  | Handbook Author: Benton, Jim | |
| Price: $19.08 | ||
Summary:
Jake and his friends find the Secret Parent's Handbook and with it all the means to subvert the irrational rules and petty tyranny of their home lives. But even though they are on to their parents' tricks, someone is on to them. Can they stay one step ahead and keep the Handbook hidden?
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 4.80 Points: 5.0 Quiz: 191635 | Reading Counts Information: Interest Level: 3-5 Reading Level: 4.20 Points: 10.0 Quiz: 72516 | |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (-) (07/01/17)
School Library Journal (08/01/17)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 08/01/2017 Gr 4–6—A middle grade dystopia with echoes of George Orwell's 1984. Jack and his friends discover a copy of the Secret Parent's Handbook, a guide that all mothers and fathers use in the rearing of their kids. It contains classic gems such as "Because I said so, that's why" and "You'll poke your eye out!" Once the kids get their hands on the book, they are able to override their parents' reactions and control their parents' behavior. When the children join the kid-led Resistance and begin acting out, Big Mother kidnaps them and tries to send them to Antarctica where they will be de-programmed before being allowed to return to their families. Humor is peppered with mild violence as agents shoot stun guns at wayward children and adults. In the hasty ending, both the kids and their parents decide that love conquers all and no one need to try to control the other. The subtle and not-so-subtle references to Orwellian elements are likely to go unnoticed by the target audience. Hand to kids who like subversive, authority-challenging humor.—Lillian Hecker, Town of Pelham Public Library, NY - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
