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My thoughts upon finishing this:
1. This is like Rebecca Stead lite! And I mean that as a compliment! Stead's books explore themes in interesting and sophisticated ways. This explored a theme (the impacts of science on nature) on a bunch of levels in a way that is (probably) easier to grasp for most young readers. I'm very excited to talk to kids about this one.
2. Man, I love this idea of a teenage grandparent. So funny. There was something about it that was familiar to me, but I can't put my f ...more
1. This is like Rebecca Stead lite! And I mean that as a compliment! Stead's books explore themes in interesting and sophisticated ways. This explored a theme (the impacts of science on nature) on a bunch of levels in a way that is (probably) easier to grasp for most young readers. I'm very excited to talk to kids about this one.
2. Man, I love this idea of a teenage grandparent. So funny. There was something about it that was familiar to me, but I can't put my f ...more
A fun story that touches on an amazing number of big issues without getting didactic, trite or cliche-ridden. Ellie is just starting middle school. Her divorced parents are both involved in theater, but Ellie, with first-class stage fright, won't go near it. Her lifelong best friend is now more interested in volleyball than all the things they used to do. And she finds out quickly that "middle school is like one of those highway restrooms in the middle of nowhere. It's dirty and smelly and it's
...more
Dec 21, 2014
Kate Hastings
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
scifi,
jfic-middle-grades-4-6
Grades 4-6. Ellie is a scientist stuck in an artsy-fartsy theatre family. But she knows where her passion comes from. She rarely sees her grandfather, Dr. Sagarsky, who is something of a mad scientist searching for a chemical that will stop the aging process. He is very critical of her mother's choices and their visits always turn into a fight. But one day her babysitter quits and her mother is called to the police station. She returns with a rude and defiant teenage boy. Her grandfather.
He's be ...more
He's be ...more
The premise of this book is silly--eleven-year-old Ellie's cantankerous scientist grandpa finds the elixir of youth and appears to be a thirteen-year-old boy. Grandpa Melvin gets banned from his research lab because security thinks he's trespassing, and he enlists Ellie and her classmate Raj to help retrieve his elixir.
This book makes science sound fun and engaging. The characters are interesting and family dynamics are believable. It's funny when teenage grandpa is scolding Ellie's mom (his da ...more
This book makes science sound fun and engaging. The characters are interesting and family dynamics are believable. It's funny when teenage grandpa is scolding Ellie's mom (his da ...more
I liked the science references. It seemed like the grandfather being a teenager premise
wasn't very tight. A man with two PhD's would go back to high school? and wouldn't drive?
I guess this book is for the young adult audience with the "Catcher in the Rye" references,
but it seemed marketed for a younger audience. ...more
wasn't very tight. A man with two PhD's would go back to high school? and wouldn't drive?
I guess this book is for the young adult audience with the "Catcher in the Rye" references,
but it seemed marketed for a younger audience. ...more
A touching look at aging, death, relationships, and science. The central relationship of the story (girl and curmudgeonly grandfather) is familiar, but the complex thoughts on life and death are refreshing and unique. It was pretty great, and I can already see the shining Newbery sticker on its cover. Suggested for fans of Tuck Everlasting or Evolution of Calpurnia Tate.
Hypothesis: The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm will be read by many kids & adults this fall & beyond.
This has been one of my favorite middle grade reads of 2014. Jennifer Holm skillfully deals with middle school, the scientific and moral implications of immortality, theater/musicals, big scientific events, and of course family. It's a must read. ...more
This has been one of my favorite middle grade reads of 2014. Jennifer Holm skillfully deals with middle school, the scientific and moral implications of immortality, theater/musicals, big scientific events, and of course family. It's a must read. ...more
Loved this book! Reminds me of When You Reach Me because of the touch of sci-fi in a realistic fiction story. Would be a great pick for book club- famous scientists and how they changed the world, discussing whether you would you want to live forever, finding your passion in life... lots to talk about. Thanks for the amazing book, Jennifer Holm : *)
What a fantastic read. Shared with Matt and Brennan - which opened many important discussions. A special book.
LOVED IT!
So fun to find a little bit of Squish in it.
Lots of surprises.
Quotable lines.
Great choice for GRA.
So fun to find a little bit of Squish in it.
Lots of surprises.
Quotable lines.
Great choice for GRA.
I liked it, but it wasn't magical for me or anything. Kind of an abrupt ending.
...more
Dec 09, 2013
Mary Lee
added it
Apr 10, 2014
Shari (Shira)
added it
Apr 18, 2014
Laura5
marked it as to-read
Jun 23, 2014
Leslie
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
middlegrade,
audio
Jul 11, 2014
Paula
marked it as to-read
