Lunch Money by Andrew Clements

My kids loved the book Frindle by Andrew Clements and so Kristie decided to try Lunch Money.  She loved it and suggested I read it as well.  I was ready for any single title book after laboring through Charlie Bone.  But having not read Frindle myself, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into.

Content

Lunch Money is geared towards your upper elementary aged students, 8-12 years old.  Greg Kenton is an 11 year old entrepreneur.  Throughout his young life, he has had more than one money-making schemes.  In fact when he opens his first savings account, he shocks his dad with a $3,200 deposit.

At the end of his 5th grade year, Greg tries selling toys to his classmates but runs into trouble with the principal.  So over the summer he develops a new idea of making miniature comic books, which he names Chunky Comics, to sell for a quarter each.  But after a few of his classmates try to steal his idea, the principal once again steps in to put a stop to Greg’s new business.

What should Greg do?  Should he walk away from a sound business idea?  Or is there a way to make his business benefit both himself, the school, and the other students?

Recommendation

I give this book 12 out of 12 buttered rolls.  It was brilliant.  Sure, Greg Kenton is a little unrealistic.  I can’t get my kids to clean out the car for any price, let alone have them come up with their own ways to earn some money.  But that makes Greg more likable.  He was intelligent, inventive, and thorough.  He did his best and refused to quit.  With each stumbling block, he found ways to improve his ideas.  Things may not have turned out as he had initially planned, but sometimes that means they turn out better.

The Red King Series (Charlie Bone Series) by Jenny Nimmo

Way back in November, Kristie and I began reading this series together.  I wasn’t very impressed with book one, if you will remember, but she loved them and kept reading.  Determined to set aside my literary prejudices, I gave the entire series a chance.  More than once I heard Jax say…”You don’t HAVE to read all of those you know.” “You know you don’t HAVE to finish that, right?”  But the problem is, I did HAVE to finish.  When I begin a project, you can bet that I will finish it.  It may take years…it may be pointless by the time I’m done…but I will finish.  And so here we are nearly 5 months later, ready to write a review for the entire 8 book Charlie Bone series.

Content

Charlie Bone is a “gifted youth,” who finds himself at Bloor’s Academy to be educated with other “gifted youth.”  However, the majority of the students are gifted musically, artistically, or theatrically.  There are less than 20 students with magical talents.  They don’t get any training for these talents either, so I don’t understand why they need to go to a special school.  They do have a separate “homework” period together, so I guess they know who the other “gifted” kids are.

On the weekends, Charlie goes home to his family, which consists of his mom, uncle and two grandmothers.  His Grandma Bone is truly evil but they continue to live together under the guise that she has some kind of power over everyone.  I never figured out what that power was, but no one moved out.  But  Grandma Bone’s brother, Uncle Patton, is quite her opposite.  He helps Charlie to figure out his purpose as a descendant of the Red King and together they fight those forces of evil.

Recommendation

I give this series 2 out of 12 buttered rolls. I’m just not a fan. The character, backstory, and entire premise is flawed.  Each book has its own mystery to solve, with some problems carrying over from book to book.  However, each book ends suddenly without proper resolutions.  That could work, but the next book never references the conflict from the previous book.  It just seems mishmashed and jumbled.  But it deserves 2 rolls because there was nothing objectionable and Kristie loved the whole series.  I will end with her previous recommendation written after she had finished book 1 or maybe even 2.

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I love Midnight for Charlie Bone because there is a lot of adventure and fun in it. It is fun to read about stuff like this when I can figure out what to do and what is going to happen in it. For example, I’m pretty sure I have figured out who Charlie’s Dad is, even though they have no idea. I really like adventure books and it reminds me of books like Harry Potter and Fablehaven. I like adventure and I really like books that have nothing to do with love. It is annoying to read a book when all they focus on is love. The only love in Charlie Bone is the love between family members. It is mysterious and cool how they are able to use there powers and able to solve the problems.

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We had an art project in my PTSD therapy group today.  This would be my first art project since… middle school?  I got a lot of comments on it during the group.   I present it here, not for discussion, but just as a way to let you all know how I feel much of the time.

Jax’s Art Project

Not a great photo, but you get the message.   I know that I’m missing some, so I will probably keep adding to it.  But this is what I have so far.

Listed:

• Irritation
• Ignored
• Worthless
• Panic
• Pain
• Shame
• Suspicion
• Trapped
• Attacked
• Loneliness
• Terror
• Yelling
• Anger
• Vulnerable
• Guilt
• Despair
• Annoyed
• Nightmares
• Powerless
• Wrath
• Hard
• Sorrow
• Neglect
• Depression
• Powerless
• Fury
• Darkness
• Hurt
• Invisible
• Embarrassment
• Mistrust
• Rage
• Scared
• Doubt
• Hatred
• Frightened
• Fear
• Inferior
• Sadness
• Crying
• Self-Loathing
• Avoidance
• Resentful

If you have chronic issues with something on this list (everyone?), you should know you aren’t alone.

Biking in Bluffdale

Julie and I spent a good portion of the last 2 days fixing numerous tires, tubes, wheels, seats, chains, and brakes.  We got all the bikes out of “storage” (they were under a tarp for the winter) and tried to get them all functioning properly. The kids want to go biking.

It took more than a fair amount of elbow grease, but everyone was able to go biking in Bluffdale today.   I stayed home with a napping Steven and JR, but the rest of the family headed out to explore the area.   I grew up here, but it’s changed a lot from my childhood, so even I don’t know what they’ll find.

The Jordan River Parkway runs right near our house and so they headed that direction.  That trail will take them from Utah Lake in Utah County, to the Great Salt Lake in Davis County.  As a first trip out I don’t expect them to make it anywhere near that far.

I’m typing this while they are gone, so I don’t know what adventures they’ll have out biking; what treasures they’ll see.  When you see them, ask.

I just wanted a reason to type; to write… about something more positive than I shared last time.   Maybe if I just find small, simple reasons (like biking ) it will help me build some momentum to just keep writing.  I like to write.  I like putting (some of) my thoughts into words.