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Cruisers #4
Oh, Snap!
Walter Dean Myers's Cruisers series keeps going strong!
The Cruisers are in trouble -- again. The freedom of expression they've enjoyed by publishing their own school newspaper, THE CRUISER, has spread all the way to England, where kids from a school "across the pond" are now contributors to their own school's most talked-about publication. When photos start to go alongside the articles written by kids, things get suspicious. Zander, Kambui, LaShonda, Bobbi -- and a bunch of students from Harlem's DaVinci Academy and London's Phoenix School -- come to learn that words and pictures in a newspaper don't always tell the whole story.
With his signature on-point pacing and whip-smart characters, award-winning author Walter Dean Myers delivers another awesome book about the Cruisers, a group of middle-school misfits who are becoming the coolest kids in the city.
The Cruisers are in trouble -- again. The freedom of expression they've enjoyed by publishing their own school newspaper, THE CRUISER, has spread all the way to England, where kids from a school "across the pond" are now contributors to their own school's most talked-about publication. When photos start to go alongside the articles written by kids, things get suspicious. Zander, Kambui, LaShonda, Bobbi -- and a bunch of students from Harlem's DaVinci Academy and London's Phoenix School -- come to learn that words and pictures in a newspaper don't always tell the whole story.
With his signature on-point pacing and whip-smart characters, award-winning author Walter Dean Myers delivers another awesome book about the Cruisers, a group of middle-school misfits who are becoming the coolest kids in the city.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published July 30, 2013
3 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Walter Dean Myers
224 books1,184 followerspseudonyms:
Stacie Williams
Stacie Johnson
Walter Dean Myers was born on August 12, 1937 in Martinsburg, West Virginia but moved to Harlem with his foster parents at age three. He was brought up and went to public school there. He attended Stuyvesant High School until the age of seventeen when he joined the army.
After serving four years in the army, he worked at various jobs and earned a BA from Empire State College. He wrote full time after 1977.
Walter wrote from childhood, first finding success in 1969 when he won the Council on Interracial Books for Children contest, which resulted in the publication of his first book for children, Where Does the Day Go?, by Parent's Magazine Press. He published over seventy books for children and young adults. He received many awards for his work in this field including the Coretta Scott King Award, five times. Two of his books were awarded Newbery Honors. He was awarded the Margaret A. Edwards Award and the Virginia Hamilton Award. For one of his books, Monster, he received the first Michael Printz Award for Young Adult literature awarded by the American Library Association. Monster and Autobiography of My Dead Brother were selected as National Book Award Finalists.
In addition to the publication of his books, Walter contributed to educational and literary publications. He visited schools to speak to children, teachers, librarians, and parents. For three years he led a writing workshop for children in a school in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Walter Dean Myers was married, had three grown children and lived in Jersey City, New Jersey. He died on July 1, 2014, following a brief illness. He was 76 years old.
Stacie Williams
Stacie Johnson
Walter Dean Myers was born on August 12, 1937 in Martinsburg, West Virginia but moved to Harlem with his foster parents at age three. He was brought up and went to public school there. He attended Stuyvesant High School until the age of seventeen when he joined the army.
After serving four years in the army, he worked at various jobs and earned a BA from Empire State College. He wrote full time after 1977.
Walter wrote from childhood, first finding success in 1969 when he won the Council on Interracial Books for Children contest, which resulted in the publication of his first book for children, Where Does the Day Go?, by Parent's Magazine Press. He published over seventy books for children and young adults. He received many awards for his work in this field including the Coretta Scott King Award, five times. Two of his books were awarded Newbery Honors. He was awarded the Margaret A. Edwards Award and the Virginia Hamilton Award. For one of his books, Monster, he received the first Michael Printz Award for Young Adult literature awarded by the American Library Association. Monster and Autobiography of My Dead Brother were selected as National Book Award Finalists.
In addition to the publication of his books, Walter contributed to educational and literary publications. He visited schools to speak to children, teachers, librarians, and parents. For three years he led a writing workshop for children in a school in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Walter Dean Myers was married, had three grown children and lived in Jersey City, New Jersey. He died on July 1, 2014, following a brief illness. He was 76 years old.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 9, 2015
Oh, Snap! appears to be the end of the Cruisers series and its offbeat look at the lives of four eighth-graders at Da Vinci Academy for the Gifted and Talented. Zander, LaShonda, Bobbi, and Kambui are fun-loving kids of mellow temperament, but aren't afraid to get serious about issues that matter to them. That's why they founded The Cruiser, their alternative publication to the academy's official newspaper. The Cruiser is cooler and more laid-back than its traditional counterpart, The Palette, and the rhythmic jive of the paper is catching attention all over Harlem. A recent report by the local School Journalism Association ranks The Cruiser third-best school paper in the city, behind two high school publications. That's cool with Zander and his friends, but Ashley, editor of The Palette, is hopping mad. The Cruisers generally get along okay with Ashley, so they don't want to start a protracted battle over this one SJA report, but they'll have to prioritize making it up to her if they don't want to end up on her bad side.
While Zander adjusts to the announcement of his father's new small role in a low-budget, straight-to-video flick—a casting choice that shocked Zander's mother, who's actually in showbiz and has never been offered a movie contract—he and the other Cruisers get caught in the middle of a dispute between Phat Tony, a classmate of theirs, and the local law. A holdup went down at the mall recently, and Phat Tony is suspected of colluding with the three stickup men to pull off the heist. In a strange twist of fate, Kambui snapped a picture of Phat Tony hanging around the mall that same day, though he's repeatedly insisted he wasn't anywhere near the place. Afraid of Phat Tony going literally ballistic on them if they bring the photo to the cops, but equally afraid of facing abetting charges if it's discovered they sat on evidence that could have implicated Phat Tony, the Cruisers vacillate as to what they should do. A high IQ isn't always enough to make a hard choice clear.
Old nemeses of the Cruisers are back for this last hurrah of the series, including Charles Lord, wannabe social activist whose efforts to make a name for himself are consistently nipped in the bud by the smarter, more articulate Cruisers. Try as he might to cut funding for Da Vinci Academy under pretense of leveling the playing field for all city kids, Mr. Lord isn't much but a whetstone for the sharp minds of our four protagonists, who are sitting pretty to parlay their elite education into a fine future that will do their families proud. They've hit bumps along the road, but nothing they're about to let wreck the ride. If Oh, Snap! is the last we see of Zander, LaShonda, Bobbi, and Kambui, I have the feeling things are going to turn out all right for them beyond the pages of this series. They have a good thing going with their tight friendship and curious, pliant minds. I'd put money on them doing a few extraordinary things in life.
Walter Dean Myers is known for the wisdom and insight of his books, and there's a bit of that in Oh, Snap!, which is why I would give it one and a half stars and considered rounding up to two. Have you ever wondered what to say when someone proposes you try to do something you know has virtually no chance of working out, and the person pushing you to do it says "Anyway, it's worth a try. Are you afraid of trying?" Zander has a good response to that: "No, but I don't want to look stupid, either". If your chances of success are practically nil, why invite unnecessary rejection? It's savvier to weigh the odds and choose where you should go for broke and where it makes more sense to back-pedal. Zander and his friends have a knack for discerning these little truths of life. Overall, The Cruisers is a peculiar series, but good in its own way, though I feel the narrative hints at many more adventures to come that were just never written. The best of the four books is by far the first, The Cruisers, but fans of Walter Dean Myers should consider reading to the end of the series. Good luck to you, Zander, LaShonda, Bobbi, Kambui, and my best wishes wherever your destiny takes you next.
While Zander adjusts to the announcement of his father's new small role in a low-budget, straight-to-video flick—a casting choice that shocked Zander's mother, who's actually in showbiz and has never been offered a movie contract—he and the other Cruisers get caught in the middle of a dispute between Phat Tony, a classmate of theirs, and the local law. A holdup went down at the mall recently, and Phat Tony is suspected of colluding with the three stickup men to pull off the heist. In a strange twist of fate, Kambui snapped a picture of Phat Tony hanging around the mall that same day, though he's repeatedly insisted he wasn't anywhere near the place. Afraid of Phat Tony going literally ballistic on them if they bring the photo to the cops, but equally afraid of facing abetting charges if it's discovered they sat on evidence that could have implicated Phat Tony, the Cruisers vacillate as to what they should do. A high IQ isn't always enough to make a hard choice clear.
Old nemeses of the Cruisers are back for this last hurrah of the series, including Charles Lord, wannabe social activist whose efforts to make a name for himself are consistently nipped in the bud by the smarter, more articulate Cruisers. Try as he might to cut funding for Da Vinci Academy under pretense of leveling the playing field for all city kids, Mr. Lord isn't much but a whetstone for the sharp minds of our four protagonists, who are sitting pretty to parlay their elite education into a fine future that will do their families proud. They've hit bumps along the road, but nothing they're about to let wreck the ride. If Oh, Snap! is the last we see of Zander, LaShonda, Bobbi, and Kambui, I have the feeling things are going to turn out all right for them beyond the pages of this series. They have a good thing going with their tight friendship and curious, pliant minds. I'd put money on them doing a few extraordinary things in life.
Walter Dean Myers is known for the wisdom and insight of his books, and there's a bit of that in Oh, Snap!, which is why I would give it one and a half stars and considered rounding up to two. Have you ever wondered what to say when someone proposes you try to do something you know has virtually no chance of working out, and the person pushing you to do it says "Anyway, it's worth a try. Are you afraid of trying?" Zander has a good response to that: "No, but I don't want to look stupid, either". If your chances of success are practically nil, why invite unnecessary rejection? It's savvier to weigh the odds and choose where you should go for broke and where it makes more sense to back-pedal. Zander and his friends have a knack for discerning these little truths of life. Overall, The Cruisers is a peculiar series, but good in its own way, though I feel the narrative hints at many more adventures to come that were just never written. The best of the four books is by far the first, The Cruisers, but fans of Walter Dean Myers should consider reading to the end of the series. Good luck to you, Zander, LaShonda, Bobbi, Kambui, and my best wishes wherever your destiny takes you next.
December 2, 2013
The Cruisers are back in this fourth title of the series and find their alternate newspaper, The Cruiser, garnering third place in a list of the city’s best school papers from the School Journalism Association. This annoys Ashley Schmidt, editor of the school’s official newspaper, to the point that she vows revenge on the gang. She and the Cruisers get involved in an international war of words and pictures that implicate their “gangsta” friend Phat Tony in a mall robbery. Zander, Bobbi, LaShonda and Kambui are faced with some tough decisions as they find themselves possible accomplices to a crime. The text is fresh and filled with the vernacular of contemporary teens and incorporates snippets from school newspapers. The plot is brisk and covers the usual middle school issues: girls, school, relationships, and peer pressure. It even manages to enlighten tween and teen readers about the Fibonacci sequence. The characters are cleverly and realistically drawn sealing Myers’ reputation as a master storyteller.
July 12, 2013
I like this series dedicated to the Cruisers, a self-named group of gifted middle graders in a Harlem school called DaVinci Academy and the issues they face. The kids are all quite different and have distinct opinions that they don't mind expressing. When their underground newspaper starts shaking things up and it's possible that their photographer has evidence that could lead to the arrest of a classmate, the school administration puts pressure on the Cruisers. The author knows his characters and intended audience well and mixes in pitch-perfect dialogue and settings with humor and struggles with important issues, both on the homefront and at school. As in the case of the other titles, I can't help thinking how much mature Zander is than his mother.
October 21, 2013
Book 4 in the series.
When The Cruisers' unofficial school newspaper is named one of the top 3 in the city, the writers and editors of The Palette (the official school newspaper) are quite upset. Both groups of the press set out to prove their excellence. Kambui, from the Cruisers, takes some photographs at the mall that may prove vital as evidence in a police case against one of their fellow school-mates.
While not as hard-hitting as his YA books, this is a credible juvenile series with interesting characters and situations. Most middle school students will find them too young, however.
When The Cruisers' unofficial school newspaper is named one of the top 3 in the city, the writers and editors of The Palette (the official school newspaper) are quite upset. Both groups of the press set out to prove their excellence. Kambui, from the Cruisers, takes some photographs at the mall that may prove vital as evidence in a police case against one of their fellow school-mates.
While not as hard-hitting as his YA books, this is a credible juvenile series with interesting characters and situations. Most middle school students will find them too young, however.
August 12, 2013
I love that Myers approaches a themed curricular area with each of the Cruisers novels. #4 looks explores a bit of poetry from Villanelles to free verse. This is a series for the times - I fancy the subtle tribute to Treyvon Martin with the poem that essentially says we are teenagers not hoodies. No young person should lose life because of a garment.
July 29, 2014
I really enjoy this series,it is one if my favorites.I would have to say the reason I love this series is because of my interest in journalism and writing for newspapers and newsletter.My other thing with this installment is I wish we would have got to know more and see more of the british kids that were the equivalent of The Cruisers,but overall great book,great series
April 2, 2015
A nice blend of challenges with successful feelings in this installment.
I like how decisions were made with friendship and loyalty in mind, although internal conflicts regarding those decisions add to the plot.
I like how decisions were made with friendship and loyalty in mind, although internal conflicts regarding those decisions add to the plot.
March 8, 2016
YA, realistic fiction, gr. 6-9. Good addition to the Cruisers series.
December 20, 2013
No one writes cool the way Walter Dean Myers writes cool. This series is middle grade friendly but feels edgy. Zander and his crew continue to delight.
July 14, 2015
I really enjoyed this book and series. The students are smart and insightful.
May 11, 2017
The Cruisers school paper has been selected as the third best school newspaper in the city, and the editor of the official school paper is a little ticked about that. Then, while the Cruisers are at the mall taking pictures for their paper they get a picture that may be evidence of a crime. They're not sure what to do because one of their classmates has already been questioned about his involvement. When the Cruisers reach out to a paper in London to do some partnering, all of this comes to light.
Another quick read from one of my favorite young adult authors. While the story line in this installment goes a little badder than the others I've read, it's still a little surface level, making it easily accessible to middle school students.
Another quick read from one of my favorite young adult authors. While the story line in this installment goes a little badder than the others I've read, it's still a little surface level, making it easily accessible to middle school students.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews