You're a Brave Man, Julius Zimmerman [Paperback]

Claudia Mills (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2, 2001 | Grade Level: 3 and up

Twelve-year-old Julius has his hands full over the summer when his mother attempts to improve his grades and teach him responsibility by signing him up for a French class and getting him a job babysitting.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7-Seventh-grader Julius Zimmerman's plans for an idle summer are spoiled when his mother signs him up for a five-week French course and an afternoon baby-sitting job. After only 45 minutes of French, the boy is convinced that he is the worst student in the class. Then, he meets his young charge, Edison Blue, and is horrified to learn that the child still wears diapers. The next few weeks present many challenges to Julius: toilet training the three-year-old, studying a new language, and trying to live up to his mother's expectations. During this time he also develops an interest in Edison's next door neighbor, Octavia. Throughout the story, the boy records his goals for each week, which change from lofty to realistic as the summer passes. As she did in Dinah Forever (Farrar, 1995), Mills catches the angst and awkwardness of middle schoolers with a light and humorous touch. There are some laugh-out-loud moments: one comes when Julius's French teacher gives him a private lesson in "le Hokey Pokey" with the entire class watching through the window. Julius is an appealing character-he isn't the best of students, but he tries hard. By the end of the summer, he accomplishes some of his goals and impresses his mother with his talent for working with children. Give this book to readers who enjoy Betsy Byars's Bingo Brown (Viking) or Lois Lowry's Anastasia (Houghton).
Terrie Dorio, Santa Monica Public Library, CA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

In her sequel to Losers, Inc. (1997), Mills allows Julius to emerge as something of a sad sackhe's convinced he can't do anything right, that his mother doesn't like him, and that he has nothing to offerbut he's wrong. Following some low grades for Julius at the end of sixth grade, his mother has decided that a good foundation for seventh grade will include summer mornings in French class, afternoons baby- sitting toddler Edison, keeping a goal-setting journal, and reading in his free time. Instead of meeting his mother's goals, Julius accomplishes a few of his own: forming a friendship with Octavia, toilet-training Edison, and showing his mother that he doesn't have to be similar to her to succeed. His mother, painfully pushy and disappointed in Julius for most of the book, experiences a last- minute change of heart when other people inform her of her son's accomplishments and of his capacity for caring. Bathroom humor aside, there's little evidence of a relationship between Edison and Julius; when other signs of Julius's big hearta scene in which he comforts Octavia and his selection of a gift into his French teacherare pushed into the story, the manipulations of the author erode what readers already know: Julius is a really great guy. (Fiction. 8-12) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; 1st Hyperion Paperback ed edition (March 2, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786814489
• ISBN-13: 978-0786814480
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,737,230 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The summer of complete boredom, June 12, 2000

By 

"rav10" - See all my reviews

This review is from: You're a Brave Man, Julius Zimmerman (Hardcover)

In the words of my 9-year-old son Sean, who absolutely, positively loved this book:This book is one of best books I ever read. My favorite character was the character Julius was babysitting. My favorite part was when Julius had to do the hokey-pokey in French. I would recommend this book on its hilarious plot and its realistic characters. The characters sound like people I know, and the setting is one I definitely know -- Colorado. This book would be perfect to read for a summer reading program, where ever you are.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Hilarious Book!, July 31, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: You're a Brave Man, Julius Zimmerman (Paperback)

Julius has always been known as a loser all his life. Julius was planning for a nice boring summer but his mother signs him up for French and baby-sitting. This book was hilarious as Julius has a very hard time learning French and could not in any way get how to do the Hockey Pockey in French. In baby-sitting Julius tries to get Edison Blue potty tranined but fails miserbrely. The only good part is that the girl next door named Olivia who is an aspiring actress is stunning. This will be a heck of ride for Julius but in the end something great comes out of it! I reccommend this book because it is just really funny and make your day!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Your Brave manJulis Zimmerman, December 7, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: You're a Brave Man, Julius Zimmerman (Paperback)

Your Brave Man, Julis Zimmerman is a funny book. I coudn't put the book down four nothing at all. My favorite part was when he had to potty-traind Edison. I thought that was so funny.I was about to fall out of my chair. Another funny part was when he put Edison in time out that must of hurt his hand. I'll give it five stars.