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| Title: Donavan's double trouble Author: Monalisa DeGross ; illustrated by Amy Bates Summary: Fourth-grader Donavan is sensitive about the problems he has understanding math, and then when his favorite uncle, a former high school basketball star, returns from National Guard duty an amputee, Donavan's problems get even worse as he struggles to accept this "new" Uncle Vic. Publication Information:New York: Amistad c2008. 180 p. Other Contributors:Bates, Amy June, ill. Notes:Sequel to : Donavan's word jar. Reading Level:Older Kids Min./Max. Grade Level:2-Adult Lexile:550 [view chart] ISBN:9780060772932 006077293X Popularity: Fiction/Nonfiction:Fiction Author Information:All books by: DeGross, Monalisa Gender: Female National Identity: United States Cultural Identity: African-American; American Book Jacket: Subject Headings:Allen, Donavan Fourth graders African-American boys Schools African-American families Mathematics Uncles Men with disabilities Children's stories, African-American Reviews:Fourth-grader Donavan may be excited about the Heritage Day celebration coming up at school, but he's got some immediate "double trouble" to deal with. One problem is his constant struggle with math; the other is that he can't be around his favorite uncle, Vic, who has returned from war in a wheelchair. With help from his two best friends and from his supportive, loving African American family, he eventually develops a strategy for his math anxiety and also for accepting his uncle's disability, even as Uncle Vic copes with the huge changes in his own life. The messages are spelled out ("the things we fear look bigger if we don't tackle them"), but there are no slick solutions. As with Donavan's Word Jar (1994), the fast, funny dialogue between friends and the warm family relationships will draw readers to the realistic story, which will be great for reading aloud. Occasional black-and-white drawings that extend the heartfelt fun and sorrow break up the text for the chapter-book crowd. -- Rochman, Hazel (Reviewed 12-15-2007) (Booklist, vol 104, number 8, p) Donavan, introduced in Donavan's Word Jar (HarperCollins, 1994), ponders problems and develops workable solutions with the help of supportive friends and family. Now in fourth grade, he and friends Pooh and Eric are eagerly anticipating Heritage Month. The boys vie to become "greeters," but the administration insists on fifth graders for that coveted role. Donavan attacks his "math block" with help from his dad, his younger sister, and his uncle. The other main story line revolves around Uncle Vic, who recently lost his legs in a war. Donavan expresses painfully human feelings about his relative, including being uncomfortable around him. He neglects to communicate messages back and forth from the office to his family about getting his uncle involved in Heritage Month, and eventually gets caught and chastised. The conclusion finds the math strategies working and Uncle Vic finding his way in his new life. Though the story is slightly didactic, students will feel the love of the boy's African-American family and empathize with his academic struggles. Bates's pencil sketches reflect the emotion and warmth of this story.—Debbie Whitbeck, West Ottawa Public Schools, Holland, MI --Debbie Whitbeck (Reviewed April 1, 2008) (School Library Journal, vol 54, issue 4, p140) African-American fourth grader Donavan still keeps the word jar he started in third grade, so big words are easy. His problem is math; his friends Pooh and Eric decide Donavan has a math block. This is compounded by the return of his favorite uncle Vic who lost both legs below the knee in the war. Donavan doesn't know how to relate to this new Uncle Vic, who was both a firefighter and a basketball star. Donavan's family wants Uncle Vic to display his carvings at the school's Heritage Month, but Donavan doesn't want kids asking his uncle stupid questions and staring. When Uncle Vic helps out with a math strategy and talks to Donavan about his disability, Donavan realizes tackling hard problems is a major part of life. DeGross's overlong and, at times, didactic follow-up to Donavan's Word Jar (1994) does feature a realistically conflicted and charming main character. Libraries seeking bibliotherapy for young relatives of disabled veterans might want to add this to their collections, as should those seeking chapter books starring African-American kids. (Fiction. 7-10) (Kirkus Reviews, December 15, 2007) ISBNs Associated With This Work:9780060772932 9780060772949 Credits:Novelist/EBSCO Publishing Baker & Taylor MetaMetrics, Inc. Booklist, published by the American Library Association School Library Journal, A Reed Elsevier Business Information Publication Copyright 2005, VNU Business Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved Added to Novelist: 20080509 TID: 259620 Persistent link to this record (Permalink): http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.dom.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=neh&tg=UI&an=259620&site=novp-live Cut and Paste:Title:Donavan's double trouble Author:Monalisa DeGross ; illustrated by Amy Bates Summary:Fourth-grader Donavan is sensitive about the problems he has understanding math, and then when his favorite uncle, a former high school basketball star, returns from National Guard duty an amputee, Donavan's problems get even worse as he struggles to accept this "new" Uncle Vic. Publication Information:New York: Amistad c2008. 180 p. Other Contributors:Bates, Amy June, ill. Notes:Sequel to : Donavan's word jar. Reading Level:Older Kids Min./Max. Grade Level:2-Adult Lexile:550 [view chart] ISBN:9780060772932 006077293X Popularity: Fiction/Nonfiction:Fiction Author Information:All books by: DeGross, Monalisa Gender: Female National Identity: United States Cultural Identity: African-American; American Book Jacket: Subject Headings:Allen, Donavan Fourth graders African-American boys Schools African-American families Mathematics Uncles Men with disabilities Children's stories, African-American Reviews:Fourth-grader Donavan may be excited about the Heritage Day celebration coming up at school, but he's got some immediate "double trouble" to deal with. One problem is his constant struggle with math; the other is that he can't be around his favorite uncle, Vic, who has returned from war in a wheelchair. With help from his two best friends and from his supportive, loving African American family, he eventually develops a strategy for his math anxiety and also for accepting his uncle's disability, even as Uncle Vic copes with the huge changes in his own life. The messages are spelled out ("the things we fear look bigger if we don't tackle them"), but there are no slick solutions. As with Donavan's Word Jar (1994), the fast, funny dialogue between friends and the warm family relationships will draw readers to the realistic story, which will be great for reading aloud. Occasional black-and-white drawings that extend the heartfelt fun and sorrow break up the text for the chapter-book crowd. -- Rochman, Hazel (Reviewed 12-15-2007) (Booklist, vol 104, number 8, p) Donavan, introduced in Donavan's Word Jar (HarperCollins, 1994), ponders problems and develops workable solutions with the help of supportive friends and family. Now in fourth grade, he and friends Pooh and Eric are eagerly anticipating Heritage Month. The boys vie to become "greeters," but the administration insists on fifth graders for that coveted role. Donavan attacks his "math block" with help from his dad, his younger sister, and his uncle. The other main story line revolves around Uncle Vic, who recently lost his legs in a war. Donavan expresses painfully human feelings about his relative, including being uncomfortable around him. He neglects to communicate messages back and forth from the office to his family about getting his uncle involved in Heritage Month, and eventually gets caught and chastised. The conclusion finds the math strategies working and Uncle Vic finding his way in his new life. Though the story is slightly didactic, students will feel the love of the boy's African-American family and empathize with his academic struggles. Bates's pencil sketches reflect the emotion and warmth of this story.—Debbie Whitbeck, West Ottawa Public Schools, Holland, MI --Debbie Whitbeck (Reviewed April 1, 2008) (School Library Journal, vol 54, issue 4, p140) African-American fourth grader Donavan still keeps the word jar he started in third grade, so big words are easy. His problem is math; his friends Pooh and Eric decide Donavan has a math block. This is compounded by the return of his favorite uncle Vic who lost both legs below the knee in the war. Donavan doesn't know how to relate to this new Uncle Vic, who was both a firefighter and a basketball star. Donavan's family wants Uncle Vic to display his carvings at the school's Heritage Month, but Donavan doesn't want kids asking his uncle stupid questions and staring. When Uncle Vic helps out with a math strategy and talks to Donavan about his disability, Donavan realizes tackling hard problems is a major part of life. DeGross's overlong and, at times, didactic follow-up to Donavan's Word Jar (1994) does feature a realistically conflicted and charming main character. Libraries seeking bibliotherapy for young relatives of disabled veterans might want to add this to their collections, as should those seeking chapter books starring African-American kids. (Fiction. 7-10) (Kirkus Reviews, December 15, 2007) ISBNs Associated With This Work:9780060772932 9780060772949 Credits:Novelist/EBSCO Publishing Baker & Taylor MetaMetrics, Inc. Booklist, published by the American Library Association School Library Journal, A Reed Elsevier Business Information Publication Copyright 2005, VNU Business Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved Added to Novelist: 20080509 TID: 259620 Persistent link to this record (Permalink): http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.dom.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=neh&tg=UI&an=259620&site=novp-live | |
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