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Overview
This book is about a hotel full of animals. And an evil ice maker. And glass eyeballs — oh, and really old panty hose and Possibly Fake Hair. But mostly, it's about Leon Zeisel and his epic quest to survive fourth grade, despite his teacher, Miss Hagmeyer, and his archenemy, Lumpkin the Pumpkin, a human tank with a deadly dodgeball throw. Luckily, Leon has friends who will stand by him even if his magical plans for rescue and revenge involve ... SPIT!
Leon, a fourth grader at The Ethical School, tries to outwit the school bully and learn to sew for fanatical teacher Miss Cronheim, with unexpected help from his final project-- a doll with magical powers.
Synopsis
This book is about a hotel full of animals. And an evil ice maker. And glass eyeballs — oh, and really old panty hose and Possibly Fake Hair. But mostly, it's about Leon Zeisel and his epic quest to survive fourth grade, despite his teacher, Miss Hagmeyer, and his archenemy, Lumpkin the Pumpkin, a human tank with a deadly dodgeball throw. Luckily, Leon has friends who will stand by him even if his magical plans for rescue and revenge involve ... SPIT!
Publishers Weekly
Linn-Baker effortlessly inhabits the character of Leon Zeisel, a beleaguered fourth-grader with troubles at school that are larger (and weirder) than most kids'. As the first day of school approaches, Leon already feels a sense of defeat. He has peeked into his mother's papers and surreptitiously read a confidential file about his school performance to this point. Teachers' evaluations from the Classical School label him "clumsy" and "delayed," especially when it comes to demonstrating fine motor skills. That doesn't bode well when his fourth grade teacher turns out to be a strict and strange woman with a Velcroed-on wig, super-human hearing and a lesson plan that includes sewing a menagerie of stuffed animals throughout the year. As the school year and Leon's sewing ability progress, however, he finds a magical key to making his life a whole lot easier. Listeners will quickly be hooked by the goofy character traits and mysterious plot elements here, delivered in Linn-Baker's crisp, accomplished style. He consistently sounds chipper or downtrodden as the situation demands. As the title may suggest, kids will also delight in the fact that Leon's eventual triumph involves a good amount of spit. Ages 8-up. (Oct. 2003). Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Editorials
Publishers Weekly
Linn-Baker effortlessly inhabits the character of Leon Zeisel, a beleaguered fourth-grader with troubles at school that are larger (and weirder) than most kids'. As the first day of school approaches, Leon already feels a sense of defeat. He has peeked into his mother's papers and surreptitiously read a confidential file about his school performance to this point. Teachers' evaluations from the Classical School label him "clumsy" and "delayed," especially when it comes to demonstrating fine motor skills. That doesn't bode well when his fourth grade teacher turns out to be a strict and strange woman with a Velcroed-on wig, super-human hearing and a lesson plan that includes sewing a menagerie of stuffed animals throughout the year. As the school year and Leon's sewing ability progress, however, he finds a magical key to making his life a whole lot easier. Listeners will quickly be hooked by the goofy character traits and mysterious plot elements here, delivered in Linn-Baker's crisp, accomplished style. He consistently sounds chipper or downtrodden as the situation demands. As the title may suggest, kids will also delight in the fact that Leon's eventual triumph involves a good amount of spit. Ages 8-up. (Oct. 2003). Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.Children's Literature
Fourth-grader Leon Zeisel lives in a one-star hotel where his mother is night manager. Since it's New York, he takes a cab to school each day, collecting taxi-drivers'countries for a hobby. Most of the story, though, takes place at the Classical School, where we discern immediately that this is a fantasy since no real school would employ a teacher like Miss Hagmeyer, who dresses like a witch, wears a Velcro-attached wig, and builds her assignments around sewing and medieval studies. (Actually, a field trip to the Cloisters is the best part of the story.) While the character of klutzy Leon derives a modicum of interest from his unusual home and the people who work there, his school friends are the typical cast: nerdy best friend, supportive female friend, the spoiled princess, the bully. The author doesn't fail to include the gross elements seemingly obligatory for this age group, a pickle jar of the coach's tobacco-dyed spit looming large in the plot (Don't read this while eating!). A complicated narrative involving the sewing of "animiles," humiliation by the bully, and controlling Miss Hagmeyer through a magic doll sewn by Leon takes the class (and none too soon) to the end of the year, a medieval fair, and a plan for future revenge on the bully. Middle readers may be relieved that Leon makes fifth grade by whatever means, but much of his journey is too tedious for willing suspension of disbelief. 2003, Greenwillow, Ages 9 to 11.— Barbara L. Talcroft
VOYA
After receiving a particularly gloomy progress report from his school, Leon Zeisel dreads fourth grade more than ever. Leon, who lives in a one-star hotel, The Trimore, and arrives at school every day in a taxi, attends The Classical School along with his friends P.W. and Lily Matisse, and his archenemy, Lumpkin. Leon's new teacher, Miss Hagmeyer, promises more scholastic agony than usual with the announcement of a mysterious yearlong sewing project. Leon, who is all thumbs, is in danger of repeating fourth grade until he creates a doll image of Miss Hagmeyer that exerts a strange power over the teacher herself. Realizing the potential for mayhem, Leon and his friends team up to solve the mystery and defeat the bully with the help of their magical doll. This book is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Rife with bullies, nasty teachers, and spit, the story further boasts an underdog main character who is likeable and quirky. Kurzweil's memorable touches, such as Miss Hagmeyer's array of eyes and Leon's collection of cab drivers from around the world, keep the plot freshly piquant. Leon's never-ending and often gross series of escapes will amuse younger readers, holding their interest through Leon's painfully long fourth grade year. This book will appeal to younger middle school readers who like Snicket and Ibbotson and who want a new take on an old tale. It is recommended for school and public libraries. VOYA CODES: 4Q 4P M (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8). 2003, HarperCollins, 320p., and PLB Ages 11 to 14.—Caitlin Augusta