Customer Reviews

The Kid Who Ran for President

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I read somewhere recently that "The Kid Who Ran for President" is a perfect book for upper elementary/middle school students to read to understand the election process. Whoever made that comment is totally right. I learned a few things myself.

In creating this unlikely scenario, Dan Gutman has threaded civics lessons through the warp and woof of the story of a 12-year-old running for president. Judson Moon and Lane Brainard (the names are intentionally derived by Gutman) decide that a kid needs to wage a campaign since the two presidential candidates set to run are so unsatisfactory.

Lane is the brains of the two (get the pun?) and Judson the quick thinker on this feet. I must share this one part of the story. First, they need a slogan. Can't think of a good one. Decide VP--it's June Syers, an old African-American woman whom Judd loves as a grandmother. Do you see the slogan coming? It's Moon and June for office! Next, which party? Neither. Let's make a new one: the Lemonade Party. Who will be First Babe? And so on.

The campaign develops its own life, especially with the machinations of Lane's braininess. They need twenty million to run a campaign. What Lane uses is brilliant and works (of course with a little help from the author). Everything they do snowballs for their benefit.

That's all I will say, except that I thoroughly enjoyed this book for ages 9-12. It is fun, educational in a tricky way, and just plain ol' good reading. During the unwinding of the plot, several provocative questions are raised, leading to great class discussions!

Do Judson Moon and June Syers win? The sequel is "The Kid Who Became President," yet the fun of the book is the journey, not the end. This book is highly recommended for class readings and discussion.

THE KID WHO RAN FOR PRESIDENT by: Dan Gutman is a fabulous book that you MUST read! It has a great combo of comedy and and a unique style of writing that is hard to find nowadays. Dan Gutman delivers one of his best books yet! THE KID WHO RAN FOR PRESIDENT is a magnificent piece that must be read by all, no matter how old you are! This book is about a 12 year-old, Judson Moon, who decided that he wanted to run for president. Can he win, is the question?

This book is SO funny! 12-year-old prankster Judson Moon and his campaign manager/best friend 12-year-old genuis Lane Brainard (Sounds just the way its spelled) are on a mission- to make Judson the President of the United States. To do this, they need 2,000 signatures and $20 million. Judson got A LOT of votes. Through scandal and opinion polls, Is it enough to make him president? And how long will his presidency last? Read this funny and entertaining book if you want to know.

As if you haven't heard it 1,000 times before from other Reviewers, this is a book about Judson Moon, a 12 year old kid who runs for president. This book is pretty much just comic relief, but full of information. If you wonder what happens next, just check out "The Kid Who Became President", also by Dan Gutman (duh). These two books together are about a 2 hour read. Just to give you an idea of how long they are, The Kid Who Became President is 215 pages long, but they print is fairly large. All in all, this is not a bad book if you like humor, Presidents, politics and wisecracks all wrapped into one. I liked it. My recomendation: Check it out.

(Author's Note: To whatever ignorant simpleton said "He chooses an older black partner named June Syers HIS BABY SITTER that hasn't voted since Teddy Roosevelt's time!" This is what he meant: He chooses an older black partner named June Syers, who happened to be his babysitter when he was a toddler, who hasen't voted since FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT'S administration. Please got your facts strait before you belittle a book you know very little about.)

I read this book when I was in fourth grade with my class. I loved it. It was funny and although unrealistic, real at the same time. It explained politics very well and gave me a real sense of what being presidential candidate. We read this book before/during/after the 1996 elections so it made them even more realistic to me.

I SAY...EXCELLENT!!! This book is suspenseful and exciting and just....great!!! !It's THE BEST book for boys and girls age 7 thru 17....I read it 2 times in 1 day.........it is the awesomest! It has you on the edge of your seat and makes you squeal with joy and make you want to do it too!!! If you want to get a holiday present for a kid get them this book!!! If you are a kid and you're looking for a great book get this one!!!!! You will love it, and the best part is it's sooo realistic even though the plot sounds unreal!!!!!! The best, I repeat, the best...!!! You will follow the adventures of Judson, Lane, Chelsea, and June as they develop the awesomest campaign...it sounds so real...you can do it too, kids!!!!! But the first step is to buy this book you won't regret it!!!!!!!!!!!! :) (If I could give this book 6 stars I would!! Or 7!!!! Or 8!!! Or 9!!! Or 10!!!! or infinity!!!!!!!)

I like the book because it is really funny and crazy things happen like selling lemonade for 25 cents to finance Judson's campaign when they actually need millions of dollars. I think it is cool that he gets lots of votes because he makes a virtual campaign online. I really don't understand why Judson Moon won for president and he does not want to in the end. Maybe you can read it and figure it out.

Ivan L. Miami, Fl

It's about a boy named Judson whose friend wants him to run for president. So, he did it for a goof, he likes to make everything funny. His arch enemy is Arthur Krantz, hates it. He is a pretty harsh charator and Judson threw Arthur's exam paper down the sewer pipe. People found out and thought maybe Judson was a bad person because a reporter talked to Arthur Krantz. Plus the reporter was the one who said that people use others then spit them back out and that's what he did! So he saying this then he does it just so he can get money.


M.H.B.

The kid who ran for president is a funney book about a 12 year old running for president!
Judsen Moon is running for president as a goof but gets serous over time.
Does he want to win?
Will he win?

Joe Donnelly
Richmond,VA.

I have read this book about a million times and keep it on my bookshelf. My career of choice is to be an attorney and this book shows a lighter side to things. Moon's stupiditiy just proves that no matter wo you are you should go for your dream, (Or in this case your best friends dream being lived through you.)
--- Sam Kelley