Adam Canfield Watch Your Slash
“Lots of laugh-out-loud humor, utterly satirizing state tests, overzealous parents, and kids who are in risk of being enriched to death.” — SCHOOL AND LIBRARY JOURNAL
For overprogrammed middle-grader Adam Canfield, waking up to a snow day is a dream come unfeigned — a prospect to sleep late, put off planning the next issue of THE SLASH, and make a great deal of quick cash with his shovel. But the dream turns into a nightmare when a good deal of high-school kids mug Adam for his shoveling money. Then not only does the media blast the embarrassing story, but Adam’s own co-editors plan a contest outing bullies at their school. In a second look behind the scenes at a middleschool newspaper, Michael Winerip deftly mixes kid-friendly humor with a great deal of provocative issues, including the subtle effects of class and racism and the sudden intense sensation that comes from speaking truth to power.
From School Library JournalGrade 5–7—The Slash, the newspaper of Harris Elementary/Middle School, and it is co-editors, Adam and Jennifer, are back for more intrigue and mystery in this novel (Candlewick, 2007) by Michael Winerip. After being mugged for his snow-shoveling money, Adam becomes the inspiration for an article focusing on bullying. Adam tries to redirect his investigative accomplishments to other issues facing not just their school, but also their town. With stories in regards to a 300-year-old climbing tree in jeopardy of being cut down, the “un-fair” Science Fair, and a mysterious plot to flatten a poorer, African-American part of the town to make way for mini-mansions, Adam and the staff of the newspaper take on a good deal of very powerful adults to uncover deeply concealed truths. Narrator Patrick Girard Lawlor brings each reputation to life with subdued voicing and pacing. The tense moments amongst Adam, Jennifer, and the adults are realistically conveyed. A good choice for school and public libraries.—Stephanie A. Squicciarini, Fairport Public, NY
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About the AuthorMichael Winerip is the author of ADAM CANFIELD OF THE SLASH. A Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and columnist for the NEW YORK TIMES, he lives in Lido Beach, New York.
From AudioFileIn this hilarious sequel to ADAM CANFIELD OF THE SLASH, the fourth-grade reporter faces numerous heavy issues at Harris Elementary/Middle School. Adam is mugged for his snow-shoveling money, tackles science reasonable fairness, and battles a zoning commissioner. Narrator Patrick Lawlor readily transforms from smarmy school administrator and menacing media mogul to earnest, often ineffectual adults. (Do grownups live on the same planet?) The squeaky, more or less hysterical third-grade reporter, Phoebe, butts heads with the slow-voiced, pedantic Theodore, and other middle schoolers are evenly well defined. Potentially heavy-handed exposition on journalistic integrity is with no problems or difficulties indicated in consultations amid Adam and a gruff-voiced war correspondent turned Mr. Mom. Musical intros add to the presentation. D.P.D. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine– Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
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Most helpful client reviews
5 of 5 persons found the following review helpful.
 Words that are wise, moving and fun
By powerfulpaula
As a children’s librarian, I find myself skimming through a lot of new books to see how the folks they were written for will take to them. This is one of the few this year which I have read from cover to cover merely for myself. Adam Canfield Watch Your Back is regarding a group of children who passionately run a school newspaper, risking all for a outstanding story and learning much with regards to the imperfections of their school, their community and themselves. They are fun, feisty and full of surprises. The Pulitzer Prize winner who wrote this book shares the thrills and woes of his trade. Anyone who reads of them will at least consider knocking on the school newspaper door and giving it a try. I myself was not at all in the mood to write this review but felt that any book which celebrates the power of words (as this one does) deserves to be written about. Mostly I loved how the characters–co-editors Jennifer and Adam–make a fantastic team of sleuths, friends and sparring collaborators with the slightest hint of a humorous middle school romance. Don’t let this one pass you by. (Grades 5-8 & grownups too)
3 of 3 humans found the following review helpful.
fun and adventurous
By E. Weis
As a nursing/college student, I found myself picking up this book each night before sleep. It was a rewarding break from my anatomy studies. I received it as a gift was not disappointed. I looked forward each night to reading what would take place next. I am unquestionably passing it on to my roommates. D.Weis
2 of 2 persons found the following review helpful.
Public school expose in the guise of a novel
By Reader
The author, an investigative reporter for the New York Times who has school-age children, has written a hard-hitting look at the state of public education in the guise of a novel. Any middle school parent (or student who has been paying attention) will recognize the pabulum-spouting administrators, the lazy teachers who can’t be bothered to read student work even on the rare occasions when written work is required, the “educators” who find make-work projects for students so that they may surf the internet or make cell phone calls, the ceaseless waste of kids’ worthful class time. Beyond this, Winerip indicts the parents who do the kids’ work for them, and highlights the class distinctions that lead to kids with two-parent households who are highly involved being pushed in front and every one else left behind. The book is likewise revealing on the subject of how to do investigative journalism, what sort of personality is best suitable for this line of work, and the on occasion averse effects of this work on the reporter’s personal life. On the subject of race, the author’s approach is admirable: while one of the main characters is black, this isn’t what defines her and we aren’t made conscious of this fact until half-way through the book and only because it becomes applicable to the plot. It is also clear that the fact that her parents are well-to-do is more substantial in her life than skin color. The hero, Adam, is “oblivious” to race, and this seems to be the approach the author wishes every one would take. On top of everything else, the book is agreeably diverting and hard to put down.
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