The Kid Who Became President

The Kid Who Ran for President #2

by Dan Gutman

"My fellow Americans, When I was running for President, I said you should vote for me because I didn't know anything about politics . . . or how to raise taxes . . . or how to ruin the economy. I didn't know how to get us into a war. I said you should vote for me because I didn't know anything. Well, that was two months ago, and I'm very proud to say that . . . I still don't know anything. Let's face I'm a kid. I'm going to need a lot of help. Here's the deal I offer I'll help all of you if you all help me!"

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Politics, Humor, Young Adult

243 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

The author of over 80 books in a little over a decade of writing, Dan Gutman has written on topics from computers to baseball. Beginning his freelance career as a nonfiction author dealing mostly with sports for adults and young readers, Gutman has concentrated on juvenile fiction since 1995. His most popular titles include the time-travel sports book Honus and Me and its sequels, and a clutch of baseball books, including The Green Monster from Left Field. From hopeful and very youthful presidential candidates to stunt men, nothing is off limits in Gutman's fertile imagination. As he noted on his author Web site, since writing his first novel, They Came from Centerfield, in 1994, he has been hooked on fiction. "It was fun to write, kids loved it, and I discovered how incredibly rewarding it is to take a blank page and turn it into a WORLD."

Gutman was born in New York City in 1955, but moved to Newark, New Jersey the following year and spent his youth there.

Reviews

[thewestchestarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The nuclear codes thing kind of seeps the fun of it. The fantasy of having a 12 year old President gets popped pretty early in the proceedings in this inevitable follow-up to The Kid Who Ran For President when our protagonist President Moon lose track of the nuclear codes. One imagines the kid hitting puberty with such power and it becomes clear why we elect only those of at least 35 years. Moon's adventures as POTUS are mildly amusing although often a downer as he faces loneliness and the overwhelming nature of the office. Gutman's implication that the president's job is largely ceremonial and that Moon skates by the first eight months posing for photographs seems a little insulting to the actual commander-in-chief who faces daily decisions with painful consequences for some constituency or another. However, the tales of dealing with the spend-happy First Lady and playing videogames against evil dictators plays well with young boys - its core audience. Parents having to read this to their kids might resent the treatment of Moon's parents in the story particularly a passage where Moon notes to his father that he could have him tossed into prison. In short, an innocuous fantasy that its core audience will enjoy reading.

[Kristian]

this book is about a kid who became president and at first he did not want to take the job because he was to young and he did not want to take all the work. so he was in alot but this jib was big to him because he went from a nobody to the biggest person in the world. he takes the job finally and lives his life with some regrets but all the girls who did not like him now love him but he know that they want to us him for his power but hes not stupid.
i can conncect this to my life beecause i had a dream that i was mr president once and it was great i had some regrets but it was all good.
i give this book a 5 because o nthe plane to monetegro it kept me ocupied like most of the ride and its just cool to read and i thionk anyone who wants to kill sometime should read this book.

[Elsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is now one of my favorite books because it has humor and history in it.Also it has a lot of action but also it has some sad moments.This is a great book and YOU should read it.

[Rylin Mccrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really funny and I really liked it.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

If the first one was ridiculous, what word can I use for this one? Preposterous? Implausible? Nonetheless, it is a bit of wish fulfillment for every kid to imagine themselves as president, and Dan Gutman makes it clear that this would be both fun and difficult. He gives kids an age-appropriate glimpse into life in the White House.

It reminds me of many of the 90's and early 00's movies about the president's kid that made the White House seem like a giant vending machine of fun, played off of the ever-present Secret Service agents, and generally required huge suspensions of disbelief to enjoy. I grew up with Chelsea Clinton then the Bush twins and then the Obama daughters in the White House, and I think we were all (at one time or another) fascinated with the idea of that upbringing. I imagine this is why Gutman wrote this book to sell at Scholastic Book Fairs. It was a decently fun audiobook for the family drive to school!

[hpboy13 · Rating 2 out of 5]

For all this book’s merits, it shouldn’t exist. The Kid Who Ran For President (henceforth, “Book 1”) had such a perfect ending, with Moon refusing the Presidency, that I couldn’t get past the unbelievable and unnecessary retconning required for this book to exist. It also made the ending doubly insulting, by having the exact same ending as Book 1 – why on earth would you retcon a good ending, only to recycle it a book later? That’s some Hollywood-level BS.

Where Book 1 was clever, subtly poking fun at our rather ludicrous election process, this Book didn’t have anything clever at all to say. A silly kid is unequipped to be President – LOL! Public opinion is fickle – how revolutionary a concept! The White House is luxurious – do tell me more! The popular girl Moon roped into First Ladyship is a materialistic harpy – gee, how utterly fascinating!

And it’s not like there isn’t material ripe for exploration in the premise. Moon wants to have “Fireside Tweets” with his constituents – but immediately gives up because the Internet is a ridiculous place. Why not explore how a politician – let alone a really young one – can change things up by reaching out directly to people over social media? Why not explore the friction between parents and their tween son suddenly becoming the leader of the free world? Why not explore a tween President and the authority struggle with a bitchy teacher, instead of having him meekly shut up and obey?

If Dan Gutman was insistent on writing this book, though I wish he hadn’t, he should at least have made it interesting. Instead, it reads like a blatant cash grab – and, given that it’s out of print, the book fails at that as well.

[Jaden · Rating 2 out of 5]

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[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting and very funny! In this book a boy is president and discovers how much hard work is needed to be president. He even invites his class to visit the White House. This book is a sequel to the kid who ran for president.

[Aaron Null · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot. It was funny and it was cool

[Alex Charming · Rating 5 out of 5]

You start this book thinking it'll be light and funny and completely childish. But then it starts touching on some really deep and important things. I would recommend this to anyone.

[Darren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hee hee ha ha

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

They made it very intresting I like how they made this kid friendly and the end suprised me because the kid and a different president have a game off with a war like game.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m reviewing The Kid Who Became President in much the same way I approached The Kid Who Ran for President. Reading it now at 39 is an entirely different experience than it would have been at 14, and that perspective definitely shapes how the story lands.

For readers at a middle-school level, the book succeeds in making history feel fun and accessible. For history buffs, or anyone familiar with foreign relations, there’s definitely some suspension of disbelief required. That said, I was genuinely pleased to see how many of the lesser-known rules and intricacies of the presidency were woven into the narrative. They’re presented in a way that both educates and entertains without overwhelming younger readers.

There’s also a well-placed Chekhov’s gun that pays off nicely at the end, giving the story a satisfying conclusio, even if the lead-up is a bit on the trite side.

Overall, it’s a worthy second act in the series and a very fun read.

[Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful, funny children's book that does a good job of introducing the concepts of the presidency and politics. Gutman manages to deftly sidestep partisanship, giving equal mention and respect to politicians on both sides of the aisle and taking no potshots. I enjoyed the first book as kid but didn't know about the sequel. I enjoyed seeing the further exploits of Moon even as an adult and appreciated the fact that Gutman did continue the story; I read too many books as a kid with a wacky premise that chose to downplay things and end at the climax. A good read for kids who wonder what all the fuss is about on TV at election time.

[Bailey · Rating 2 out of 5]

It will be great to reread with the kids when they are a bit older and can understand more of what was going on. It is a fun way to learn how some of the government works. However, I didn't love some of the remarks made towards the good looking girl ( she's a babe, and I picked her because she was hot) and I also didn't love how the main kid treated his father. Certainly not my favorite I have read with the kids, but for 50 cents at a garage sale, I can't complain too much.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carpool book, I missed some on my travels but it started it way too prophetic...someone not qualified wins the presidency and has no idea what he is supposed to do. Only difference, the kid's only desire is to do good for the American people and the world.
A cute story that teaching kids about government as well. The girls all liked it.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great look at being the president. We listened to it in the car and all of us learned a lot of different things about being the president. It was of course, fiction, but told in a fairly believable way and we all looked forward to listening. One of my kids left town for a week in the middle of it and we all had to wait patiently for him to get back so we could finish!

[Amanda]

We had to get the second book after the first book was such a surprise hit. Number two was more of the same, perhaps even a bit better. It sneaks in quite a bit of education about what the president actually does! All with a very 90s, Corey from Boy Meets World kind of vibe 😅 Didn't expect this to be our kind of book but we really enjoyed it!

[Rachel Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as a kid and enjoyed it, so when I saw it at goodwill for a dollar I knew I needed to pick it up. This is classic school library literature complete with civics facts sprinkled in every few pages. It’s an enjoyable read, however far fetched

[Trabue Bland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

I loved this book read the first book before this and press the button to take you to the end

[Charly Troff (JustaReadingMama) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny sequel that explores how hard it would be if a kid actually won the presidential election.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot sillier in some respects, but not as good as the first one.

[Kris Irvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't think this book was quite as good as The Kid Who Ran for President, but it was still a fun story and my 10 year old son really loved it.

[Kelsey Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute

[Hannah Jadwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book teaches about responsibility and how would you deal with it kind of thing. I would use this as a classroom read and ask them what would you do if you were president?

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even sillier than the first one in many ways. 2nd star for the fact that it was mildly educational.

[Aubree R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for younger teenagers. Has a slight history lesson in it. Written in a way that really seems like a twelve-year-old is writing.

[Caleb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it.

[Nathaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it.

[M Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite part was when the president talked about the tornado.