Calvin Coconut: Trouble Magnet
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3.8 • 27 Ratings
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- $5.99
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- $5.99
Publisher Description
Fourth-grader Calvin lives near the beach in Oahu with his mom and little sister. Mom says: “You’re the man of the house.” But Calvin’s not great at being the man of the house, or taking care of his responsibilities. He’s too busy having fun with his pals, and avoiding Tito, the bully.
Trouble Magnet is the first book in a new series for younger readers full of all the fun of growing up in Hawaii. It introduces a wonderful multicultural cast of characters, including Mr. Purdy, who calls his fourth-grade class Boot Camp; Uncle Scoop, who runs the lunch wagon at the beach; Ledward, Mom’s 6'7" boyfriend; and gorgeous, intimidating, 15-year-old Stella-from-Texas, who arrives to be the live-in babysitter—and to step all over Calvin’s turf.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Salisbury (Night of the Howling Dogs) brings the Hawaiian locale and boy-centric vibe of his novels to a younger audience in this kicky start to a middle-grade series. For four years, Cal has been "the man of the house," standing in for his absentee dad, the famous crooner Little Johnny Coconut (who saddled the family with its stage-ready surname). But things get topsy-turvy when a surly teenage family friend arrives to be a live-in babysitter for Cal and his little sister, and Cal makes some missteps in the first days of school in Mr. Purdy's Fourth-Grade Boot Camp, which include a lost centipede and a class food fight. Salisbury uses humor and lots of action to guide Cal as he deals with a neighborhood bully, his new teacher and the upheaval in his home life. Fun details of Hawaiian life, including descriptions of snack foods, beach pursuits and the characters' melting pot of heritages bring the setting to life. The tone is realistic, warm and light as an island breeze perfect for luring newly confident chapter-book readers. Ages 7 10.
Customer Reviews
Good for young boys
The short story was a great read to my son. Enjoyed reading about Hawaii and boys getting in trouble. Really innocent tale.
End of story
It's a great book but that's how you end a story ? It's good but it could've been better.
Calvin Cocunut
Calvin Coconut:Trouble Magnet is one of the best books I have ever read. I met the author before in a writing festival I went to and he was one of the nicest person that I have ever met. In this book Calvin says "Ho!" a lot and so does the author. I remember him saying that the way Calvin Coconut got created was that he was based on what Graham had been like as he was as a boy. This book is awesome! Read it!!!!!!!!