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Soup #3
Soup for President
"Who will Robert vote for when his best friend, Soup, and his girlfriend are running for class president? Peck's folksy humor is at its best even readers who don't usually read this sort of book will enjoy Soup. Set in rural Vermont during the 1930's."-- School Library Journey
112 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
5 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Robert Newton Peck
87 books82 followersRobert Newton Peck is an American author of books for young adults. His titles include Soup and A Day No Pigs Would Die. He claims to have been born on February 17, 1928, in Vermont, but has refused to specify where. Similarly, he claims to have graduated from a high school in Texas, which he has also refused to identify. Some sources state that he was born in Nashville, Tennessee (supposedly where his mother was born, though other sources indicate she was born in Ticonderoga, New York, and that Peck, himself, may have been born there). The only reasonably certain Vermont connection is that his father was born in Cornwall.
Peck has written over sixty books including a great book explaining his childhood to becoming a teenager working on the farm called: A Day no Pigs would Die
He was a smart student, although his schooling was cut short by World War II. During and shortly after the conflict, he served as a machine-gunner in the U.S. Army 88th Infantry Division. Upon returning to the United States, he entered Rollins College, graduating in 1953. He then entered Cornell Law School, but never finished his course of study.
Newton married Dorothy Anne Houston and fathered two children, Anne and Christopher. The best man at the wedding and the godfather to the children was Fred Rogers of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood fame.
A Day No Pigs Would Die was his first novel, published in 1972 when he was already 44 years old. From then on he continued his lifelong journey through literature. To date, he has been credited for writing 55 fiction books, 6 nonfiction books, 35 songs, 3 television specials and over a hundred poems.
Several of his historical novels are about Fort Ticonderoga: Fawn, Hang for Treason, The King's Iron.
In 1993, Peck was diagnosed with oral cancer, but survived. As of 2005, he was living in Longwood, Florida, where he has in the past served as the director of the Rollins College Writers Conference. Peck sings in a barbershop quartet, plays ragtime piano, and is an enthusiastic speaker. His hobby is visiting schools, "to turn kids on to books."
—From Wikipedia
For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/robert-n...
Peck has written over sixty books including a great book explaining his childhood to becoming a teenager working on the farm called: A Day no Pigs would Die
He was a smart student, although his schooling was cut short by World War II. During and shortly after the conflict, he served as a machine-gunner in the U.S. Army 88th Infantry Division. Upon returning to the United States, he entered Rollins College, graduating in 1953. He then entered Cornell Law School, but never finished his course of study.
Newton married Dorothy Anne Houston and fathered two children, Anne and Christopher. The best man at the wedding and the godfather to the children was Fred Rogers of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood fame.
A Day No Pigs Would Die was his first novel, published in 1972 when he was already 44 years old. From then on he continued his lifelong journey through literature. To date, he has been credited for writing 55 fiction books, 6 nonfiction books, 35 songs, 3 television specials and over a hundred poems.
Several of his historical novels are about Fort Ticonderoga: Fawn, Hang for Treason, The King's Iron.
In 1993, Peck was diagnosed with oral cancer, but survived. As of 2005, he was living in Longwood, Florida, where he has in the past served as the director of the Rollins College Writers Conference. Peck sings in a barbershop quartet, plays ragtime piano, and is an enthusiastic speaker. His hobby is visiting schools, "to turn kids on to books."
—From Wikipedia
For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/robert-n...
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 10, 2008
More injustices at Star Lake Elementary! Not only did my school not have an annual science fair, there also were no class officers. It seemed so interesting to have students lobbying for your votes. Eighteen is a looooong time to wait to vote.
March 31, 2021
This book is so far my favorite in the series...they just keep getting better. The growth of the characters is just something that leaves you smiling.
February 24, 2023
Another winner by Peck. I don't know anyone who captured the essence of being a boy better than he did. And to think it started for me when I saw the first Soup book in third grade on Ms. Eskowitz's book shelf. Great memories for this almost-50 'boy.'
December 10, 2025
~5 Stars~ I read this with me Dad. I really liked this book because it had romance between Norma Jean and Robert. One of my favorite parts is when the goat got stuck in the ladder. Ps. My very very favorite part is reading my books with my Dad. 💖
January 8, 2014
Robert Newton Peck's _Soup_ series kind of ran its course by the end. The last few felt like he just sort of whipped up a few silly ideas and whipped them up into a semi-tidy ending. But the first few are very good indeed.
Rob, the main character, has to decide between helping his conniving friend Soup (who makes Rob do most of the dirty work for his schemes--here, Rob is Campaign Mananger) and his 'girl,' Norma Jean Bissell, who are running for class president. And Peck manages to throw in some funny stuff, like when Rob and Soup solemnly assure a Republican campaign manager that they understand the importance of a Republican tax collector, or when Rob is worried the class will vote along gender lines, making him the deciding vote.
Then there's the comment about the actual 1936 national election the book is set against: "Rob, old top, I reckon ol' FDR doesn't stand a chance against our man Alf Landon." It's how Peck manages to combine childish innocence with a wink to more adult readers, and -- well, if I maybe could've or should've figured out the twist when I reread the book 20 years later, I didn't care about that, because it was just fun.
Rob, the main character, has to decide between helping his conniving friend Soup (who makes Rob do most of the dirty work for his schemes--here, Rob is Campaign Mananger) and his 'girl,' Norma Jean Bissell, who are running for class president. And Peck manages to throw in some funny stuff, like when Rob and Soup solemnly assure a Republican campaign manager that they understand the importance of a Republican tax collector, or when Rob is worried the class will vote along gender lines, making him the deciding vote.
Then there's the comment about the actual 1936 national election the book is set against: "Rob, old top, I reckon ol' FDR doesn't stand a chance against our man Alf Landon." It's how Peck manages to combine childish innocence with a wink to more adult readers, and -- well, if I maybe could've or should've figured out the twist when I reread the book 20 years later, I didn't care about that, because it was just fun.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2015
I'm in the process of re-reading all the Soup books, and so far this has been my favorite. I like that the mischief involved is fairly innocent, and that the boys tend to decide to make things right in the end. I also enjoyed the continuing character development of Miss Kelly. She's definitely someone I would enjoy knowing in person.
June 4, 2015
Hilarious shenanigans and tender moments with Soup and Rob in this book. Soup is running against Rob's sweetheart, Norma Jean Bissell, for class president. Teacher Miss Kelly always has insightful and wise advice for Soup and Rob, and she loves them for who they are, even if they often get into trouble.
April 30, 2009
Soup runs for class president!
Publisher: Knopf books for young readers
Publication Date: 1998
Audience: 8-12 yrs.
specific use: independent practice
literacy elements: humor
genre: comedy
Publisher: Knopf books for young readers
Publication Date: 1998
Audience: 8-12 yrs.
specific use: independent practice
literacy elements: humor
genre: comedy
June 3, 2015
Soup and Rob are at it again! Rob is stuck between a rock and a hard place as he tries to decide who to vote for for class president- his best pal, Soup, or the beautiful, blonde Norma Jean Bissell. Rob learns quickly just how complicated politics can be!
September 27, 2013
Teacher food for thought-"She(the teacher) had a way of looking at me as if I was the only kid in Vermont, like I was somebody, instead of just another farmer's kid who smelled of chores and sweat and cow dung. She could touch me with her eyes." Great quote, OK book.
November 2, 2011
I like how he kept Norma Jeans secret.he was nice to her after he got wiped.
May 23, 2012
Fun to read.
December 26, 2012
Another great book, loved the ending!
January 19, 2016
fun book
August 2, 2016
its recommended to read
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews