Shoebag Returns - Hardcover

James, Mary

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0590487116 ISBN 13: 9780590487115

Publisher: Scholastic, 1996

Synopsis

Shoebag, a cockroach who has the ability to become human, concocts a hilarious prank to help the only boy in an all-girls' school wreak revenge on The Betters, a club for snobs.

About this title

About the Author:

M. E. KERR is the acclaimed author of many classic teen novels, including Dinky Hocker Shoots Smack!, The Books of Fell, Slap Your Sides, and What Became of Her. She lives in East Hampton, New York.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 3-7. A book told from the cockroach point of view is unusual?even more so when the roaches have better sense and family values than the humans. Shoebag, a cockroach who can turn himself into a boy, befriends rich Stanley Sweetsong, the first male to attend Miss Rattray's School for Girls (and now one boy). Terribly lonely, Stanley is incensed that there is an exclusive school club, "The Betters," that he will never be good enough to join; neither will his new friend, Josephine Jiminez, known as the "Doll Smasher." Shoebag, in his human form of Stuart Bagg, suggests that they create their own secret club, "The Butters," which is soon banned by Miss Rattray and forced underground. As these "losers" become "Butters," their self-confidence soars and they plan to save the tarantula trapped in the science lab. In an improbable, fast-paced series of events, they rescue it, almost kill Shoebag by unknowingly feeding him (in cockroach form) to the spider, and embarrass the Better's leader. Rescued by Josephine, Shoebag loyally follows her to her new home when her parents, worried about her self-image, take her out of school. James uses deadpan humor and sharp observations to skewer her targets: secret clubs, unfeeling adults in many guises, and pomposity. The importance of friendship and compassion for others is clearly, but nondidactically presented. Outsiders everywhere will enjoy the melodramatic adventures, wryly told, of Shoebag and his boarding school friends.?Anne Connor, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Scholastic
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0590487116
• ISBN 13: 9780590487115
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 144