Hunter Moran Hangs Out

Hunter Moran #2

by Patricia Reilly Giff

When Hunter and his twin brother, Zack, hear from Sarah Yulefiski that there is going to be a kidnapping in Newfield, they are on high alert. But the more shocking news is yet to come: they figure out that Steadman, their younger brother, is the kidnapper's target. After erecting a rickety lookout tower high in a tree in nearby Werewolf Woods, they discover suspicious activities going on around town: a probably ax murderer is hiding in the cellar of an empty house, Bradley the neighborhood bully is poking at what must be dead bodies in the pond, and a suspicious letter arrives for Mom. Meanwhile, Mom heads to the hospital to give birth to a new sibling whom the boys hope to name Killer Godzilla while hapless Nana tries to hold down the fort at the chaotic Moran family home.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Childrens, Humor

144 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2013

About the author

Patricia Reilly Giff was the author of many beloved books for children, including the Kids of the Polk Street School books, the Friends and Amigos books, and the Polka Dot Private Eye books. Several of her novels for older readers have been chosen as ALA-ALSC Notable Books and ALA-YALSA Best Books for Young Adults. They include The Gift of the Pirate Queen; All the Way Home; Water Street; Nory Ryan's Song, a Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Golden Kite Honor Book for Fiction; and the Newbery Honor Books Lily's Crossing and Pictures of Hollis Woods. Lily's Crossing was also chosen as a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book.

Reviews

[David Smither · Rating 1 out of 5]

While I read the entire book, I still don't know what happened. Or what was supposed to happen. Or who anyone is. In fact, I'm not sure I read a book, either. It felt more like someone tossed a dictionary into a blender and then reassembled it. Using a screwdriver. Suitable for the trash.
Genre: Mystery (Real genre: Mystery as to why anyone would publish this)
Unique feature: Parents who should consider birth control.

[JilltheOWL]

In short......a very cute and fun book! I've only been teaching 5th graders for one school year and one month, and I'm still learning what kind of books they read. I could see this book definitely interesting them. It reminded me so much of what I would've loved to read at that age. A good little mystery to keep me guessing......fun quirky characters that make me happy for my "normal" family.......and laughs as well. A very wonderful combination.

Beyond the mystery part of this book (which I loved!), I also loved Zack and Hunter's family. I grew up in a family of 4 with just my sister as my only sibling. I always wondered what it was like to have a big, active, crazy family that was full of noise and activity. The family in this book is completely what I imagined it would be like. Zack and Hunter are good at working their way out of trouble. Their older sister is good at trying to get them in trouble. There dad doesn't know exactly what to do with it all. And they have the cutest little brother that made me just want to squeeze him - while at the same time shake him for some things he does. I just loved how Patricia Reilly Giff brought this whole family together and made it work!

As for the plot - well done. Mysteries always amaze me because I could never write one! Granted I had some guesses about what was going on (although I wasn't completely correct), but I was an adult reading a book meant for younger (ok MUCH younger) readers! Yet there were a few twists that I didn't see coming. I like that!

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've got some rather mixed feelings about this book. On one hand the book is funny with all the shenanigans that Hunter and his twin, Zack get themselves mixed up in. On the other hand, as an adult I winced at some of the antics of the brothers. Luckily things all work out in the end, but I had a hard time with the lack of adult supervision as the boys snuck out at night, fell out of trees, snuck into neighbors basements, and tricked adults.

However, from a child's point of view, all of this is great fun and quite funny as the boys cause havoc wherever they go. The family interactions were quite entertaining and felt very genuine. Hunter and Zack don't really get along with their older siblings, Linny (a silly, interfering older sister) and William (always painting something, just plain 'weird'). They do care a great deal about their five-year-old brother, Steadman, who they believe is the kidnapper's target. But Steadman is always wandering away which complicated things (although I think Steadman is smarter than his older brothers). The twins determination to get their coming sibling named K.G. (short for Killer Godzilla) is an amusing side plot.

The language of the story felt very childlike, but the phrasing was a little unusual in places. The reasoning of the boys also felt real if very flawed.

Overall, an amusing read for children, somewhat wince-inducing for adult readers.

[Rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

Catholic soon-to-be sixth grader Hunter and his twin Zack are in trouble. Not only are there only four days left before school starts and they haven’t even begun their summer reading, but they hear a rumor that someone from their family will soon be kidnapped and held for ransom. As their last days unfold, they get in scrape after scrape as they try to find the kidnapper, keep track of their over-intelligent and peripatetic five-year-old brother and the yappy dog who loves only him, convince their parents to name the new baby Killer Godzilla, spy on the town from a treehouse built by an annoying neighbor girl who charges them for using it (and for information), figure out what the local bully is dragging out of the pond, and accidentally harass the new principal. Among other things.

I think this book is trying to follow in the footsteps of classic episodic summer caper books like ‘Henry Reed,’ ‘Penrod,’ ‘Tom Sawyer,’ ‘Great Brain,’ etc., but even though it's a genre I love, for me it failed utterly. I found it almost unreadable and fell asleep twice while reading it. The plot was unbelievable and made no sense, and if it was supposed to be funny, it wasn’t. There were too many characters, and an unbelievable lack of parental control over anything.

[Kathy Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hunter and Zach Moran have all sorts of exciting adventures in the four days before they begin sixth grade. A friend overhears a kidnapping threat and the twins are busy trying to keep their five-year-old brother Steadman safe. Of course, their older sister Linny thinks she might be the victim. When the family dog Fred disappears the hunt picks up steam.

Could it be the strangers who have moved into the empty house across the street? Is it Linny's friend Becca who doesn't like Fred anyway? Why is the local bully Bradley hanging around the bottomless pond in the woods? What is going on at Gussie's Gym?

Other things are happening in this action-packed story too. Mom is getting ready to have baby number seven and all the kids have come up with names for the new arrival. And, worst of all, Hunter and Zach have put off their summer reading and now have just four days to read three books.

The story is filled with slapstick humor and middle grader logic. It is a quick read that will have middle graders trying to solve the mystery along with Hunter and Zach.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

As summer vacation draws to a close and a new school year looms on the horizon, twins Hunter and Zack Moran spend their last remaining days of freedom plotting solutions to the assigned summer reading. They also try to identify a kidnapper and unravel a potential kidnapping plot involving their younger brother Steadman. As the boys and their neighbor Sarah Yulefski investigate possible suspects, they cause all sorts of problems and embrace their usual brand of mischief. Filled with humor, of course, and the love of family members for one another, even their most unlovable family dog, Fred, this book is a perfect readaloud for the end of the summer and start of a new school year. Many readers will be able to relate to the challenges faced by the boys.

[Teresa Bateman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hunter Moran is back with more lunacy. Summer is nearly over, and there's a lot of action to be stuffed into the remaining days. When Hunter, and his twin brother Zack, hear that someone in the family is going to be kidnapped they're on the case! Naturally things are blown out of proportion and the boys manage to leap from one conclusion to another with ease and dexterity. Oh, and Mom's having a new baby--will it be a boy or a girl? And who's moved into that decrepit house in the neighborhood? The boys dart from one disaster to another, wringing every bit of excitement that they can out of life. This is another amusing tale that should tickle third to fifth-graders.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are only a few days left in summer vacation and Hunter and his twin brother Zack are trying to make the most of it. Then Sarah Yulefski tells them she overheard someone talking about kidnapping a Moran. They have to figure out who it is before the kidnappee gets kidnapped. There is a bully in the woods, a weird stranger in the abandoned house across the street and a gymnastic freak friend of their sister. Who is going to be kidnapped and who is going to do it. This was a fun, quick read. There is a lot here kids are going to enjoy. It was easy to read, had lots of adventure and mystery and the characters were fun.

[Mel Raschke]

Hunter and his brother would be enjoying the last days of summer (as most kids would), but there's far too much going on to remember that they were supposed to be reading three books for the start of school. And even though the source of the kidnapping information is unreliable at best, it seems like they'll do anything to keep from being around their siblings...and anything to keep someone from taking one of them away.

[Brenda Kahn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Amusing if you like constant chaos. The present tense narrative didn't work for me. Characters flew in and out willy nilly usually as red herrings. There was no real climax. I didn't find any of the six, now seven Moran children endearing. Methinks Mr. & Mrs. Moran should reflect on their parenting skills and need for birth control.

[Bethe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Twin brothers try to prevent, then solve a kidnapping in their family. There are a few bits of funny dialog. With 7 kids, 2 parents, 1 grandma, and a dog, not to mention assorted friends, there are too many characters to keep straight and the storyline gets a little frantic.

[Great Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twin brothers, Zack and Hunter, are uncovering clues to the neighborhood mysteries.
Reviewer 23

[Jill CD · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got half way through and put it down. It was too scattered to keep me interested in the book.

[Lee Harvey · Rating 1 out of 5]

more like hunter moran should hang himself; this book was absolute fucking HORSESHIT