his two-year-old brothers. Although Lucas has a few successes at outsmarting Genevieve, she "has his number." By summer's end, he has begun to think of her as part of the family. Several themes are nicely handled: the idea that one must work to regain a parent's trust after misbehaving, the positive qualities of being a good older brother, and that daring enemies to do something can backfire, as can playing tricks on someone. The full-page black-and-white drawings, one per chapter, will encourage those just beginning chapter books, but they are quite static. This light summer fare is acceptable, if somewhat dull and predictable, and the dialogue doesn't ring as true as in the previous books. The many titles by Cleary, Blume, Lowry, and Gilson are funnier. --Susannah Price, Boise Public Library, ID
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.