The New Kid

October 17, 2011
Jukes puts a lightheartedly realistic spin on the experience of being new in school. A job opportunity for Carson’s single father means a midyear move from Pasadena to Northern California. Carson’s new public school is dramatically different from his old Montessori one, but never threateningly so; friendly classmates and encouraging teachers quickly emerge. With his ninth birthday approaching, however, the problem of celebrating without his beloved grandparents and old friends looms large. Jukes (Smoke) warmly depicts the deep affection between Carson and his father, who adopted him as a baby, though the constant repartee between father and son can grow tiresome, as do the uncontrollable antics of Weston, the class troublemaker. Carson’s levelheaded thoughts and commendable struggles to handle his conflicting emotions help ground the story, and his love of animals—both living and stuffed—is an appealing motif that many readers will embrace. The book exudes the relentless, exhausting energy of an elementary-school classroom; the daily dramas of being almost nine and facing the challenges of a new environment are presented with credible weight and reassuring humor. Ages 8–12.

October 1, 2011
Being the "new kid" in the middle of a school year means all sorts of new experiences for 8-year-old Carson Blum. When his tax-lawyer father takes a new position in El Cerrito, Calif., Carson packs up his stuffed mammal, Moose, and his ditzy Labrador retriever, Genevieve, and waves a reluctant goodbye to his grandparents, his two best friends and his small private school in Pasadena. Public school is quite different, but his teacher, Mr. Lipman, and Carson's new classmates make him feel welcome. Carson's just not sure he'll have a new friend by his birthday to invite horseback riding. He's also not sure what to make of his classmate Weston Walker, who gets in trouble a lot and seems to tell a lot of whoppers. Carson likes Nancy, who helps him in computer class. He's also excited to help Patrick take care of Mr. Nibblenose, the class rat. In her newest, Newbery Honor author Jukes (Like Jake and Me, 1984) depicts a warmly affectionate relationship between Carson and his adoptive father. They're best friends and have in-jokes and no disagreements. Carson's emotional life is expertly drawn, and readers who've found themselves in approximations of his situation will easily identify. However, the length, abundance of complex sentences and slowish pacing make this problematic for early-elementary children, who are most likely to be interested in a novel starring an 8-year-old. Quiet humor with dashes of goofiness may offset its problems, but Carson's tale will still work better as a read-aloud than as an independent read. (Fiction. 7-10)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

December 1, 2011

Gr 3-5-In this gentle tale, "going-on-nine" Carson Blum strives to make sense of his changing world. His single father's new job means that Carson, who is adopted, must leave his beloved grandparents, best friends, and small private school. He worries about being "The New Kid," feeling left out, and finding a new friend in time to help him celebrate his upcoming birthday. He observes the actions of the students in his new public school and struggles with decisions, such as whether or not to bring his much-loved toy Moose to school on Stuffed Animal Day or believe the outrageous stories of the class clown. Over time, he begins to see solutions to his problems and be comfortable with his new life. This is a warm story about loving families, making friends, and growing up. It allows readers to experience the close father-and-son relationship. By sharing the details of Carson's day, Jukes helps readers see the world through the protagonist's eyes. Her writing captures his childlike wonder and ever-ready optimism-even in the face of upheaval. The lively characters and surprising events keep the story moving.-Carole Phillips, Greenacres Elementary School, Scarsdale, NY

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2011
Grades 2-5 After Carson and his dad move to California, he becomes The New Kid in a public school classroom that is in some ways the same as his old Montessori school and in other ways very different. Mainly, he has gone from knowing everyone to knowing no one. His classmate, Wes, is very friendly but also rambunctious and frequently in trouble. Would he make a good friend? As the year draws to an end, Carson begins to understand his classmates better. Author of the Newbery Honor Book Like Jake and Me (1984), Jukes writes at a deliberately slow pace here, letting characters reveal themselves gradually and giving unusual weight to the details of everyday life. Readers will learn, for example, about the many differences between birthday celebrations at Carson's two schools. This quiet, episodic but nevertheless compelling story is particularly well suited to young children reading above grade level and looking for a longer chapter book with a modern, realistic setting.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)