Boss of the Pool - Hardcover

Klein, Robin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0670816698 ISBN 13: 9780670816699

Publisher: Viking Juvenile, 1988

Synopsis

Gr 3-5 Shelley's mother, a single parent, takes a job in a hostel for mentally or physically handicapped people. Rather than leave Shelley home alone evenings, she insists that Shelley accompany her to her job. Shelley is furious and spends most of her time pouting and saying nasty things about the residents. She is particularly disgusted by the attentions of a young mentally retarded boy, Ben, who follows her around worshipfully. Eventually, in spite of herself, Shelley helps Ben overcome his terrible fear of the water and teaches him to swim. Shelley is not a sympathetic charactershe's sulky, whiney, and mean-spirited. Although readers are expected to witness her transformation, all that Klein shows are tears in Shelley's eyes when she sees Ben swim after giving him a new bathing suit and a swimming medal. Line drawings are uninspired. Despite Klein's good intentions, this book is just too dreary to be enjoyable. Janet DiGianni, North Andover High School, Mass.Copyright 1988 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About this title

Reviews

Gr 3-5 Shelley's mother, a single parent, takes a job in a hostel for mentally or physically handicapped people. Rather than leave Shelley home alone evenings, she insists that Shelley accompany her to her job. Shelley is furious and spends most of her time pouting and saying nasty things about the residents. She is particularly disgusted by the attentions of a young mentally retarded boy, Ben, who follows her around worshipfully. Eventually, in spite of herself, Shelley helps Ben overcome his terrible fear of the water and teaches him to swim. Shelley is not a sympathetic charactershe's sulky, whiney, and mean-spirited. Although readers are expected to witness her transformation, all that Klein shows are tears in Shelley's eyes when she sees Ben swim after giving him a new bathing suit and a swimming medal. Line drawings are uninspired. Despite Klein's good intentions, this book is just too dreary to be enjoyable. Janet DiGianni, North Andover High School, Mass.

Copyright 1988 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Viking Juvenile
• Publication date: 1988
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0670816698
• ISBN 13: 9780670816699
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 80