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J**K
Banned book in Florida
I got this book to see why it was banned . It’s a perfect book for 5th to 7th grade . There is nothing in it that they can’t read about . It was banned cause the story is about 2 dads and a multicultural adopted family . I say adults will enjoy reading it like I did
D**K
Go on an epicly fun ride with Jax, Eli, Frog, Sam, Dad and Papa!
If you like to read about school plays, kindergarten, pets, weird neighbors, and Halloween parties, this book is too cool. Frog is six, Eli is 10, Jax is 10½ and Sam is 12. It is mostly about school and family, soccer problems and more. It is lots of fun stories about the same family.I love the part when Frog goes on the school bus and when they go to the farm.This book is GREAT! (what am I talking about? This book is AWESOME!!!) Read this book to find out their family secrets. I personally think it is hilarious.
P**P
Gentle, Funny, Realistic Tales of Family Loyalty and Support
This is an episodic collection of domestic comedy vignettes that mostly feature the four sons in the family. We basically follow a year in the life of the Family Fletcher.Much can be made, I imagine, from the fact that this is a "modern" non-traditional family, which just means that the family unit is headed by a gay couple and includes four adopted sons. You have your standard issue traditional family comedies, (say, Birdsall's Penderwicks, or Sydney Taylor's All-of-a-Kind Family). You have your standard issue "zany" families, (Surviving the Applewhites). You have zany, or at least frantic, gay couple family comedies, (The Birdcage anyone?). But here you have a settled and stable family. The fact that it is watched over by a Dad and a Papa isn't much more remarkable than the fact that the family in "My Three Sons", (the subtly unconventional 1960's TV show), was headed by Fred MacMurray and his housekeeper "Uncle Charley". Apart from a very sensitive and perceptive treatment of the awkwardness the boys encountered when introducing their family to someone for the first time, (say at a parent-teacher conference at a new school), the non-traditional aspect of the family gets little play, although it is always there in the background.So, putting aside the modern family angle, what do we think of these various sons and the predicaments in which they find themselves? Well, the boys are 12, 10, 10, and 6. That range covers everything from pre-teen foibles to manic kindergarten insanity. The author balances funny situations, touching scenes, teaching moments and wholesome hijinks into a satisfying whole. Each son is featured in a few running storylines, and these are punctuated by some funny stand alone bits. There is no major "drama", but more a series of problems and developments that could bedevil any kid and that feel honest and authentic.The bonus is that while these plot developments are needed in order to keep the book moving in some sort of forward direction, the most satisfying parts of the book tend to be encapsulated in brief bits of dialogue, or passing comments, or table talk, that serve to capture the feel and the human goodness of a high functioning family of decent and caring people.If you sometimes get a bit tired of snarky sibling rivalry in your middle grade books, or if you yearn for something that is actually a bit old-fashioned in terms of youth fiction, this mellow gem could be just what the doctor ordered. When I started this I feared I'd be subjected to a polemic or a political argument, and instead I got a heart warming family story. What a treat. Think of it as the "All-of-a-Different-Kind" family.Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
W**Y
I didn't want this one to end!
Every once in a while, an author comes along who so perfectly captures the voices of middle-grade kids that the end result is touching, hilarious, and engaging. Such is the case with the Family Fletcher. From the struggles of the eldest of four adopted boys, Sam, who struggles with his desires to step out of his comfort zone and audition for the school play, down to the shenanigans of little Froggie, the six-year-old starting kindergarten, with ten-year-old Eli (the brainy one) and Jax (the one struggling with his school project), all four of the kids are sketched with unique voices that are true to their ages. The gay male couple raising the kids, Papa and Dad, face the exact same challenges faced by any parents, and it's refreshing to see a same-sex couple portrayed where their sexual orientation is NOT the issue. I devoured this book, and I hope the author considers writing more about this family. I can see this turning into a series. An excellent, delightful read!
A**S
Very relatable and enjoyable book!
Had to read this book for a class and I loved it! It’s super cute and fun to follow the Fletcher family through their life. Very relatable and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I bought it for my 5th and 6th grade classroom because I feel as though my students will do enjoy it!
A**E
I want to be this family's neighbor!
I love this book! The Fletcher family is your average family with two dads and 4 busy, and very different boys, just trying to do life like the rest of us. Great family story...reminded me of the craziness of the Hatcher family in Tales of a 4th grade nothing, or the Quimby family in Ramona.
K**S
Some people are gay, get over it.
Um, people, giving a book one star because it does not march your family values entirely misses the point of reviewing books on Amazon. I am surprised that Amazon would include these negative reviews. I loved this book, not least for the way it matter of factly portrayed an unconventional family.
J**Y
Looking forward to next book
I bought this in audio for our summer road trip. My sons 10 and 12 really enjoyed in the car. They still continue to re-listen in the evenings before bed.
Trustpilot
3 weeks ago
2 months ago