Items related to Shrinking Pains
Synopsis
Discovering a fountain that temporarily halves the age of anyone who drinks from it, Doug and Milo devise a lot of good ideas, including getting into the movies for half price, until they realize that a sinister person also knows their secret.
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From School Library Journal
Grade 4-7?As this story begins, the monotony of contemporary suburban life is interrupted by the unexpected discovery of a fountain of youth in the overgrown backyard of Doug's new house. Doug and his best friend, Milo, accidentally realize its power when Milo shrinks to the size of a 6-year-old, while still keeping his 12-year-old sensibilities. Fortunately, the effect of the water is temporary. With the help of Doug's 14-year-old cousin, Cassandra, the boys immediately begin to explore the possibilities. However, outside of the predictable schemes, they do not truly attempt to understand the ramifications of their discovery as they are too busy running aimlessly about, changing sizes at whim. Indeed, they fail to notice the rather obvious clues left by a villain and do not even know of his existence until they are locked in a basement with an overheated boiler that is about to blow. The plot development is uneven and relies upon such machinations as an out-of-the-blue winning lottery ticket just as Doug's mother is nearly forced to sell the house (and the fountain). Doug and Milo remain bland, two-dimensional characters while Cassandra is so sulky, sullen, and angst-ridden as to be completely unlikable. The book fails to live up to its interesting premise. While it may be enjoyed by readers attracted to R.L. Stine, true science-fiction fans will be disappointed. Natalie Babbitt's Tuck Everlasting (Farrar, 1975) is a better option.?Gretchen Dombrock, New York Public Library
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Kirkus Reviews
Best friends Doug and Milo, both 12, along with Doug's worldly cousin Cassandra, 14, discover a fountain of youth; the water halves the age of whomever drinks it, but only for three hours. The boys enjoy shrinking to age six and going trick-or-treating and playing at the mall. Others know about the fountain, however, and will stop at nothing to get control of it. Only occasionally suspenseful, this lightweight story never deals with the real issues raised by shrinking, and will strike anyone who has seen the movie Big, or read Mary Rodgers's Freaky Friday (1972) and Summer Switch (1982) as lacking in originality. The writing is unclear and sometimes hard to follow, while the bad guys move abruptly from blandly manipulative to seriously evil. Goldman (Getting Lincoln's Goat, 1995, etc.) offers a fast read, but not a very interesting one. (Fiction. 10-14) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherViking Juvenile
- Publication date1996
- ISBN 10 0670863211
- ISBN 13 9780670863211
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages160
- Rating
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Shrinking Pains
Seller: HPB-Movies, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!. Seller Inventory # S_318556281
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Shrinking Pains
Published by
Viking, New York, 1996
ISBN 10: 0670863211
ISBN 13: 9780670863211
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: About Books, Henderson, NV, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Black cloth spine/beige boards. Dust Jacket Condition: Price partially clipped. Kotzky, Brian (jacket art) (illustrator). First Printing of the First Edition. New York: Viking, 1996. Fine condition in Fine Dust Jacket. No chips. No tears. No creases. Bright, clean, square, tight, and unmarked. Pages are fresh and crisp, probably never read. No owner's name or bookplate. No remainder mark. Juvenile fiction, aimed at readers, age 10-14. Summary: "When twelve-year-old friends Milo and Doug, along with Doug's slightly older cousin, discover a 'fountain of youth' in the backyard, it leads to a series of improbable and eventually dangerous adventures." Milo swallows some of a fountain's water and immediately shrinks to the size of a six-year-old. . First Printing of the First Edition. Hardcover. Black cloth spine/beige boards/Price partially clipped. Illus. by Kotzky, Brian (jacket art). 8vo. (v), 154pp. Seller Inventory # 001958
Quantity: 1 available
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Shrinking Pains
Seller: dsmbooks, Liverpool, United Kingdom
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Very Good. book. Seller Inventory # D7S9-1-M-0670863211-6
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