Status
Available
Call number
Call number
F BOL
Genres
Collection
Publication
HMH Books for Young Readers (2005), Edition: 1, 424 pages
Description
George and Kate are promised the best education but instead face obsessed administrators, endless tests, and evil spirits when they are transferred to Whittaker Magnet School.
Original publication date
2004-04
Similar in this library
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User reviews
LibraryThing member torinotbarbie
When Kate’s uncle George, the genius, is accepted to the Whittaker Magnet school, Kate is forced to attend, too. The students at the military- like Whittaker have the highest standardized test scores in the nation, because that is all they do each day, all day long. Since Kate is of normal
While Kate plots a way of escaping the school, students and teachers alike begin to behave erratically. Some are even dying. Kate and George know they must discover the cause of these episodes of apparent “demonic possession” before more people are killed.
The book’s strengths are the amusing descriptions of the bizarre behavior of the “possession” victims, who behave perfectly normally one moment, then begin to spout nursery rhymes while doing such things as mooning government officials the next.
The premise of the book, which is a satire of the growing trend toward standardized testing in schools, is creative. However, it suffers from characters that are stereotypical, dialog that is meant to be amusing, but isn’t, as well as a storyline that is
not believable. Several of the book’s characters appear to be annoyingly weak, and the author is not able to combine the subject of standardized testing with demonic possession successfully.
Although the book is written in the same style as the Lemony Snickett Series of Unfortunate Events books, it does not succeed in being as humerous.
It is unlikely that middle school readers will be intrigued by this book, due to its length and muddled story line. In addition, most high school students are not likely to be interested in reading about the adventures of sixth graders. Therefore, this book is not recommended for school library collections at either the middle or the high school level.
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intelligence, her test scores cause her to be picked on by the school’s founders and the faculty.While Kate plots a way of escaping the school, students and teachers alike begin to behave erratically. Some are even dying. Kate and George know they must discover the cause of these episodes of apparent “demonic possession” before more people are killed.
The book’s strengths are the amusing descriptions of the bizarre behavior of the “possession” victims, who behave perfectly normally one moment, then begin to spout nursery rhymes while doing such things as mooning government officials the next.
The premise of the book, which is a satire of the growing trend toward standardized testing in schools, is creative. However, it suffers from characters that are stereotypical, dialog that is meant to be amusing, but isn’t, as well as a storyline that is
not believable. Several of the book’s characters appear to be annoyingly weak, and the author is not able to combine the subject of standardized testing with demonic possession successfully.
Although the book is written in the same style as the Lemony Snickett Series of Unfortunate Events books, it does not succeed in being as humerous.
It is unlikely that middle school readers will be intrigued by this book, due to its length and muddled story line. In addition, most high school students are not likely to be interested in reading about the adventures of sixth graders. Therefore, this book is not recommended for school library collections at either the middle or the high school level.
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LibraryThing member WittyreaderLI
Story Time, by Edward Bloor features the extremely odd Whittaker Magnet School. Kate Peters and her uncle George Melvil, who is two years younger than her are forced to go to this school where the students take standardized tests all day and the teachers have no names, and are simply refered to by
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their subject and grade level. But things aren't just strange in the methods of teaching: the school has a ghost, and it has the habit of posessing people! By the end of the book, several characters will die, relationships will change, and you will most likely be very entertained! Show Less
LibraryThing member jayde1599
Synopsis: Popular 8th grader Kate, and her brainiac 6h grade Uncle George are accepted to the new Whittaker Magnet School, which boasts the highest standardized test scores in the nation. The school is run by Dr. Austin and his wife Cornelia Whittaker-Austin. Classes are held in the basement of the
Pros & Cons: This YA book is a satire of our nation's obsession with standardized tests, that any adult can crack a smirk over. However, I think much of the satire is above the targeted audience of the book - middle schoolers. The author puts "tween" references and dialogue in throughout the book, but they seem awkward. I enjoyed Bloor's Tangerine, but this book does not compare. I don't know if it is the attempt to combine realism with fantasy - but it just didn't work. I did enjoy the first 3/4th of the book and the mystery began to pull me in. The last quarter of the book and the ending just did not satisfy me. Overall, OK book (2 1/2 stars), but not highly recommended.
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Whittaker Library and the students are fed protein shakes and forced to exercise on treadmills to improve their test performance. The hauntings seem to have begun again as staff and students appear to be possessed by a murderous demon. Kate and George, who right away realize that they do not belong at the school, try to solve the mystery of the ghostly demons. Pros & Cons: This YA book is a satire of our nation's obsession with standardized tests, that any adult can crack a smirk over. However, I think much of the satire is above the targeted audience of the book - middle schoolers. The author puts "tween" references and dialogue in throughout the book, but they seem awkward. I enjoyed Bloor's Tangerine, but this book does not compare. I don't know if it is the attempt to combine realism with fantasy - but it just didn't work. I did enjoy the first 3/4th of the book and the mystery began to pull me in. The last quarter of the book and the ending just did not satisfy me. Overall, OK book (2 1/2 stars), but not highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member Lizzybeth23
Storyline Is kinda hard to follow. Not my favorite and hard to get through.
LibraryThing member TammyPhillips
I thought this was a great satire of the public education system in America, today. The story was full of intelligent humor, mocking many of the mandates of our educational system. I especially liked the incorporation of the ghost story...subtly hinting at how spooky the "demons" of the library and
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free-thought can be. Loved it! This story has much to offer to the reader who likes to dig into the deeper thoughts revealed in a good satire. Show Less
LibraryThing member librarybrandy
This struck me as what would happen if Lemony Snicket wrote a book with a more realistic setting and plot. And, um, with demons. And standardized testing. And superweapons. So I guess it's maybe not so realistic at all. But it still had a certain Lemony Snicket-esque vibe in the wordplay and the
Ah, hell. I can't be articulate. I liked it. It was good.
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sarcasm.Ah, hell. I can't be articulate. I liked it. It was good.
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LibraryThing member carolvanbrocklin
Very disappointing.
After reading and loving Tangerine, I wanted to see how Bloor would tackle standardized testing.
The way he did it was to do a bunch of political stumping about everything from how awful old presidents were to require them, and how wonderful new presidents are. We had to hear
Little of this made sense to me and since it was written for a more juvenile audience, I have a feeling a good portion of it would go right over their heads also. The lady who spoke in nursery rhymes is especially confusing.
While there are some valid points about about the idea that if you dont' pass these tests you are going to be a failure in society, this is not a book that I would recommend.
After reading and loving Tangerine, I wanted to see how Bloor would tackle standardized testing.
The way he did it was to do a bunch of political stumping about everything from how awful old presidents were to require them, and how wonderful new presidents are. We had to hear
Show More
about how books were totally censored out because no book was allowed that had anything to do with witches or ghosts, however for some weird reason there are demons that have taken over a copy of nursery rhymes. Little of this made sense to me and since it was written for a more juvenile audience, I have a feeling a good portion of it would go right over their heads also. The lady who spoke in nursery rhymes is especially confusing.
While there are some valid points about about the idea that if you dont' pass these tests you are going to be a failure in society, this is not a book that I would recommend.
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Pages
424