Doing Time Online

by Jan Siebold

Twelve-year-old Mitchell played a prank that led to an elderly woman's injury. Now he finds himself at the police station--his "sentence" is to chat online with a nursing home resident twice a week for the next month.

Genres: Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade, Juvenile

96 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Marlee Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a prank on an elderly neighbor goes wrong, Mitchell lands himself into the O.L.D. Friend Program at the police station. The purpose of the program is to connect kids with residents at the Maple Grove Nursing Home by chatting online. At first, Mitchell can’t think of anything he and an older person might have in common. His O.L.D. friend, Wootie, surprises him. Wootie is full of wit and humor, something Mitchell hadn’t expected. Over the course of a month, Mitchell and Wootie share their thoughts and struggles with the people around them as well as advice on life. Despite their age difference, Mitchell and Wootie have more in common with each other than they thought.

A quick chapter book but still a good lesson about owning up to mistakes and moving on fro them.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mitchell is Doing Time Online for punishment when the prank he did with his loser friend, Trotter, went wrong. Mrs. Wallace, an elderly widow, got hurt because of their joke. The police got involved and Mitch is now chatting with an O.L.D. nursing home resident as a life lesson.

At first, he was hesitant, but it all worked out for the best. Both Mitch and Wootie got some valuable help, companionship, and friendship out of the experimental punishment. When Mitch's time is up, he finds he has found a friend and a new outlook on life.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mitchell learns an important lesson while serving time for a juvenile offense in a special program that allows him to chat online with a resident of a nursing home.
A little bit preachy, might appeal to reluctant readers.

[Cindy May · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pretty good piece of adolescent fiction that would serve well as a lesson to kids in more ways than one.

[Chris Cherney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book for a young reader.

[Norla Chee]

If only children these days were that easy to meld. Enjoyed the fantasy aspect of it, especially since I've worked in nursing homes.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looks so outdated, but could be applicable to kids now. Just think they will run away from that cover.

And it *is* pretty message heavy. 3.5 stars

[J]

g y

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this because the cover made me laugh but tbh it was sweet in an after-school special kind of way

[VANESSA · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was pretty good. Overall, the plot was pretty good.

[Bonnie Chen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book, as it taught me a very important lesson that I never learned. The lesson or message of the boo is to never dwell on the past on move on. There is no use regretting, as you cannot fix or change whatever happend in the past. You can only make the best out of your situation if you reflect on your situation and move on. Your past experiences can aid in you in making up for your mistake in the past. In the Cobweb Confession, the protagonist, makes a huge mistake, along with a friend. Thus, they were penalized. The protagonist was signed up for a program. He had to talk online with an elderly every Tuesday and Thursday for half an hour. He was reluctant to do so at first, but throughout time he developed a deep friendship with the elderly and it was as if they became good friends, despite them not meeting each other personally. The elderly also aids the protagonist in moving on and not dwelling on the past. It's over. Do whatever you can to make up for your mistake. Once you done so, you already tried your best. I always dwelled on the past and beat myself up for my mistakes. I have many regrets, which leads me in being a depressed and uptight person. However, this book taught me that dwelling is not necessary, but learning is essential. If your forgive yourself, you will be a truly happy and carefree person.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great kids book. I read this book for a 4th grade "book club" that I ran during my Practicum this week. This was the book chosen for a little bit lower-level 4th grade reading group. The students really got into it and liked trying to figure out what Mitchell might have done to get into so much trouble. The students had lots of good discussions about the book. Also, the way that parts of the book is written in online chat format really helped these students stay focused on the book. When they read other books it's more difficult to stay focused when they see so many words crammed together in paragraph after paragraph on every page.

Even as an adult, I enjoyed the book. It was a very quick read, but it kept me interested like it did for the students. What the character Wootie goes through in the book is exactly what my grandpa is going through now. I felt connected to her and it actually helped me understand more of my grandpa's side of things and how he's feeling right now.

[Dotty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by a school librarian -- how much better can it get?!?!

All Mitch wanted was a friend and the kid across the street seemed pretty cool. But now Mitch is in trouble. Not just any trouble, but trouble with the law. From his perspective it was just a practical joke that backfired and now he’s being treated like Jack the Ripper. As punishment he must go to the police station two afternoons a week and talk online to some old lady at a nursing home. Bummer,or so Mitch thinks.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good perspective book. Enjoyable and relatable characters. There was even a sense of suspense. I found myself wishing that there were similar consequences today for out of line behaviors for pre teens and teens. As it is, there are not really consequences any more for bad behavior and many kids are out of control rude, inconsiderate and dangerous. This book was a breath of fresh air and gave me hope and ideas. A quick read that I WILL recommend to elementary age students.

[Mckinley Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doing time online,By: Jan Siebold
doing time online is about a boy who is punished for playing a prank and when he is punished by emailing a old person and suprisingly she helps him so everything turns out ok.
I love this book because it shows that if you get in trouble, it isn't always you that has to make it better
By McKinley Davis

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had low expect ions for this based on the title and cover - I know, I know - a bad way to judge a book. What I found was a quick story of a boy trying his best to make good choices despite his proximity to the neighborhood troublemaker. Along the way he befriends a couple of elderly ladies who are just as lonely as he is.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

For how creepy the front cover looks, this is a pretty average story about standing up for yourself, not passing judgement on others, and taking responsibility for your actions. The message is a little heavy, but the concept is intriguing - and it is a very quick, short read.

[Julier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy chapter book (88 pages); Mitch is "sentenced" to chat online twice a week with an elderly woman at a nursing home. Learns insight into others as well as into himself (and takes responsibility for his own actions). Good readaloud?

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast read, but good.
There is much to be learned in this book. This book shows that there are consequences for the choices one makes.
There are ideas that perhaps could be implemented as a way to connect youth with seniors that have limited mobility.

[*KAYLA-MARIE* · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is ccccoooooolllllll

[AllyBananaKing · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book will teach kids leasons about doing thigs that are wrong, but It is an okay quick read. 88 pages

[Jodie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a short book. It's mainly like, the main character talking to this old lady online. [It's nothing gross! Not at all... No seriously, really.:]

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This simple story of a boy doing the right thing would appeal to children in the middle grades, 3-5. A quick, but satisfying little book.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short sweet read. I think certain kids will like it, but it will be a hard sell for others.

[Flora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really short and easy. Creatively written through the coversations online between Mitch and Wootie Hayes. I enjoyed this book a lot.

[C21olin · Rating 2 out of 5]

not the best book

[Reader Girl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good quick read. The concept of kids doing community service for a misdeed is intriguing, and this book sheds light on how beneficial it can be for all involved.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a quick read and it is not really a high level book, but the content overall is interesting.

[Makalah · Rating 5 out of 5]

i liked it