Jake Drake, Bully Buster [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Andrew Clements (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2, 2002 | Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

When Jake was three years old at Miss Lulu's Dainty Diaper Day Care Center, he learned all about bullies. Why? Because Jake is kind of smart, and he's not a tattletale, and he doesn't have a big brother. He's a perfect bully magnet. And when he was in second grade, Link Baxter, the SuperBully, moved to town.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 2-4-A fourth grader looks back over his years in school and his early experiences as a "bully magnet." Even as a preschooler, Jake was the perfect victim-medium sized, moderately smart, and not inclined to tattle to the authorities. He relates how, in second grade, he came up against a SuperBully, Link Baxter, who taunted him on the bus, ruined his schoolwork, and generally made his life miserable. When the boys were paired up to do a Thanksgiving project, Jake was forced to do all the research. As it turned out, however, the SuperBully was a talented model maker and sometimes forgot to be mean when he was involved in creative work. Then, moments before their class presentation, Jake discovered that Link was terrified of public speaking. Although briefly tempted to take revenge, he instead agreed to let Link be a silent participant while he gave the oral presentation. While the tone of the book is light and humorous, it is a realistic look at a common problem. There is no instant change of heart, although the two adversaries end with a reluctant respect for one another. More important is the peace theme-Jake recognizes that "behind-[every] bully face, there's another face. A real face." For a slightly younger audience than the author's Frindle (S & S, 1996), this title is a must for character-education and conflict-resolution programs and will have strong appeal to transitional readers.-Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"When most people hear 'large-print book,' they immediately think senior citizen. But large-print editions of popular children's books -- from the powerhouse Harry Potter series to timeless classics like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer -- are now making their way onto the shelves of the Children's Department at the Canton Library. . . . Although large-print editions are targeted to the visually-impaired or dyslexic child, they can also be used by standard-vision readers. So Kershner [Children's librarian at the Canton Public Library] has decided against creating a special section in the Children's Department (as exists in the Adult Department) opting instead to intersperse large-print books on the shelves with the regular print versions of the same titles."
-- The Observer and Eccentric (October 2000) (The Observer and Eccentric )

"Thorndike Press has helped me not only find books I want to read, but they also look like regular books. That's important when you're a kid and you can only read Large Print, you want your book to look like all the other books. I'm reading a lot more now that we have found Thorndike Press."
-- Jim Bernardin, Islamorada, FL

"Everyone loves to read, there's nothing like curling up with a good book. We're a reading family, so when our son was diagnosed with Stargardt's Disease and only able to read Large Print, it was particularly difficult. Books on tape are wonderful but they don't fill the void of actually reading a good story. Large Print books have been around a long time for older people, but to find a good novel for a young person in Large Print began to feel nearly impossible. The books that Thorndike Press publishes have truly made a difference in my son's reading life. He can enjoy current novels as well as some of the classics that he missed reading when it became too difficult with regular print."
-- Sara Bernardin, Islamorada, FL

"This title is a must for character-education and conflict resolution programs and will have strong appeal to transitional readers."
-- School Library Journal (School Library Journal )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 100 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press; 1 edition (July 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786241381
• ISBN-13: 978-0786241385
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,481,469 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Most of my characters are fairly normal people who are dealing with the basics of everyday life--getting along with others, finding a place in the world, discovering talents, overcoming challenges, trying to have some wholesome fun along the way, and getting into some scrapes and a little mischief now and then, too. I guess I hope my readers will be able to see bits and pieces of themselves in the stories, particularly the novels that take place in and around school. School is a rich setting because schools and education are at the heart of every community. The stories that are set in school seem to resonate with kids, teachers, parents, librarians--readers of all ages. Everyone's life has been touched by school experiences. And I also hope, of course, that kids and others will enjoy reading, enjoy the use of language, enjoy my storytelling.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I would have given this book a zero star rating if allowed, July 29, 2005

By 

Janice Frank (Joshua, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jake Drake, Bully Buster : Ready-for-Chapters (Paperback)

I am 52 year old grandmother and I purchased this book from another vendor for my granddaughter without reading it first. I remember being bullied all through school. I wish that I had handled the bullying differently than I did. Instead, I handled it pretty much the same way Jake did...not with the same results though. I wish that I HAD told my parents. I wish that I HAD told my teacher. I wish that I HAD trusted someone to help me out. Jake reinforces all of the "old school" stereo types...don't tell, telling will make it worse. Kids should not be afraid to talk to their parents or to their teacher. Kids should not be told that "tattleing" is wrong. The person bullying, for WHATEVER reason, is WRONG. Kids, ask for help! Parents, help your kids. I usually donate used books to my local library. This book will be thrown in the trash.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jake Drake bully buster, January 9, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Jake Drake, Bully Buster : Ready-for-Chapters (Paperback)

I read Jake Drake bully buster.
It is a great book and if you asked me to give you up to five stars it would be five stars.
I thought that it was a great book and that ages 8 and up would be a great age to be reading this book. The writer of the book made you really get into the book you would not want to stop reading it. I would recommend this book to everyone and I would say if you like Jake Drake bully buster try reading the other books too. The book is about bully's and being mean (which we should not do). One of the charters is Link he was 8 years old and wanted to be the MVP on the bully "all star team" and I think all kid's would say he made the team. Link was a brat to Jake and Jake was sick of being messed around with and just wanted his class to be "bully free" but I guess that couldn't happen.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jake drake review for me, May 9, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Jake Drake, Bully Buster : Ready-for-Chapters (Paperback)

I liked this book, because I found it to be a good book.. The character Jake had a big problem. When I was reading the book, I had to keep reading to find out what happened next. If I could read anther book by Andrew Clement I would. He is a good a author.