Ninjas, Piranhas, and Galileo [Hardcover]

Greg Leitich Smith (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: 5 and up

Elias, Shohei, and Honoria have always been three united against That Which is The Peshtigo School. But suddenly understanding and sticking up for a best friend isn't as easy as it used to be. Elias, reluctant science fair participant, finds himself defying the authority of Mr. Ethan Eden, teacher king of chem lab. Shohei, all-around slacker, is approaching a showdown with his adoptive parents, who have decided that he needs to start ``hearing'' his ancestors. And Honoria, legal counsel extraordinaire, discovers that telling a best friend you like him, without actually telling him, is a lot harder than battling Goliath Reed or getting a piranha to become a vegetarian.

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

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-8-Friends since grade school, Elias, Shohei, and Honoria are smack in the middle of a rather sticky phase of their lives. Elias is entering his exclusive private school's science fair with about as much enthusiasm as a prisoner walking the plank over shark-infested waters. Shohei is the Japanese-born adopted son of parents who are force-feeding him bits and pieces of his native culture and slacker partner in Elias's science-fair project. Honoria is a serious participant in the fair and has undertaken the extraordinary task of trying to teach a pair of piranhas to prefer bananas over meat. She is also trying to figure out how to tell Shohei that she likes him as more than just a friend. Each of these characters must navigate through personal minefields made up of family and emotional time bombs in order to survive "That Which Is" life. Smith uses a diary format for the chapters, each of which reveals part of the story from a different character's perspective. A fresh, unusual story of friendship and honesty, riddled with wit, intelligence, and more than a few chuckles.
Donna M. Knott, The Lovett School, Atlanta
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. Poor Elias. Secretly in love with one of his best friends, Honoria, he is constantly reminded that she likes Shohei, another seventh-grader at their Chicago magnet school. Shohei can't see it--he's too busy writing anonymous e-mail love letters to Honoria for Eli. Both boys are pushed by their parents into the science fair, which Honoria hopes to win by turning her pet piranhas into vegetarians. When Elias stumbles on the brilliant plan of reproducing one of his brother's award-winning experiments, Shohei begs to be his partner. The plan backfires and lands Elias in Student Court. Honoria's brilliant strategy for Eli's defense means a crisis of conscience for Shohei, who will have to admit that he has copied his experiment's results. Alternating first-person narratives make for a fast-paced, hilarious send-up of school life. Smith achieves just the right balance of intelligent wit and drama in his first novel. Louise Brueggeman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers; 1 edition (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316778540
• ISBN-13: 978-0316778541
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #133,595 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun read for adult and kids alike!, February 29, 2004

By 

Meihsin Lin "Tina_the_dreamer" (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ninjas, Piranhas, and Galileo (Hardcover)

My roomate's 8th grade son picked out this book from the local library, originally for his little sister in second grade. But when I started reading, I couldn't put it down.

I found this book a very fun read. When I was reading, I was laughing all the time, The humor is alot like in the hitchhiker's guide, the 3 main characters reminded me the 3 muskerteers in Harry Potter, especially Honoria with Hormeone. I hope the author will do a series of book base on these 3 lively characters :)

Kids into science, law or Japanese culture should find lots they can related with.

Since I live in Austin, Hail! another wonderful Austin writer (if Greg do identify himself with Austin, Ha!)!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Fabulous First Novel (both you and your kids will love), October 18, 2003

By 

"angelakmooney" (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ninjas, Piranhas, and Galileo (Hardcover)

My boyfriend and I both loved this book. As a Children's Book Buyer for an independant bookstore, I am truly happy to recommend this title to my customers. I most highly recommeded this title for Chicagoans and private school kids. The story combines all the best of romance, schoool drama, science writing and family relations. We can't wait to see where Greg goes from here. I look forward to more and you will too!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Angers fly and friendships change, February 11, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Ninjas, Piranhas, and Galileo (Hardcover)

The book Ninjas, Piranhas, and Galileo was an astounding book. This book had all the exciting parts down perfectly. I loved the sorrow parts. They were as bitter as bitter could get. It dragged out all of the parts that weren't all that exciting. My favorite character was Freddie M-K. She was absolutely hysterical. She gives the nickname " `Crazy' about the wilderness," a whole new meaning. Although, I thought that Mr. Eden was absolutely snobby, rude and obnoxious. He gave no consent about anything unless it has to deal with him. I think that this book is not to be read by anyone who need a book that starts off with action and lots of it. This is more of a book that gradually moves into the action area. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves an unsuspecting turn of events at the moment of truth. I would also recommend the book to anyone that has an inner sense of humor.