The Broccoli Tapes [Hardcover]

Jan Slepian (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 13, 1989 | Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

During a stay of several months in Hawaii with her family, Sara reports her experiences by tape back to her sixth grade class in Boston, detailing the ups and downs of her life.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In her first novel for middle-grade readers, noted author Slepian uses the themes of loss and isolation to examine the relationships of three children. Sara's family has temporarily moved to Hawaii, where her father is teaching. Since Sara was to have completed an oral history project about her family at her old school, her teacher has her make tapes about her life in Hawaii to send back to the class. Sara and her older brother Sam feel isolated among unfamiliar surroundings and circumstances, and even though they are warned to stay away from wild animals, they becomes caretakers to an injured feral cat, Broccoli; the cat leads them to befriend Eddie Nutt. There are major lossesboth their grandmother and Broccoli diebut through these losses comes growth and understanding, and, for Eddie, reparation. Sara's story, with its warm, funny and sometimes sad narration, will elicit compassion from readers. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-7-- Both 12-year-old Sara and her 13-year-old brother, Sam, have trouble adjusting to Hawaii during the five months that their family is living there. It's beautiful but alien, unfriendly, isolated, and a million miles from their home in Boston. When Sara and Sam rescue a wild cat (who is later named Broccoli), they meet Eddie Nutt. At first Eddie is as suspicious and untrusting as Broccoli until the bonds of friendship gradually develop. The story unfolds through Sara's cassette tapes sent to her teacher and classmates back home. Events and characters are revealed through Sara's perceptive and touching account of events. The pain of the death of her grandmother, and later Broccoli's death, are not dissimilar, Sara discovers, to the loss that Eddie has experienced. Sara, Sam, and Eddie learn that love can be rewarding as well as painful. The fact that Sara's narration is addressed to her friends and teacher lends an immediacy and conversational tone which moves the story quickly. Characterization unfolds as quickly, remaining plausible and consistent throughout. Difficult themes are handled with sensitivity and humor to create a realistic and unusual contemporary novel. --Maria B. Salvadore, District of Columbia Public Library
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Philomel (April 13, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399217126
• ISBN-13: 978-0399217128
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,006,803 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A spectacular book, August 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Broccoli Tapes (Hardcover)

I read this book to my sixth grade class. They absolutely loved it. There were many aspects that appealed to my students. There was a little romance, a family secret, a new friend and pet, and all in a new place. Just enough to keep my students asking me to read more to them. Just imagine, a book that students want to read. It is terrific for students in grades 5 or 6.

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorites!, February 27, 2011

By 

H. Pelley - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Broccoli Tapes (Hardcover)

I absolutely love this book. I remember reading it in 5th grade. I couldn't put it down. Since then I have purchased it and read it countless times. There is just something about the characters and story that fascinate me.Even as an adult I love it.

5.0 out of 5 stars broccoli review, May 31, 2007

By 

Cassandra Rodriguez (central point, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Broccoli Tapes (Hardcover)

I read this book when I was an early teen, and it still haunts me to this day. I remember crying while reading this book. It is a very moving and touching novel and I highly recommend it.