Four Stupid Cupids [Turtleback]

Gregory Maguire (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2002

In this riotous, over-the-top Valentine’s Day farce that carries on the tradition of boy-girl rivalry and strange happenings in Hamlet, Vermont, the Copycats and the Tattletales must contend with four cupids—four stupid cupids—from ancient Greece. When the two clubs discover that the cupids can make people fall in love, the boys get nervous and the girls get busy. The Tattletales scheme to make a love match between their lonely teacher, Miss Earth, and Chad Hunkley, a national TV anchorman. Things go awry with hilarious results as the inept cupids send one arrow after another to the wrong target, and the Tattletales and Copycats must join forces to save both their beloved teacher and the not-so-clever cupids.

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

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-In the fourth book in the series, the students in Miss Earth's class are grappling with Valentine's Day, which is made more complicated with the arrival of four tiny young cupids that are accidentally freed from a vase they've been imprisoned in for more than 2300 years. Like all of their ilk, they use arrows to make people fall in love, so Miss Earth's students decide that she is overdue for a little romance. However, the inept archers cause her to fall in love with a frog and a television. All's well that ends well-the homesick cupids get back to Greece and Miss Earth begins (without outside help) to see the charms of a man she had previously spurned. Although the Tattletale and Copycat Clubs are still battling, this is really the story of Fawn Petros, who misses her father in far-off Antarctica. By caring for the little visitors, she begins to gain self-confidence and even learns to stand up to her sassy classmates when they casually call her "stupid." Miss Earth is made to play the fool with her cupid-wrought crushes, but her slightly acerbic professional manner and dry wit allow her to emerge with her dignity unscathed. The tongue-in-cheek humor and glimmers of real emotion in this installment will please both fervent fans and newcomers to the series.
Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"'Midsummer Night's Dream' this is not, but rarely have the arrows of love gone more hilariously astray." Kirkus Reviews

"The tongue-in-cheek humor and glimmers of real emotion in this installment will please both fervent fans and newcomers to the series." School Library Journal

"Children who read Six Haunted Hairdos (1997) or others in the series will find some pitch-perfect if far-fetched silliness." Booklist, ALA

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

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Turtleback
• Publisher: Demco Media (April 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0606244581
• ISBN-13: 978-0606244589
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Gregory Maguire received his Ph.D. in English and American Literature from Tufts University, and his B.A. from the State University of New York at Albany. He was a professor and co-director at the Simmons College Center for the Study of Children's Literature from 1979-1985. In 1987 he co-founded Children's Literature New England. He still serves as co-director of CLNE, although that organization has announced its intention to close after its 2006 institute.
The bestselling author of Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, Lost, Mirror Mirror, and the Wicked Years, a series that includes Wicked, Son of a Witch, and A Lion Among Men. Wicked, now a beloved classic, is the basis for the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical of the same name. Maguire has lectured on art, literature, and culture both at home and abroad.
He has three adopted children and is married to painter Andy Newman. He lives with his family near Boston, Massachusetts.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ANTHONY'S REVIEW, March 5, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Four Stupid Cupids (The Hamlet Chronicles) (Paperback)

The four stupid cupids are the main characters. This book is about four stupids cupids shooting people to make them fall in love.It is realy funny.They shot a dart at a principal and made the principal fall in love with a cat. The four stupid cupids want people to fall in love with the write people.But they do some stupid things, one of the cupids shot a tiny little pencil at a childes finger and it started to bleed a little!But after that they make the people fall inlove with the right people I cant tell you any more about this book because it wont be as exciting. I give this book 10 out of 10 and I recommend this book to ages 8 and up. The author of this book is Gregory Maguire.

4.0 out of 5 stars Love Assignment Gone Off Target, May 8, 2006

By 

Sal (Buffalo, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Four Stupid Cupids (The Hamlet Chronicles) (Paperback)

Love could be accidental and confusing especially to a cupid. In a small town where everybody knows one another pretty well, tactical errors by four cupids around Valentine's Day could be devastatingly hysterical. In Mr. Maguire's story, the children seem to govern the municipality. Their conversations are uproarious, whether they are talking among themselves or to the adults. They are on a mission and they wouldn't give up until it is completed their way. The confidence portrayed by each character makes this book a great read for children. As for an adult, it is a cute story that induces laughter which is always a rewarding pastime.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Four Stupid Cupids by Gregory Maguire, February 8, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Four Stupid Cupids (Hamlet Chronicles) (Hardcover)

I think this book is really funny and is very interesting.I can't stop reading this book.The cupids do weird things like eat lipstick.This book really makes me laugh.If you need to laugh, read this book.