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Benny is a delightful main character, and his voice is so delightful and genuine. He's one of those kids who has a hard time making friends, mostly because he's scared of being made fun of or hurt. He also has a brother with a disability, whom he shows great compassion towards, even if others do not. He confides in his Lego collection by making little movies as a means to share his love and passions. My mom has a theory that when bad things happen, you should think about someone else's problems and try to help them." (p. 1)
Just my Luck -Book 1 - KJ - Wattpad Just my Luck -Book 1 - KJ - Wattpad
I loved this book! I was a little hesitant to read it because middle grade doesn't always work for me, but I couldn't pass up a Cammie McGovern book. I love her writing so much, and this book did not disappoint. For fifteen years, Lexi and Jake have played the same six numbers with their friends, the Pearsons and the Heathcotes. Over dinner parties, fish & chip suppers and summer barbecues, they’ve discussed the important stuff – the kids, marriages, jobs and houses – and they’ve laughed off their disappointment when they failed to win anything more than a tenner.Then Benny's school starts a program to catch kids doing good deeds. Benny is determined to be recognized, but he is continually ignored. His teacher tries to explain that he's so good already; he shouldn't need the extrinsic motivation. But Benny does. One of my favorite parts of the book is finding out how Benny feels about his classmates. Even though classmates might think he’s odd because he’s quiet and doesn’t enjoy sports like other boys in his class, he’s never unkind to anyone. Benny, like many real kids, just takes a little longer to come out of his shell and discover what kind of friendships are important to him. Like a deft magician, this book reveals its twists only at the very end, I was completely astonished’ Rosamund Lupton Reading Benny’s observations can be laugh out loud funny; he is unsparing in his perceptions of what is going on around him. He has two older brothers, George is 12 who the family thinks of as medium-functioning autistic and Martin who is 14 and has gone from klutz, like all the Barrows, to tall enough for the basketball team and dating A-list Lisa. Benny has unvarnished thoughts about all of this, tempered with love and acceptance that resonate as an authentic nine year old world view.
JUST MY LUCK | Kirkus Reviews
But then, one Saturday night, the unthinkable happens. There’s a rift in the group. Someone doesn’t tell the truth. And soon after, six numbers come up which change everything forever. I loved Cammie McGovern's new Middle Grade novel...and I really, really loved Benny Barrows, the wonderful protagonist she created. This is a fanfiction novel. I do not own the rights to the Ladybug and Chat Noir universe. I also don't own the graphics on the cover, but I'm in the process of making a new cover. Thanks! I feel like I say this all the time, but this is ANOTHER heavy book. The main character is a 4th-grade boy wrestling with a lot of questions in his life. Ten year old Benny is incredibly thoughtful and introspective. He looks inside himself and questions the world around him. Benny reminded me of myself when I was his age, although change Lego to Littlest Pet Shops. Like Benny, I'd spend hours of my day making elaborate stories with my Littlest Pet Shops, weaving new tales and seeing what kinds of antics the characters could get themselves into. Benny is also a kid who desires to be recognized, and when his school implements a Footprints Program (essentially, a good deed gets you a footprint with your name on it), Benny tries to put himself out there in ways, and I could totally sympathize with a lot of his feelings within the story.A compelling take on one of those “what if” scenarios that we’ve all wondered about. Addictive, provocative and thoroughly relatable – a brilliantly crafted reminder to be careful what you wish for’ TM Logan I haven't read Cammie McGovern's YA novels yet and I need to change that. If they're even half this good (and I've only heard amazing things), she's going to be one of my favorites. Overall this story paints a very real portrait of a family living through great trauma. Readers should know that there are very dark moments. Overall, it is a fairly sad and stressful book as you experience life through Benny's eyes. The story is well told and the characters are endearing.
Book Review: Just My luck by Adele Parks - In-Common Book Review: Just My luck by Adele Parks - In-Common
What I Thought- This is a great book about learning to see the positive things in life even when it all appears going terribly wrong. Benny is the youngest sibling, has some heavy weights on his shoulders to begin with his dad is recovering after a brain operation that Benny blames himself for. You really feel for Benny as he tries to make sense of his life. I think many kids will relate to Benny even if his problems are larger (or smaller) than the ones they face. The book has a great message of perseverance that will resonate with kids. The dialogue and relationships in the book are well thought out and ring true. The writing is perfect for the age it is written for. I like the way Ms. McGovern wrote a heartfelt story about some very big life issues that always has a slice of hope between the lines – maybe hope isn’t the right word. I think the reader can feel Benny’s fortitude. This is a thoughtful book about learning to live with the bad days in your life, and making them better.
Cammie McGovern seems to have become an auto-read author for me as of late. There's something about her novels where I find myself really connecting to her characters and their personal situations. Being that this was her first middle grade novel, I was a bit worried about how this was going to shake up. Turns out, it was fantastic ride that made me shed a few tears! Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. You don't think you could ever, in a million years, handle it, and then it happens and you do. You just go one day at a time and suddenly you realize, here I am. I'm handling it." This is a heart-warming story of problem solving, accepting change in yourself and others, dealing with conflict, and how leaning on others in our community can benefit us all. The family must pull together, finding their inner strength to overcome financial and emotional conflict, but they learn that community and friendships are really important too.
Just My Luck by Adele Parks | WHSmith
This book has a lot going on. Autistic siblings, parent with serious health issues, cliques beginning in school, and a little bit of "who am I?" My favorite book of the year so far! I loved this book from cover to cover and read chunks of it out loud to Robbie. If you want to learn more about Bookshelves specifically, please read the Bookshelves FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions). I really enjoyed this novel. It was a story with characters that you could relate to and a story which stole your heart. Benny is starting fourth grade and he’s was happy because he heard wonderful things about Mr. Norris, his teacher. Mr. Norris was fun and exciting and Benny needed that as he was starting the year off without a best friend. Kenneth had moved away and he needed to find a replacement. Benny situation at home was different than his peers. His brother was autistic and his father had just suffered a brain aneurysm for which Benny was blaming himself for. Benny found comfort at school and he was hoping Mr. Norris would help him forgot his issues at home. The school year started out fine but soon Mr. Norris started to change. He was not the person others projected him to be, nor was he the person the students knew from the beginning of the school year, something was different. Benny and Olga noticed this change immediately and wondered why. I liked Benny’s relationship with Olga. She was comfortable in her own shoes and she did her own thing. She wasn’t looking for anyone’s approval yet Benny wondered about his relationship with her. Benny has two brothers, both are older. The eldest is in high school and the other, George is in 6th grade. George is autistic and needs a lot of support from his family and teachers at school. Between meeting, George's needs and their father's Benny and his family are facing a lot.This book is all about friendship and kindness. It has wonderful characters and terrific messages, but it never feels preachy. There were some many fun details as well: Benny's obsession with making Lego stop motion movies, his friend Olga and her hand drawn comic books, George's antics, and Benny's teacher.
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