Zeke Meeks vs the Horrifying TV-Turnoff Week

Zeke Meeks #2

by D.L. Green, Josh Alves (Illustrator)

Zeke Meeks thinks his teacher is crazy when he announces that no one can watch TV for an entire week. There is no way Zeke will survive without videogames or his favorite shows. Will he be bored enough to play with his sister? Study? Actually read for fun? Only time will tell.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Humor

128 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[María Greene F · Rating 4 out of 5]

JAJAJA. Me reí con esto. Pucha que he gozado con la literatura infantil/juvenil últimamente. Loado sea mi sobrino que dejó trescientos libros en la casa de mis papás, y loados sus papás que al parecer tienen muy buen gusto. Me he dado patache de autopréstamos que voy cambiando cada vez que voy a la casa paternal.

Éste además es nuevo, o sea del 2012, más nuevo que cualquier cosa del género que haya leído cuando yo misma era una niña, y me gustó. Divertido, bien escrito, hubo dos partes en que hasta me reí en voz alta. Muy aprobado, porque además manda el mensaje de cómo el mundo es tan amplio y tiene tantas cosas en él, y cómo la gran mayoría no tienen que ver con la televisión.

En fin, lindo y recomendado más encima. Aunque un poco preachy, como dicen las reviews gringas.

PD: Yo también quiero tener una cucaracha llamada Abracitos jejeje <3

[Zeke CBT · Rating 3 out of 5]

A boy named Zeke is going to his friend’s house after school on a Friday. At the end of the day the teacher says he has four newes and they are all good. The kids in the class guess things like an ice cream party but the first one is TV-Turnoff Week. The second one is that they have to do a report about what they did during TV-Turnoff Week. The third one is a spelling bee and the fourth one is that the winner of the spelling bee will get a gift card to a book store. The book is about
Zeke’s week without TV!

This book was cool in that it showed how reading can help you, but it was too short! I like the charcter Mia who is Zeke’s little sibling, who
also has to have a TV-Turnoff week and she is cool and funny.

PopSugar 2021 Prompt 32: A book whose title starts with X, Y or Z
Also read towards my Book Reading Scout Badge

[Adelas · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 8 year old son thought this was the most entertaining book he had ever read. My daughter (6) had been on a "reading is boring" kick for a week or two and this kicked her right out of it.

This series, IMHO, can be overly sassy and Zeke is constantly saying negative things, and my kids picked that up a little and had to be re-trained out of it. But they couldn't put these books down, so I will put up with needing a little correction to get that love of reading established.

[Isaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book Zeke thinks he will be upset when in the end he is not upset.

[Isaiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked it because Zeke has tv turn off weak and he's bored because he can't watch tv and he loves tv.But he findes out that tv is not the only fun thing on earth.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 8 year old son read 2 of these Zeke Meeks books and told me he loves them. I now have 6 more on hold at the library and decided to read one myself.

It was an interesting book with some funny cartoons for an extra boost. I do feel like books are getting dumbed down a bit, with very easy writing and big spacing and print. This only took about 30 minutes to read. It had a good message though and I can understand how it'd be entertaining to elementary-age boys.

My son reads a lot, but hasn't fallen in love with too many books, other than Captain Underpants and Harry Potter, so I'm happy he found some more books to enjoy.

[Michelle Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just before I started this review, I noticed the last reviewer used the word "preachy" to describe this one which is EXACTLY the word I've been using when talking about Zeke Meeks with other adults. The moral of this one is if you turn off the tv, you'll find much more fun and worthwhile things to do. It's not at all subtle. But again, the boys will tear through this and similar Zeke Meeks titles in part due to the frequent potty/snot-type humor.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This funny chapter book is a good choice for kids who aren't quite ready for Charlie Joe Jackson or Moxy Maxwell, but who aren't wild about reading and who want something with illustrations, humor, and lots of dialogue. The only problem with the book is that it's a little didactic, with a slightly-too-heavy message about how turning off the TV and picking up a book is good for you. Overall though, the humor makes up for the message.

[Kate Hastings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grades 2-4. RL 490. Zeke watches a LOT of TV, but then TV turnoff week forces him to discover the world around him. He visits an art museum and reads a lot of books (accidentally). And it turns out that reading comes in handy when a surprise spelling bee turns him into a superstar. Great boy book for kids who like Horrid Henry, etc.

[Wendy Garland · Rating 3 out of 5]

This particular title was a bit preachy by the end, but I think the format and accessibility will make it a popular choice for the Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans. This is also a much shorter read and may make this a nice alternative for the kids that need something a little less dense.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Some reviews call this Diary of Wimpy Kid for younger readers. I liked it because of the humor. Also agree with Josh that it is a bit preachy...reading is better than watching tv and playing video games...

[J New · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun for the young... little preachy but funny.

[Joenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is Television-Turnoff Week, and Zeke and his friends are wondering what they will do with their time without their favorite programs and videogames.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Luke loves this series and this book was especially good because it focused on turning the tv off and doing other things. I'm sure we will keep reading this series.