Johnny Hangtime - Softcover

Gutman, Dan

3.98

93 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0380810123 ISBN 13: 9780380810123

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2008

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Thirteen-year-old Johnny Thyme is a professional movie stunt kid--following in his famous father's footsteps--who doubles for Ricky Corvette, the superstar teen actor, but Johnny's stunts must be kept secret because Ricky wants the public to think he does his own stunts. Original.

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About the Author:

Dan Gutman is the author of many books for children, including the My Weird School series, the Flashback Four series, and the New York Times bestselling Genius Files series. Dan has received nineteen state book awards and ninety-two nominations. Dan lives in New York with his wife, Nina. You can visit him online at www.dangutman.com.

From School Library Journal:

Gr 3-7-A fluffy read with a truly preposterous plot that requires suspension of disbelief at almost every turn. However, because of these very liabilities, the story will hook older reluctant readers. Johnny Thyme, 13, does all the stunts, or "gags," for all-American teen idol Ricky Corvette. Ricky wants the public to think that he does all of his own stunts, so Johnny's contract requires that he tell no one what he does. It also prevents him from fighting, going to gym class, or anything else that might cause him bodily injury. This creates problems when a bully begins extorting money from him. The only real plot development occurs near the end when Johnny is to perform a Niagara Falls stunt that killed his father. It turns out, though, that Johnny's father is not dead at all, but was just badly injured, and disappeared for some pretty contrived reasons. Johnny stands up to Ricky Corvette for the first time, Ricky's movie career ends as he is injured doing the Niagara Falls gag, and Johnny becomes a star in his own right. The details of the stunt work seem well researched and ring true, even if readers don't believe for a minute that a child would be allowed to do what is described in the book. Still, there are some laugh-out-loud moments, and the action will appeal to readers wanting high-interest, low-reading-level material.-Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ

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