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The Prizewinners of Piedmont Place
Modern Family meets Supermarket Sweep in this laugh-out-loud, winner-takes-all adventure for young middle grade readers!
One lucky family is about to win BIG!
The prize? Twenty minutes to grab anything, maybe even everything, from Mr. King Kashman’s world-famous megastore. It’s eleven-year-old Cal’s chance to score the haul of a lifetime! But before he can get to the Final Round, he’ll have to trick—er, that is, convince—his precocious nine-year-old sister, Imo, and mischievous little brother, Bug, to compete in a series of crazy challenges. Cal’s family may be smart and funny, kind and loyal, always brave and they never quit—but do they really have what it takes to be PRIZE WINNERS? There’s only one way to find out…Let the contest begin!
One lucky family is about to win BIG!
The prize? Twenty minutes to grab anything, maybe even everything, from Mr. King Kashman’s world-famous megastore. It’s eleven-year-old Cal’s chance to score the haul of a lifetime! But before he can get to the Final Round, he’ll have to trick—er, that is, convince—his precocious nine-year-old sister, Imo, and mischievous little brother, Bug, to compete in a series of crazy challenges. Cal’s family may be smart and funny, kind and loyal, always brave and they never quit—but do they really have what it takes to be PRIZE WINNERS? There’s only one way to find out…Let the contest begin!
192 pages, Library Binding
Published July 12, 2016
5 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Bill Doyle
65 books19 followersAuthor Bill Doyle was born in Michigan, and wrote his first mystery at the age of eight. He has gone on to write critically acclaimed and bestselling children's books, including stories of real-life war heroes in "Behind Enemy Lines: True Stories of Amazing Courage"; the pick-your-own-adventure "Worst Case Scenario Ultimate Adventure: Everest"; the historical fiction mystery series Crime Through Time; the Henry & Keats series including "Attack of the Shark-Headed Zombie"; the Scream Team series about Bad News Bears-type monsters playing sports; and soon-to-be released series "The Prizewinners of Piedmont Place."
Additionally, Bill has served as editor at Sesame Workshop, TIME for Kids and SI Kids. He's written for LeapFrog, Weekly Reader, Rolling Stone, Comedy Central, National Geographic Kids, and the American Museum of Natural History. He is a graduate of Georgetown University and holds an MFA in Dramatic Writing from the film school at New York University where he was taught by the likes of Arthur Miller and David Mamet.
Bill lives with two dachshund-headed canines in New York City, and you can visit him online at www.BillDoyleBooks.com.
Additionally, Bill has served as editor at Sesame Workshop, TIME for Kids and SI Kids. He's written for LeapFrog, Weekly Reader, Rolling Stone, Comedy Central, National Geographic Kids, and the American Museum of Natural History. He is a graduate of Georgetown University and holds an MFA in Dramatic Writing from the film school at New York University where he was taught by the likes of Arthur Miller and David Mamet.
Bill lives with two dachshund-headed canines in New York City, and you can visit him online at www.BillDoyleBooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 13, 2016
This is a funny, big-hearted adventure, and I loved it.
It's about a (totally charming/winning) kid named Cal and his determination to win a big contest. But he needs everyone in his family to help, and they're just not that into it - at least, not at first.
The story constantly ratchets up the suspense (and laughs) as Cal finds clever ways for his family to win the contest - even as a vain and dishonest family conspires to beat them.
This is a book about about playing fair, and about playing as a TEAM. But it's much more than that. This is also a book that (humorously) tackles real-life situations that just about any kid can relate to. For example: What do you do when your family is struggling financially? How do you deal with feeling embarrassed because your family doesn't have all the sparkly things that another, wealthier family may have? How do you maintain your integrity and play fair, even when your opponent doesn't? This book has answers - and they're funny, sweet, and surprising.
It's about a (totally charming/winning) kid named Cal and his determination to win a big contest. But he needs everyone in his family to help, and they're just not that into it - at least, not at first.
The story constantly ratchets up the suspense (and laughs) as Cal finds clever ways for his family to win the contest - even as a vain and dishonest family conspires to beat them.
This is a book about about playing fair, and about playing as a TEAM. But it's much more than that. This is also a book that (humorously) tackles real-life situations that just about any kid can relate to. For example: What do you do when your family is struggling financially? How do you deal with feeling embarrassed because your family doesn't have all the sparkly things that another, wealthier family may have? How do you maintain your integrity and play fair, even when your opponent doesn't? This book has answers - and they're funny, sweet, and surprising.
October 12, 2017
Cute story about cooperation, families, and thinking of others. The evil boss is a little frightening, though, given the age of the kids at which this book is aimed.
July 25, 2017
I didn't read a ton of chapter book stuff, and read even less now, so the fact that The Prizewinners of Piedmont Place stuck with me as an enjoyable family competition romp is a surprise. This was a great nostalgia trip for me because I feel like I read this type of book many times growing up, and this felt like a great worthwhile update to the genre.
January 16, 2019
This was another fun read with the 8 year old. The family is great, works together, is creative and has fun. The Talaskas are competing against the Wylots in the grab contest at the new Wish Shoppe opening in their town.
May 8, 2017
A young boy tries to get his family to compete in a competition to win a cartload of prizes from a store, but the competition is his father's boss and family and they play dirty.
September 12, 2017
A super cute kids story. I love the spirit of the Talaska family as they go through this (strangely important) contest.
July 12, 2019
A quick, silly read. The Talaska family rises to the challenge and has the reader routing for them.
July 14, 2019
Cute, but unbelievable. Some plot points come out of nowhere and the end leaves something to be desired.
March 11, 2017
Modern family story with a game show twist. 11 year old Cal convinces his family to enter a contest to win some fantastic prizes, but along the way to victory they must blend as one and overcome the town's richest family, who not only are bullies and cheats, but the father is the town's largest employer, who will do anything to prove they are better than anyone else.
July 18, 2016
Sometimes readers like me are in the mood for something a little light-hearted that still contains a message. This new series featuring a biracial family certainly fits the bill. Eleven-year-old Cal Talaska decides that his family would be perfect at winning a local contest involving the Wish Shoppe--it sounds like a Walmart on steroids run amuck--and enlists their participation. At first, he tricks them into competing, but after they win the first and second round and are in competition with his father's boss for the grand prize, things get messy, dishonest, and quite serious. Intermediate and late elementary readers will get a kick out of the changes in each of the family members as they rise to the occasion and give the contest their competitive best. As in series such as this one, the Talaskas aren't perfect, but their rivals, the Wylots, are portrayed with an exceptionally black brush and seem to have no redeeming qualities. The end will come as no surprise to most readers, but I liked how each of the Talaskas came through when it mattered most, demonstrating that the family that competes together has lots of fun and stays together. It will be interesting to see where the author takes this contest-based series next. Why those Wylots even bother competing is beyond me since they clearly have everything they could ever want or need.
April 26, 2016
This is a charming, well-told story about a family and a community coming together. Doyle creates a hyper-realistic world where fantasy video game systems promise an escape from very real problems like keeping your job and enduring bullies. The whole book is infused with a pre-teen boy's hopefulness that things can get better, in spite of his parents' resignation to accept the world as it is.
Of course young Cal -- and the optimism he represents -- ultimately win out, but the twists that take us there are as thrilling as the video game system he yearns for. Well... almost.
Of course young Cal -- and the optimism he represents -- ultimately win out, but the twists that take us there are as thrilling as the video game system he yearns for. Well... almost.
November 26, 2016
I loved everything about this book. Right from the beginning I was sucked in with Cal's antics to get his family into a contest they had no idea they were entering. I loved the dynamics of the family members. Of course I also loved the conflict between the Talaskas and the other families in the Great Grab Contest! I look forward to more books about Cal and the rest of the Talaskas!
December 26, 2015
I read an ARC of this story that follows a family's efforts to win a store's contest. At first, not everyone is on board with participating, but they wind up using their individual strengths to work together as a team. This is a good choice for younger advanced readers.
October 7, 2016
Action-packed, fast-paced, and funny.
November 7, 2016
Loved this book! Funny, creative, and heartwarming.
I loved the diverse family with all their little quirks. They used their smarts and creativity to compete in the challenge. Fun read.
I loved the diverse family with all their little quirks. They used their smarts and creativity to compete in the challenge. Fun read.
January 16, 2017
Local shopping emporium has a contest. The Talasksa's struggle between wanting to win and letting the town's bully, and everyone's boss, win.
April 1, 2017
Meh. I found the characters over the top and annoying.
April 8, 2017
Cal Talaska has entered his family in a contest to win twenty minutes in the famous Wish Shoppe. But can he convince his family to participate. And once they do, it will take all of their efforts and integrity to beat three other opponents.
This is a humorous book with a serious message. Will you compromise your integrity for a victory in a contest or rise above the occasion to win honestly? The obstacles that Cal and his family face and overcome are humorous. This will surely keep the reader involved in the story as Cal struggles to get his family all on the same page. The contest is fast-paced and interesting. Reader will enjoy the trek through the Wish Shoppe and root for Cal’s family to win. I look forward to many more adventures with the Talaska family. Recommended for grades 4 through 6.
This is a humorous book with a serious message. Will you compromise your integrity for a victory in a contest or rise above the occasion to win honestly? The obstacles that Cal and his family face and overcome are humorous. This will surely keep the reader involved in the story as Cal struggles to get his family all on the same page. The contest is fast-paced and interesting. Reader will enjoy the trek through the Wish Shoppe and root for Cal’s family to win. I look forward to many more adventures with the Talaska family. Recommended for grades 4 through 6.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews