The Kid in the Red Jacket (Paperback)

by Barbara Park (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
A new move across the countryand the younger girl who lives next doorforces Howard to reevaluate his expectations of friendship in this witty middle-grade novel. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6 Park commiserates with the problems of pre-adolescence in this first-person narrative of ten-year-old Howard Jeeter, whose life is temporarily destroyed by a cross-country move to a new family home. Howard knows what awaits him as he drives east from Arizona with his insensitive parents, bawling baby brother, and smelly basset hound to a historic house in Massachusetts: he will be a vulnerable and possibly despised ``new kid.'' His first contact on Chester Pewe St. is Molly, an intrusive first-grader with red hair ``styled kind of like Bozo's.'' Her desperate attempts to be friendly drive Howard to distraction and also make him anxious that his new classmates won't accept him if he hangs around a first grader. Howard's coming to terms with Molly's need for friendship is a particularly well-done part of the novel. As in Operation: Dump the Chump (1982) and Beanpole (1983, both Knopf), Park writes in a witty and bittersweet style about the awkward, super-sensitive age of early adolescence; her humor both reflects and sharpens the sensibilities of her readers in the areas of family and friend relationships. Another first-rate addition by this author to the middle-grade popular reading shelf. Linda Wicher, Lincolnwood Public Library, Ill.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Yearling (August 12, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394805712
• ISBN-13: 978-0394805719
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #134,489 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent novels for an entire classroom, December 2, 1998

By A Customer

The Kid In The Red Jacket was a very funny book for all ages to get humor out of. I want to get this book a lot now that I`ve read it. The story of Howard Jeeter and his pesky little neighbor Molly is an enchanting story. I only give this book 4 stars because I thought that the base of the story could have been better and more detailed. Overall, this book is highly recommended by my fifth grade class. Special thanks to my teacher for reading it and making the very humorous Molly Vera Thompson voices and many others. Also, for being such a great teacher. P.S. You really would want her. She`s great!!!!!!!!!!!!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Kid in the Red Jacket, October 15, 2000

By A Customer

This book is a gem. My now college aged child, who still reads many, many books, enjoyed reading this book over and over again years ago. The wonderful part about this book is that Barbara Park is able to entertain an eight year old and entertain their adult parent as well. She uses so much humor in this book and both my child and I were laughing, out loud. I found that I was reading ahead in the book long after my child was in bed the first night that we had began reading it. I highly recommend this book for it's witty writing, it's life lesson to be learned, and mostly for the chance to experience a wonderful book with my child.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Could not just read just one chapter, January 24, 2002

A Kid's Review

I enjoyed this book because it really explains what a new kid goes
though.Bullies,making friends,meeting people are all the the things new kids have to do.Well my favorite character was the main
character.He has met a little girl that wants to be his friend,and
bugs him every day.She comes to his house every day to talk to him.He is embarrassed by her.The whole story he is trying to get
away from her.The ending will leave you shocked.You would have
never thought that it would have happened that way!