Customer Reviews

A Flying Birthday Cake?

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What makes this a standout even among the Marvin Redpost series is the subtlety. As usual, Marvin is faced with a puzzling reality, in this case a new boy at school who never changes his clothes and who has serious glitches in his knowledge base. And, as usual, Marvin is faced with a moral dilemma, in this case: should he be friends with this misfit whom he discovers he actually likes? Marvin, never speculates that this boy could be from outer space, but the reader certainly does. In the end we are left wondering, is he, or isn't he?

Marvin Redpost is a third grader whose friends don't like the new kid in school, Joe Normal, but he finds that Joe is friendly and fun. What should he do? The dialogue is funny, and even though the text is easy enough to be enjoyed by beginning readers the concepts of friendship and family are not too simplistic.

We found this fun book at a garage sale, and based on the interesting characters and fun plot, we will get more of this series.

I liked the book and I don't want to tell you what happens, but The Flying Birthday Cake has nothing to do with a flying birthday cake! If you are expecting a birthday cake to fly, you might be a little disappointed like I was.

Joe, Marvin's mysterious friend, is very much like one of the strange characters from Sachar's Wayside series. Fortunately for the reader, however, Sachar never really gives away Joe's background. By choosing to write the book this way, Sachar gives it a very strong moral that centers on the pleasure one can receive from reaching out to peculiar kids, and he also gives it somewhat of a science-fiction quality that rings with a peculiar realism. One wonders at the end why something like this could not happen somewhere at some point in time, especially considering prevalent social norms and how people are more willing to gossip to friends and family about a strange occurrence rather than go to the police or the newspaper about something they suspect that is just strange or peculiar. I thought the book was great, and I'm 32.

Anyone who's read any of the Marvin Redpost books knows what a delight they are. This one has some of the funniest moments in the entire series. It's well worthwhile. (As an aside, note that, now that Louis Sachar has won the Newbery and the National Book Award for "Holes," Horn Book has begun to review his books with the respect they have always deserved.)