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The Autobiography of Meatball Finkelstein
 
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The Autobiography of Meatball Finkelstein [Hardcover]

Ross Venokur (Author)
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)


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Book Description

8 and up3 and up
Watch out, Superman–here comes Meatball Finkelstein and his most unusual superpower!

Meatball Finkelstein was born big. He’s always been and always will be a big guy, and he’s cool with that. But he seems to have more than his share of problems: his large size coupled with his parents’ unfortunate choice of name–yes, it says Meatball on his birth certificate!–make him the prime candidate for the attention of Rufus Delaney, the most horrible bully at school. Meatball’s pretty used to the way his life works, and he usually goes along–it’s easier than fighting back. But one Monday morning, events conspire to make Meatball really mad and he discovers that he’s not just an ordinary kid–he’s an ordinary kid with a superpower! And wouldn’t you know it, he stumbles onto an evil plot that requires his very special power to save the day. But can one boy really protect all the students of the world from a dastardly group of school principals?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 4-8-For an overweight vegetarian named Meatball Finkelstein, being accepted by his peers seems impossible. The boy has given up trying. He has his one friend, another untouchable, and he is just fine-until he falls in love with a pretty new girl and, in a foolish attempt to prove himself, he eats his first meatball. At this point the plot takes its first high-speed curve. The meatball gives him magical powers, which unleashes plot twists and surprises that swing the story from average into a very funny, screwball comedy. As his principal exploits Meatball's powers, the protagonist learns that his parents are not perfect, that his grandfather has a secret, and that a secret society intent on doing away with childhood exists. As Meatball discovers the shocking truth about principals and the PTA, he learns to accept himself. The characterization is fairly shallow and the story is plot driven, but the style and mood are consistently lighthearted. Far superior to Venokur's The Amazing Frecktackle (Delacorte, 1998), this is a good choice for reluctant readers. Meatball's story is fluffy and funny enough to keep circulating for years.

Amy Stultz, Leesburg Public Library, FL

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From the Inside Flap

Watch out, Superman?here comes Meatball Finkelstein and his most unusual superpower!

Meatball Finkelstein was born big. He?s always been and always will be a big guy, and he?s cool with that. But he seems to have more than his share of problems: his large size coupled with his parents? unfortunate choice of name?yes, it says Meatball on his birth certificate!?make him the prime candidate for the attention of Rufus Delaney, the most horrible bully at school. Meatball?s pretty used to the way his life works, and he usually goes along?it?s easier than fighting back. But one Monday morning, events conspire to make Meatball really mad and he discovers that he?s not just an ordinary kid?he?s an ordinary kid with a superpower! And wouldn?t you know it, he stumbles onto an evil plot that requires his very special power to save the day. But can one boy really protect all the students of the world from a dastardly group of school principals?

Product Details

  • Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  • Hardcover: 160 pages
  • Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (May 8, 2001)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0385327986
  • ISBN-13: 978-0385327985
  • Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,941,119 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

4 Reviews
5 star:
 (2)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.8 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Don't Bite on This Meatball, October 18, 2006
This review is from: The Autobiography of Meatball Finkelstein (Hardcover)
The humorous title, cover illustration, and first one or two chapters of this book draw the reader in, but then it goes nowhere fast. So poorly constructed, disjointed, and preposterous (not in a good way), it's surprising this book was ever published. It feels as though the author came up with a new, crazy, and totally lame plot twist to throw on the page each time he sat down to write. Most of the characters -- adult and child alike -- are despicable. In brief, The Autobiography of Meatball Finkelstein is the literary equivalent of mystery meat. Don't bite on it.
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0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars More Meatballs, please., December 2, 2003
By 
J. Dalton (Belmont, NH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Autobiography of Meatball Finkelstein (Hardcover)
Meatball Finkelstein is a character with universal appeal. He's smart, he's funny, he is an eternal optimist. He is the kind of kid you wish to befriend. And even though his classmates don't see that, readers will. "The Autobiography of Meatball Finkelstein" is a great read for anyone who has ever been bullied, and anyone who has ever done any bullying.
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0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, November 21, 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: The Autobiography of Meatball Finkelstein (Hardcover)
I loved this book. You should definitely read it. This is just too FUNNY.
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