  | My cousin's keeper Author: French, Simon | |
| Price: $6.50 | ||
Summary:
When the odd new kid at school turns out to be his cousin, Kieran feels embarrassed and resentful. But how far will he let the bullying go?
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 4.80 Points: 7.0 Quiz: 170754 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (07/15/14)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/11/14)
The Hornbook (00/09/14)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 06/01/2014 Gr 4–7—Eleven-year-old Kieran can't catch a break. He has just begun to make inroads with the popular crowd at school when his conspicuously odd cousin, Bon, moves into town. Having lived a vagabond life, Bon is a virtual stranger to Kieran, but his appearance speaks volumes: he has long, braided hair, talks in a clipped fashion, and dresses in clothes for a much younger child. Kieran wants nothing to do with him and is horrified when Bon enrolls in his school. To make matters worse, Bon has become best friends with the new girl, Julia, on whom Kieran has a mad crush. Burdened with a negligent and unreliable mother, Bon becomes more and more dependent on Kieran's family. The situation becomes volatile as the protagonist begins to feel torn between an ever-growing compassion for his cousin and his strong desire to be popular. French adeptly avoids being preachy when it comes to the topics of bullying and peer pressure. He paints a sympathetic portrait of both boys and lets readers draw their own conclusions. The mystery of Julia and her own familial troubles adds a level of intrigue, and while the ending feels a bit drawn out, this is a solid choice for middle-grade readers.—Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, St. Joseph, MI - Copyright 2014 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
