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Overview
Kenny feels lika lowlife creep. It's not just because he made an embarrassing, um, slip in class, but because he let Alice Flowers take the blame. Alice is already the class outcast and the butt of everyone's jokes. Now, thanks to Kenny and a couple of class clowns who joined in, Alice is labeled "Stink Bomb," and Kenny's shameful little mishap remains his own guilty secret.But Kenny has a conscience, and keeping silent while Alice takes the flak is getting to him. Kenny tries to make it better by being friendly. But when the other kis start yelling, "Kenny loves Alice," it's his mouth that "blows a gasket"—blurting out that he hates Alice. Now he feels even worse. Can he get out of this mess without pinning the "stink bomb" label on himself?
Taking care of two orphaned baby squirrels helps Kenny forget how bad he feels about blaming a shy sixth-grade classmate for his own "stink bomb," but his mother refuses to allow him or his brothers to bring home any more animals.
Editorials
Publishers Weekly -
Cullen buries her novel's worthy messagethe importance of taking responsibility for one's actionsin a story line that is consumed with a single incident. After seventh-grader Kenny passes gas during gym class and blames it on Alice, a shy girl new to the school, he frets over his dishonesty and promises himself he will admit to being the "stink bomb." The class bully ups the ante by tormenting Alice about the matter and teasing Kenny about being sweet on the humiliated girl, which prompts the guilt-ridden boy to blurt out that he hates Alice. Cullen breaks away from this tiresome banter to a more substantive subplot that reveals Kenny's emerging maturity: though defying his mother's orders not to bring another animal into her pet-filled house, he restores two baby squirrels to health and (with the help of Alice, now his friend) sets them free. This episode makes for livelier reading than the balance of the novel's preoccupation with Kenny's anxiety about how and when he'll clear the air about breaking wind. Ages 8-12. (Mar.)Children's Literature -
Kenny Peek has an unfortunate slip of intestinal gas during sit-ups in gym class. Rather than owning up, he blames it on the new girl, Alice. This lie is compounded by several others as he tries to hide some baby squirrels from his mother, who has forbidden new pets at home. Alice is tormented by the rest of the class, which only increases Kenny's feelings of guilt. Eventually, Kenny finds a way to correct the situation, and makes a new friend in the process. Kenny's tangled web is effectively spun; the reader identifies with the pickle he is in. Alice is a proponent of animal rights, refusing to participate in dissections in biology class. The alternative view is not presented, which leaves her view unquestioned and accepted. Other than this nod to current opinion, the book is fun.School Library Journal
Gr 4-6Kenny Peek, 12, has committed a seventh-grade faux pas of the worst order during the sit-up contest in gym class. Rather than take responsibility for his intestinal indiscretion, he blames the new girl and class nerd, Alice Flowers, who is then labeled "Stink Bomb" by her crueler classmates. His guilty conscience is somewhat assuaged when he gets a boost to his self-confidence by caring for two orphaned baby squirrels. When Alice takes over the care of the demanding and havoc-wreaking squirrels, Kenny finally decides to own up. Written with humor, especially puns, this slight slice of middle school life is a quick read. A nice touch is added by Alice's stand on animal rights during a frog-dissection lesson. For a more powerful and profound examination of the themes of scapegoating, responsibility, and caring for wild animals, try Jerry Spinelli's Wringer HarperCollins, 1997.Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, MEBook Details
Published
March 1, 1999
Publisher
HarperTrophy
Pages
120
Format
Paperback
ISBN
9780380785070