Changes in Latitudes [Paperback]

Will Hobbs (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1993

Changes In Latitudes

Travis is too busy making his own plans for fun in Mexico to let family problems ruin his vacation. Never mind that his father chooses to stay home, or his mother has more on her mind than sight-seeing. His sister Jennifer is busy doing the family worrying and his kid brother Teddy is obsessed with saving endangered sea turtles. That leaves Travis with plenty of time to meet a beautiful stranger and enjoy paradise on an isolated Pacific beach...

Nothing remains quite the same.

Suddenly reality explodes in a nightmare of discovery and tragedy. Travis is must face anger and betrayal, love and loss--that will change his whole way of looking at the world...forever.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"I found out something about what's really important and what's not," states the teenaged narrator of this novel about the dramatic disruption of a family's Mexican vacation. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9 Travis, a selfish and obnoxious teen, his 14-year-old sister Jennifer, and their 9-year-old brother Teddy are all taken by their mother to a resort town in Mexico for a vacation. Mom, an unhappy wife contemplating a di vorce, is having an affair. Teddy's ob session with the endangered sea turtles leads him to discover a factory where the animals are being slaughtered. Ted dy is outraged by this injustice and fi nally tries to free some of the turtles on his ownan effort which leads to his death. Travis and his mother are impli cated in the death because neither was around to supervise Teddy. In the end, Travis tells his grieving mother that he is sure that Jennifer and Dad will for give the two of them for their neglect of Teddy, but Hobbs does little to con vince readers that they actually will or even that they should forgive them. This is the stuff of which soap operas are made, although even soap operas have their lighter moments. This novel is overflowing with unpleasant stereo types of Mexico (harrowing cab rides, inefficient hotel clerks, and lecherous locals), and one is hard pressed to find sympathy for any of the characters. Kathryn Weisman, Willowbrook School, Glenview, Ill.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: HarperTrophy (January 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380716194
• ISBN-13: 978-0380716197
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,705,969 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

WILL HOBBS is the author of eighteen exciting outdoor adventure novels for upper elementary, middle school and young adult readers, as well as two picture book stories. Seven of his novels have been named Best Books for Young Adults by the American Library Association, and Ghost Canoe, Will's first mystery, won the Edgar Allan Poe national award for Best Young Adult Mystery. The ALA's list of the "100 Best Young Adult Books of the 20th Century" includes two of Will's titles: Far North and Downriver.

A graduate of Stanford University and a former reading and language arts teacher, Will lives with his wife, Jean, in Durango, Colorado. Visit Will's website at www.willhobbsauthor.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best of Will Hobb's books. A real tearjerker., October 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Changes in Latitudes (Paperback)

When I decided to read this book, I had no idea it would turn out to be one of Will's best. The interaction between the two brothers is riveting. I could not put the book down. Keep the kleenex handy, you will need the entire box. The different setting is absolutely fantastic.

3.0 out of 5 stars Changes in Latitudes by will Hobbs, May 3, 2009

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Changes in Latitudes (Paperback)

I reccomend this book to people who want a suddle mystery and a big adventure. The ways to discribe this book are sea turtle eggs, a marine bioligist, and even some bikinis!
This book is an enjoyable, mexico filled adventure. You will be stunned by the breeze of the pages flying! You will not only see the Mexico palms, but feel the rough seas as well. Travis and Teddy take off to save a species and to get to know thier parents relasionship with each other. With this book by your side, your heart will go on all flutter with this tale of adventure and a definite change in latitude! -Calista Fowler

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Changes In Latitudes: Will Hobbs, February 18, 2003

By 

Brittnee` (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Changes in Latitudes (Paperback)

Chages in Latitudes, by Will Hobbs, was a very good book. I wouldn't exactly say it was interesting, it's just like all his other stories; over-exaggerated, to much involvement with nature, a bit of suspense, and his characters lack common sense. Don't get me wrong, I'm just saying this becasue I'm more a fan of romance than nature. I mean I'm not expecting any book in general to be off edge, and completely interesting at all times, I just think that the author could have did a little more to capture his audience.
The beginning of the book was a little slow. It was all this talk about leaving, dad not wanting to come, and mushy, useless, crying stuff. I think that the beginning should have been the grabbing point; you know grab the reader before he sneaks away. I also have some other disturbing views that I think should be recognized. I think that the over-obsession with the turtles that Teddy haedwas completely unneccessary, even if the book did focus on turtles.
I do have some positive things about this book though. For example, I like how Will Hobbs gives a little girl power in the earlier section of this book. He didn't discriminate and give her the role of being the stuck-up, goody two shoes, like she is. They had only been in their hotel for about thirty minutes, and she was flirting with a handsome and rich Hispanic man who grabbed her heart, held on to it, and then squeezed it in a all throwing it like a fast pitch pitcher in soft-ball.
I recommend this book only to people who have the whole world's time on their hands and have nothing better to do, and would like to see that the book that I read was not all it cracked up to be. This book is prodigal, and I regret have choosing to read this book, instead of some of the better choices that I had. I don't recommend this book to peopole who, like me, are smart, and have taken this book review into consideration for their next book choice.