Boys Only: How to Survive Anything (Best at Everything) [Paperback]

Martin Oliver (Author), Simon Ecob (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2012 | Age Range: 8 and up | Series: Best at Everything | Lexile Measure: 890L (What's this?)

New graphic novels from the team that brought you the NEW YORK TIMES bestselling Best at Everything series!

Unlike those other books for boys that are a little too dangerous, BOYS ONLY: HOW TO SURVIVE ANYTHING is the perfect guide. In addition to the mix of humor and helpfulness, the fresh graphic style of art makes this book stand out from all the others. With practical, funny, and sometimes ridiculous how-tos (like how to escape quicksand, navigate using only the stars, and avoid being eaten by a polar bear) boys are going to love getting prepared for just about anything!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Martin Oliver has written over two dozen books for children. This is his first graphic novel.

Simon Ecob has worked as a freelance cartoonist and illustrator for the last twenty years. His work has appeared in Spectacular Spider-Man and Cosmic magazine. Simon has also illustrated several books for children, including the Boys' Book of Survival: How to Survive Anything, Anywhere.

Product Details

• Age Range: 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks; Reprint edition (May 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9780545430968
• ISBN-13: 978-0545430968
• ASIN: 0545430968
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,870,822 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Gender bias, in 2013? January 8, 2013

By R K

This book actually contains some useful information...simplified tips on how to survive (or at least improve one's chances) things like a plane crash, earthquake, tornado, forest fire, etc. It has some good humor, offering up wisdom about how to defeat zombies and vampires. It even goes to some exciting extremes about crocodile attacks and other plausible but unlikely situations.

Unfortunately, it limits its audience with the "Boys Only" subtitle, and goes one step further by providing an extremely misogynistic counterpart, "Girls Only" that features important survival information about preparing oneself for a school photo, how to overcome shyness, apologize for being wrong, and modify clothes that are a fashion disaster. The two titles only share one survival tip in common: the zombie attack -- but girls are advised to run or hide, and boys are advised to stand up to the zombies and counterattack with baseball bats.

It's astounding to me that at this point in time, a major publisher would allow such content in a book. Even Barbie proclaims that girls can do anything, but the message here seems to be that if the plane is going down, females should worry about their hair and listen to whatever the survival-educated males tell them what to do.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Gender bias??? Please!! March 5, 2013

By A. Gurabardhi

I have found that boys enjoy the idea that there is a book just for them. My students - the boys - fight over this book and really enjoy pouring over it. The reason I purchased this is because I knew it would "scratch them where they itch"! I really think that if the "boys only" bothers people then they are being way way too sensitive! Even in 2013 boys want to be different than girls...and that's ok!