Andy Shane and the Pumpkin Trick

Andy Shane #2

by Jennifer Richard Jacobson, Abby Carter (Illustrator)

When pranksters ruin Dolores Starbuckle's perfectly good pumpkins, Andy Shane puts his trickiest plan to the test in this humorous, uplifting tale filled with Halloween fun.

Andy Shane does not want to go to Dolores Starbuckle's birthday party. It's on the same day as Halloween! Plus, Dolores is always ordering Andy around, making Andy lists on a clipboard, or squealing over Andy's marble collection. But when Dolores tells him that someone is smashing pumpkins in front of her house, the idea of tricking the tricksters sounds too appealing to resist. Maybe there's even a way to scare off the vandals and give Dolores a really great present, all at the same time!

Genres: Chapter Books, Halloween, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Humor

64 pages, Hardcover

First published July 11, 2006

About the author

Jennifer has spent three decades writing award-winning fiction and nonfiction for children. Amongst her titles are picture books: THIS IS MY ROOM (NO TIGERS ALLOWED) and OH, CHICKADEE!; chapter books: Andy Shane series and Twig and Turtle series; middle grade novels: SMALL AS AN ELEPHANT, PAPER THINGS, THE DOLLAR KIDS, CRASHING IN LOVE; and young adult novels: THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF WHY I HATE HER and STAINED. Her awards and honors include ALA Best Books For Young Adults, Publishers Weekly Best Books, NYPL Best Books for Teens, Parents Choice Gold Award, IRA Young Adult’s Choice, ILA Social Justice Award, NTCE Charlotte Huck Honorable Mention, Bank Street Best Books of the Year, and Junior Library Guild Selections as well as many state awards. She lives in mid-coast Maine with her husband.

Reviews

[Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was cool because at the first part, Andy Shane did not like Delores; but by the end he liked her because she was so nice to him. I learned that you should always be nice to people even if you don’t really think you like them at first.

[Faete · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for anything with pumpkins in it. This is an adorable little book, and yes: pumpkins!

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come for all 6 volumes (will be writing a general review about the books).

[Balalo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kids like tricks and that was funny one

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book did not really appeal to my 9-year-old daughter or my seven-year-old son.

[Tara]

Beginning chapter book, level K

[Zach Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andy Shane and the Pumpkin Trick by Jennifer Richard Jacobson, Illustrated by Abby Carter, is a 4-chapter book at a third grade reading level. The book is about two friends at Halloween time planning for a birthday party. They are looking for the best pumpkins to carve for the party. The problem is, some tricksters have been coming around smashing up the pumpkins. They devise a plan to scare away the tricksters and protect the pumpkins they’ve picked from getting smashed. They dress up as ghosts in an attempt to scare away the tricksters. They plan fails, as the children do not scare the tricksters and the pumpkins are smashed anyway. Andy tries again, this time with marbles in the pumpkin. He shakes out the marbles, and the tricksters slip on them, and the pumpkins are saved.

This book would be good to use around Halloween time. It features dialogue and an easy-to-follow story line. It also features both male and female characters. I would use it as a transition time reading, such as post-recess.

[babyhippoface · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this follow-up to the entertaining Andy Shane and the Very Bossy Dolores Starbuckle, Andy turns the tables on Halloween pranksters who’ve been taking pumpkins from Dolores’ porch and smashing them. With gentle humor Jacobson allows the dynamics of the relationship between Andy and Dolores to take center stage as Andy moves from being completely annoyed by her to wanting to help her, and finally to the acceptance of Dolores as a friend. Carter’s pencil and watercolor illustrations emphasize Dolores’ bossiness and Andy’s changing attitudes toward her. Recommend this to readers who can handle a beginning chapter book with a somewhat challenging vocabulary.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun chapter book for children. It shows how Andy Shane solves the problem of bullies smashing his friend's pumpkins. And it is a good story to read at Halloween.

We love that he lives with his grandmother - it's good to see stories where extended families are living together. We enjoyed reading this book together.

[Mary Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

good series for readers wanting to stretch into chapter books, but who still need good picture support and wide spacing between lines.

Didn't hook me as much as Roscoe Riley, but then it's aimed at a lower reading level so pares it down more.

[Sarah]

"My mom doesn't have any plain white sheets," said Dolores. "We can be the ghosts of the gardens - ghosts that scare anyone who messes with the glories of nature!"
"Oh, brother!" said Andy.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked that Andy lives with his grandma. Even thought the story has nothing to do with who he lives with it's nice to have books that represent different family structures!

[Kelly]

Andy Shane shows his smarts and wit that must come from his grandmother in this book. He is actually friendly with Dolores and helpful to her. That makes this an "aww" story about kindergarteners.

[Caren · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun choice for kids just beginning to read chapter books.

[Callie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is hard to believe but Andy Shane and Delores get along for a change! I liked Andy. He is funny!

[Arwon]

i cant read it

[Joya Threalkill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute Halloween story!

[Nada Loughead · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book when you're learning to read. And I thought the pumpkin trick was funny. (Dominique, age 7) http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1...

[Johnny Bennett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really short book for 2nd graders. Was kind of cute. Bet the kids will love it.