What Happened On Planet Kid [Hardcover]

Jane Leslie Conly (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up

A moving story of the strength and fragility of children in difficult situations, and of the power of imagination.

Twelve-year-old Dawn is spending the summer on her aunt and uncle's farm while her mother recovers from a serious operation at home in Washington, D.C. Life in the country is very different from what Dawn is used to. She spends most of her free time practicing her curve ball and hanging out with Charlotte, who lives down the road. Together, the girls create an imaginary world: Planet Kid. It is special place, their own private hideaway, and no one else is allowed in without an invitation.

As one seemingly carefree summer day rolls into another, however, the world of adults threatens to intrude. Issues of race, as well as Dawn's fears about her mother's illness, rise to the surface. Worst of all, Dawn begins to suspect that Charlotte's father is not merely strict with his family, but abusive. When Planet Kid is no longer a refuge, where can they turn?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7-Dawn, 12, is spending the summer of 1958 on Aunt Van and Uncle Moody's farm while her mother undergoes a serious operation back home in Washington, DC. Dawn practices her pitching every morning against the barn wall, emulating her hero, Senator's pitcher Camilo Pascual; she pretends to practice the piano everyday while really teaching her new friend Delbert how to play. Delbert, an African-American youngster who is also spending the summer with relatives, stutters and changes his name weekly to that of his latest hero. Dawn spends most of her time with Charlotte, who comes from a poor family and is surrounded by rowdy brothers. Dawn develops a crush on one of the brothers and slowly realizes that there are serious problems when she sees repeated evidence of the fact that Charlotte's father brutally beats his wife and children. The tension of wondering what will happen to this family keeps the story moving as does Conly's skillful, lyrical writing. Issues of abuse, religion, and racial prejudice are addressed, but not confronted, by likable, well-developed characters. Dawn's voice is consistent and believable, and the setting is distant enough for comfort and safety. Perhaps too many issues arise during Dawn's summer away from home, but Conly manages to pull the story off by caring for her characters and knowing the crises of children's middle years.
Judith Everitt, Orchard Hill Elementary School, Skillman, NJ
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Twelve-year-old Dawn has every intention of being the first female pitcher in the major leagues, and she practices every day during the summer she spends on a farm with her Aunt Van and Uncle Moody. She practices her piano, too, and the rhythms of both keep her from missing her family too much; her father is away helping her artist mother learn to walk again after an operation. Dawn's secure affection for her family is reflected in the sweetness with which she handles Charlotte, a neighbor with a smart mouth and a lot of troubles, and Delbert, a shy younger boy. Charlotte and Dawn invent Planet Kid, where they imagine and dream. Dawn doesn't quite get Charlotte's fire-and-brimstone father, and she sees clearly what others have missed--Charlotte, her mother, and her brothers have bruises to hide. The power of the story, however, lies in its evocation of languorous summer as the backdrop for these kids' discovery of different truths and pain. GraceAnne A. DeCandido
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.; 1st edition (April 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805060650
• ISBN-13: 978-0805060652
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,344,333 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:

5.0 out of 5 stars this is a wonderful book!, April 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: What Happened On Planet Kid (Hardcover)

This book was really great- funny, gritty, and moving. The psychology of the characters is very real- when Charlotte's father's "manhood" is undermined, he takes out his anger on the only people he has power over- his own family. The children in this book are portrayed as wise, imaginative individuals.This book should be read by people of all ages.