Deep Doo-Doo [Mass Market Paperback]

Michael Delaney (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up

When electronics whiz Bennet and his best friend, Pete, discover a way to interrupt local television broadcasts, they set out to spoof their governor's reelection campaign, using a Dracula-masked Labrador as spokesdog. When the broadcasts capture national attention, everyone -- even the FBI! -- wants to know who's behind the mystery dog known as Deep Doo-doo. How long can Bennet and Pete stay on the air before they're in over their heads? "Very believable and very funny. This should satisfy aspiring inventors and children who enjoy a good laugh at the expense of adults."-- Booklist

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Delaney's (Henry's Special Delivery) mildly amusing story of boy inventor Bennet Ordway's interference with an upcoming gubernatorial race is liberal politics lite. Frustrated with the incumbent's hypocritical "family values" platform, 12-year-old Bennet and his friend Pete use a souped-up television transmitter to interrupt the governor's speeches with clever commentary on the importance of funding health care, education and the environment. Bennet, signing himself "Deep Doo-doo" after Watergate informant Deep Throat, sends his newspaper-reporter father hints on the hot story. The broadcasting scenes sparkle with swift action and political puns, but the end result is anticlimactically humorless-the bad guy loses the election and Mr. Ordway learns he needs to spend more time with his son. Characters are a bit hollow, defined chiefly by token qualities: Bennet has a stutter and always wears the same hat, while Pete never leaves home without his Frisbee. Still, the premise is delivered with enough punch that this romp may be enjoyed by junior inventors, future reporters and those who can overcome their embarrassment at reaching for a book with "doo-doo" in the title. Ages 8-11.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7-This book will get a lot of mileage from its title alone. It's about two 12-year-olds who build a TV transmitter and override a local station's broadcasts. Bennet is a stutterer and a scientific genius (unbeknownst to his folks). He and his happy-go-lucky but sensitive best friend, Pete, discover that their latest electronics project works better than they ever imagined it would. Bennet's dad, a reporter for the local newspaper, rails against the hypocrisy of the governor, who is always pontificating about "family values" rather than addressing any real concerns. Pete, outraged when Bennet clues him in on the politician's posturing, is inspired to use their newfound invention to sabotage the incumbent's locally televised speech with a home movie showing his black Lab "speaking out" on the issues. Delaney's characterizations are cardboard, the politics trivialized, and the mystery, as such, is weak; but none of these flaws will prevent kids from enjoying the cartoon possibility of breaking into broadcasting through electronic legerdemain. While the premise is technically fragile, the politics are preachy, and the stuttering insufferable, readers may actually show some interest in the historical references, although they'll hardly listen to, much less analyze, the next candidate's speech.
John Sigwald, Unger Memorial Library, Plainview, TX
Copyright 1996 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 8 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (October 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140387471
• ISBN-13: 978-0140387476
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,498,740 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT BOOK!!!!!!, October 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Deep Doo-Doo (Mass Market Paperback)

I think this book is my favorite book (And I read a lot of them, trust me). This book has great characters and I liked the plot a lot. The gerbil press conference really made me laugh. READ IT!!!!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deep doo doo=the best book of the 20th century, March 6, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Deep Doo-Doo (School & Library Binding)

Deep Doo Doo is about two boys who spoof a governers campagin by using a transmitter to overide the local tv news station. Bennet and Pete use Pete's dog to inturrupt the governer's speeches. This book left me hanging at the end of evrey chapter. Michael Delany knew what classic american literature was when he wrote this book.