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Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8?In this overly optimistic look at homelessness, sixth-grader Charlie Fuller is shocked to discover his beloved third-grade teacher living on the streets of his California town. Though Mr. Adams does not initially acknowledge their past connection, Charlie and his friend Colleen try to improve their former teacher's situation. They take him gifts and food and clean his cardboard house. More importantly, they tell him how he changed their lives. Over the months, the man pulls himself out of the alcoholic haze that has trapped him. When some rampaging teens tear up the homeless encampment, the children take the injured Mr. Adams back to his former classroom and, with the help of the school custodian and a local policeman, care for him. Plans are formed to get their friend an apartment, help him get started on a hoped-for career as a writer, and celebrate his years as a teacher. This is a worthy book, putting a face on a problem that many people try to ignore. By detailing the steps that can lead a successful person to homelessness, Evans creates empathy for the individuals caught in its trap. Most of the homeless people are positively portrayed. While the violence and hardship of the encampment are mentioned, they are seemingly not dangerous enough to intimidate two sheltered, rich children who visit there every day. The inherent question posed throughout is, "So What Do You Do?" when faced with an unsolvable problem. Personal action and commitment may help, but how realistic, not to mention safe, is the action outlined here? Not very.?Anne Connor, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Kirkus Reviews
Two sixth graders find their third-grade teacher living in a cardboard box in the park and give him a fresh start in this contrived, misguided tale from Evans (The Classroom at the End of the Hall, 1995). Charlie isn't sure why he follows the filthy, shambling street person into the public library--until he realizes with a shock that it's Joe Adams, his all-time favorite teacher. When Charlie rushes up to talk, he is coldly rebuffed. Enlisting the help of classmate Colleen, another Adams fan, he begins bringing food and clean clothing to the box where Adams keeps his books and opera tapes, lying about his whereabouts to conveniently oblivious parents. As weeks pass, Adams slowly becomes less hostile, and at last explains how the combination of chemotherapy, divorce, and a publicized incident in which he shoved a bullying student destroyed his self-esteem, led him to resign, and eventually drove him to drink. Ultimately, Charlie and Colleen sneak him into his old school classroom for a week (it's spring break), while appreciative former students gather to get him back on his feet with a check, an apartment, and a pep rally. Evans pays warm tribute to the profound effects a teacher can have, and suggests that helping the homeless often requires more than finding them places to live. Still, there are several characters and subplots undeveloped, and in Charlie's example is a potentially dangerous course of action. (Fiction. 10-12) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
See all Editorial Reviews
Grade 5-8?In this overly optimistic look at homelessness, sixth-grader Charlie Fuller is shocked to discover his beloved third-grade teacher living on the streets of his California town. Though Mr. Adams does not initially acknowledge their past connection, Charlie and his friend Colleen try to improve their former teacher's situation. They take him gifts and food and clean his cardboard house. More importantly, they tell him how he changed their lives. Over the months, the man pulls himself out of the alcoholic haze that has trapped him. When some rampaging teens tear up the homeless encampment, the children take the injured Mr. Adams back to his former classroom and, with the help of the school custodian and a local policeman, care for him. Plans are formed to get their friend an apartment, help him get started on a hoped-for career as a writer, and celebrate his years as a teacher. This is a worthy book, putting a face on a problem that many people try to ignore. By detailing the steps that can lead a successful person to homelessness, Evans creates empathy for the individuals caught in its trap. Most of the homeless people are positively portrayed. While the violence and hardship of the encampment are mentioned, they are seemingly not dangerous enough to intimidate two sheltered, rich children who visit there every day. The inherent question posed throughout is, "So What Do You Do?" when faced with an unsolvable problem. Personal action and commitment may help, but how realistic, not to mention safe, is the action outlined here? Not very.?Anne Connor, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Kirkus Reviews
Two sixth graders find their third-grade teacher living in a cardboard box in the park and give him a fresh start in this contrived, misguided tale from Evans (The Classroom at the End of the Hall, 1995). Charlie isn't sure why he follows the filthy, shambling street person into the public library--until he realizes with a shock that it's Joe Adams, his all-time favorite teacher. When Charlie rushes up to talk, he is coldly rebuffed. Enlisting the help of classmate Colleen, another Adams fan, he begins bringing food and clean clothing to the box where Adams keeps his books and opera tapes, lying about his whereabouts to conveniently oblivious parents. As weeks pass, Adams slowly becomes less hostile, and at last explains how the combination of chemotherapy, divorce, and a publicized incident in which he shoved a bullying student destroyed his self-esteem, led him to resign, and eventually drove him to drink. Ultimately, Charlie and Colleen sneak him into his old school classroom for a week (it's spring break), while appreciative former students gather to get him back on his feet with a check, an apartment, and a pep rally. Evans pays warm tribute to the profound effects a teacher can have, and suggests that helping the homeless often requires more than finding them places to live. Still, there are several characters and subplots undeveloped, and in Charlie's example is a potentially dangerous course of action. (Fiction. 10-12) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
See all Editorial Reviews
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Inside This Book Citations: This book cites 7 books Explore: Citations | Concordance | Text Stats Key Phrases - SIPs: cardboard shack, cardboard walls, cement path, reading corner, tweed coat Key Phrases - CAPs: Jack Keller, The Professor, Fourth Street, Joe Adams, Colleen Martin (more) Browse Sample Pages: Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover | Surprise Me! |
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Inside This Book
(learn more)
First Sentence:
I saw a tall man standing in the doorway of the bookstore. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
cardboard shack, cardboard walls, cement path, reading corner, tweed coat Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Jack Keller, The Professor, Fourth Street, Joe Adams, Colleen Martin, Officer Vega, Alan Vega, Charlie Fuller, Neil Turner, City Park, Rice Krispies Treats, Crime Blotter, Pleasant Hill Elementary School New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse S
I saw a tall man standing in the doorway of the bookstore. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
cardboard shack, cardboard walls, cement path, reading corner, tweed coat Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Jack Keller, The Professor, Fourth Street, Joe Adams, Colleen Martin, Officer Vega, Alan Vega, Charlie Fuller, Neil Turner, City Park, Rice Krispies Treats, Crime Blotter, Pleasant Hill Elementary School New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse S