Puștiul, căruciorul și capsula timpului

Cartboy #1

by L.A. Campbell

Hal urăşte ora de istorie - îl plictiseşte până la lacrimi, la propriu.
Dar tatăl său este pasionat de istorie, iar dacă Hal nu ia o notă mare
anul acesta, nu va primi niciodată camera sa. Clasa a şasea începe cum
nu se poate mai oribil, când profesorul de istorie, Domnul Tupkin, dă
clasei tema de a scrie jurnale care vor fi îngropate într-o capsulă a
timpului la sfârşitul anului. Lucrurile se înrăutăţesc atunci când tatăl
său îl obligă să ia la şcoală vechiul cărucior de cumpărături al
vecinului lor, atrăgându-i porecla "Cărăuşul". Ce altceva ar mai putea
merge prost? Citiţi jurnalul lui Hal şi veţi afla!

Genres: Humor, Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade, Diary, Juvenile, Childrens, Family

192 pages, Hardcover

First published April 2, 2013

About the author

L. A. CAMPBELL grew up in Park Ridge, New Jersey, and attended the University of Colorado, graduating with a degree in journalism. She started her own ad agency, which won awards for work on such brands as Comedy Central and New York magazine. Cartboy and the Time Capsule is her first book. She lives in New York City with her husband and two children.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/lacamp...

Reviews

[Ramona Cantaragiu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one more than I expected, but it did take me a while to get into it. The comparison to the Whimpy Kid has some merit, but I think this one works with a different kind of humour and is more focused on character development. And for those complaining about parenting styles and the portrayal of adults in the book, I kindly suggest rereading the whimpy kid diaries and see how many gender stereotypes they can spot.

[Keshon Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever wonder how was it when you was not born yet? so many thing was different like fashion was different, cell phones was different. also i almost forgot my book name is cartboy and the time capsule, by L.A. Campbell,this is a fiction book.I think this is no exceptions the best book ever.I just love this book I think every one should read this book.


My book was about a boy and his life like what was happening during that time like the whole book was about a time capsule, it was a history project that was half of the grade the setting was at home or at school. the plot is he has a lot of school problem and home problems he is not good in school he want lots of things but he just can't get it.

I was surprised when the history teacher gave them a project for the whole year.And that was just so Lol just so funny to me because Hal Rifkind the main character was like "isn't that illegal. I just could not stop laughing. Also one more thing that was funny was his drawing skills he kept comparing his drawing skills to an artist drawing it was just so funny.

I could really relate to him because history is not his best subject and history is not my best subject and last year my teacher had told me he had to do a project the whole year. and I was just as surprised as he was I thought it was a jock but it was not and I found that put at the end of the year ..so I just thought that was was so wired I could relate to the book like that,but one more thing about this book its not long it kinda short so if you don't like long books this the book for u.




So in if i had to rate this book 1-10 i would have to say a 20, the book is really just that good because it was little action but its kinda like a comedy book its really weird and funny. I would recommend this book to everyone the book is the best i was reading since 6th grade.so if you ever wonder what the world was like before you was born you should definitely

[Red Letter · Rating 4 out of 5]

For our first middle-grade review, we gave this book to families and elementary teachers with kids who are fans of the Wimpy Kid series to see what they thought. Here's a peek:

Shawna "Both of my kids (9 year old boy and 11 year old girl) loved it, and asked if there would be more in the series. My 9 y/o likes, but does not love, to read, so when he would make a point of going to his room and reading, I knew this book was a winner." Grade: A

Colleen B. "I thought the book to be a short, quick read with plenty of funny jokes, puns and pictures. I do have to agree with my daughter that boys in the 3rd and 4th grade would love this book. Girls tend to not “get” boys being stinky, whiny or weird. Campbell did a fantastic job with the story line and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. I will be collecting her further works for my son, he will enjoy them!" Grade: B

Kelly "The negatives: a few story lines feel underdeveloped, some plot twists are not very realistic, and it does not escape the “lessons” that parents and teachers love, but kids…not as much. The positives: the use of photographs, sketches, and especially the time lines “drawn by Hal” are funny and will appeal to kids." Grade: B-

Denise "Don’t be fooled by the title. This book isn’t just for the boys. My 4th grade daughter was excited to read this book with me every night. The illustrations are clever and add to the personality of the book." Grade: A

See their full reviews here.

[Alisa Hedden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Say hello to Hal Rifkind. He is a 6th grader that is a pretty typical boy, wanting to play video games with his best friend, dreams of the ultimate, coolest transportation, would love to have his own room and thinks history is boring, per Hal “history is the most boring thing on the planet!” Unfortunately, he is also facing the very real danger of failing history.
While trying to navigate the pitfalls of 6th grade, with hand-me-down clothes, betrayals and a first dance, Hal, very realistically, loses his temper, comes up with a plan to try to sell the family house (so he can finally get his own room), tries out for the school play, ends up on YouTube and gets bullied. There are fart jokes, a very realistic rendering of a kid’s view of adult reasoning, and monkeys dancing on Mars. The illustrations are amusing, the characters, even the adults, are not just paper thin cut-outs and do interact with Hal.
I think this book would work well for 4th-6th graders, there are no monsters (except some minor bullying), the lessons included are handled lightly and the story is amusing. Warning does end with a cliff hanger, but the next book doesn’t come out until spring of 2014! Hopefully your reader will enjoy this enough to read this and want the next one. I can definitely think of some worse series out there.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who wants another read-alike for Diary of a Wimpy Kid? I knew you did. Here's one for you! Hal has to write about modern life for a time capsule project in history class. Hal's sharp and hilarious musings on history, modern life and the future will have kids snorting with laughter. Hal's misadventures are realistic and ridiculous. Cartboy and the Time Capsule has less doodles and more text, but most Wimpy kids will enjoy it anyway.

[Kate Hastings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grades 5-7. Hal Rifkind is barely surviving his first year of middle school. He still shares a room with his two baby sisters, carries his books to school in an old-lady grocery cart, is barely passing history and has a best friend that has betrayed his darkest secret just to get a "cheat" to level-up on a computer game. All of this is documented in the time-capsule journal he has to write for a school assignment--complete with photos, timelines and doodles. Fun book!

[pati · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is actually one of the better Diary-esque type books. The main character is still a whining boy who is more interested in video games than school (especially history), but the story is solid. If it makes a kid pick up a book, then maybe it is worthwhile to have so many books of this kind.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The father in this book refers to watching his own children as "babysitting". Sigh. Full of illustrations that do nothing to add to the story- I feel like they were slapped on at the end because the author wanted the book to be more like Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

[Barb G · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't care for all of the dating these sixth graders were either doing or wanted to do. The main character is lazy and whiny. There were some funny parts. I wish I hadn't purchased this book.

[Bob]

bad

[Carterkempgmail.Com · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wholly unnecessary Wimpy Kid imitation.

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny!

[Terryann · Rating 2 out of 5]

CAMPBELL, L.A.. Cartboy and the Time Capsule. 204 p. Starscape. Apr 2013. ISBN: 978-0-7653-3317-9. $12.99. F.

Gr 5-7
Hal just wants what every sixth grade boy wants: more time for video games and no history tests. Unfortunately for Hal, eccentric parents, lack of funds and a grueling history teacher (Mr. Tupkin) are all out to get him. Mr. Tupkin takes the cake when he assigns the class to each write a yearlong journal which will be added to a time capsule. Hal’s journal is filled with photos and timelines chronicling his sixth grade journey to get his own room and get out of his history homework. While Hal is amusing and likeable, his sarcasm sometimes falls flat and he occasionally feels whiny. Supporting characters in the book are thinly drawn and one dimensional. The timelines and photos are a fun addition, breaking up Hal’s whinging, but are not enough to carry the book. Recommended to fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries.

-Terry Ann Lawler - Phoenix Public Library, AZ.

[Dale Safford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to keep reminding myself that this was a book for pre-teens, not adults. It had some really humorous parts. The book might appeal to readers who don't like school ("reluctant readers"), since the main character is a failing student but school is a big thing for him. The illustrations are hilarious, and the writing pulls you along.

Hal Rifkind is a sixth-grader who is failing history. The teacher has assigned his students to write a time capsule to be opened after the year 2500, and Hal needs to do well on this and other history grades, so he also hires a girl to tutor him. The time capsule project takes the whole school year and reveals his thoughts on various subjects while thinking of the future readers and what in the world they must be like. His father says he must pass to get his own room so he no longer has to sleep with his twin little sisters, and his history-loving dad makes him use a shopping cart for his books, hence "cartboy." How can he ever pass to get a room to himself?

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hal Rifkind (Cartboy) and Greg Heffley (Diary of A Wimpy Kid) share a lot in common. Being the low man on the totem pole at school. Being under the microscope at home, with Mums who love family rules and pow-wows. Their Dads are insistent on their boy manning up in the world - in this case, Hal must ace it at History, a subject he hates. Instead of Greg Heffley's pesky siblings, Cartboy has twin baby sisters - he's had approximately 7 minutes sleep since they were born - they all share a room and his bed is between their cribs! For History, Cartboy must keep a year-long diary, addressing it to beings approx. 500 years from now - who will discover it buried in a time capsule. As Hal ponders the weirdness of life with his potential alien readership, the laughs flow thick and fast. This novel is different enough from Wimpy Kid to add an extra dimension to the genre, and kids everywhere should love it.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining "journal" written for his history class's time capsule, explaining life on earth for the alien or future human who finds it . Clever/silly doodled timelines add to the fun.

Hal shares a room with his two little sisters, because his dad uses their third bedroom as his workshop for fixing small appliances etc. Hal has various ideas for remedying this situation, starting with holding an open house and trying to sell theirs while his parents aren't home. Hal's dad says he'll consider giving Hal the room if he gets his History grade up to a B. But all those dates and facts are too much, and why do they matter? Hal even volunteers at the historical society, thinking he'll just clean some old stuff, but the ends up having to give an historical talk. (Shoulda read the flyer...)

Hal is also trying to get to the 13th level of a video game with his best friend; later he thinks Artie betrayed him to a bully to get the answer. Slight drama ensues.

Light fun for DOWK fans.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cartboy and the Time Capsule looks at the challenges of middle school through the eyes, and assignment of one Hal Rifkind, sixth grader. The book could be read by ages 8 and up with discussions including peer pressure, what to do when you get embarrassed, empathy, responsibility and mean kids.

Hal’s assignment is to write a journal to kids of the future which will be put into a time capsule and not opened for many years.
Hal’s journal entries are hilarious and reflect the point of view of your typical sixth grader trying too hard to make a name for himself while not humiliating himself. A true challenge for any sixth grader!

The book is somewhat reminiscent of Diary of a Wimpy Kid in that we have the boy’s POV and the journal includes illustrations and pictures. This is a charming and humorous look at being a sixth grader.

[Miffy]

Cartboy, aka Hal Rifkind, is struggling through 6th grade. History is boring, the middle school dance is coming up and he doesn't want to go, his mum and dad are trying all sorts of weird things to save money, and he and his best mate, Arnie, can't figure out how to get the scythe for the hero, Susie, in Level 13 of RavenCave. There's mean older brothers and their jerk friends, there's a set of baby twin sisters, there's girls (eew!), and there's school. Hal's has it pretty rough. And the last straw, a whole year assignment to create a time-capsule, set by his boring history teacher, Mr. Tupkin. How is Hal going to make it through the whole year?!

This is an amusing book for middle-grade students, probably Year 5 and 6, and the writing hits all the 'sweet spots' for that age group. There's vomit, poo, and lurv. Perfect.

[Allison Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always felt that there were not enough funny well-written books for middle school children. My children loved the Wimpy Kid series, but have been craving for something else to read for some time. Cartboy and the Time Capsule is just the series they have been looking for (only one book has been published but i am hoping it will be a series!). My children absolutely loved the book and I found them laughing out loud several times. I was so curious what they were laughing about that I read the book too! I have to say that I found myself laughing at the timelines between the chapters and I thought the book was clever and well-written. I applaud you L.A. Campbell and I hope Cartboy has some more adventures for my children to read real soon!

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hal is a 6th grade student who can't believe that his history teacher assigned them an assignment for the whole year. Over the course of a year, Hal has to assemble a time capsule filled with journal entries. These journal entries are pieces of history that will be hidden and found by somebody in the future. Throughout this book he is retelling his experiences in Middle School so that people in the future can see what his life was like. There are cute illustrations and pictures throughout the book, because his history teacher said he could use images to show future generations what we had in life.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aimed squarely at the Wimpy Kid audience, Cartboy and the Time Capsule delivers heavy lessons in the form of a sixth-grade boy who hates history but can only get his own bedroom if he gets a good grade.

Written as a journal for someone to discover in the distant future (hence the time capsule part of the title), the book has some engaging moments, but the desperate attempts to make the book and its characters quirky get old fast. Kids in need of a placeholder for Wimpy Kid may enjoy it - otherwise not recommended.

[Charity Ambs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminiscent of the Wimpy Kid books but with clip art instead of drawings. It was quite funny.

Hal Rifkind life is less than desirable. He shares a bedroom with his twin toddler sisters. He is failing history. He is not quite popular at school, and when his stingy father makes him start taking a "granny" cart to school, it just makes matters worse! But he maintains a great sense of humor through it all.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cartboy and the Time Capsule is funny realistic fiction. Fans of Nate or Wimpy Kid might want to give Cartboy a try. There's a bit of potty humor in this one! Written in first-person narrative, the story is enhanced with photographs and drawings. Cartboy is an endearing nerd, and I hope that the author will write more about him.

[Nan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely trying to be like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, but fell flat for me. No characters are very likable and the story was pretty thin. Lots of drawings and photos mixed in with the text, including an attempt at humorous timeline at the end of each chapter. Not going to put in my library unless someone requests it.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young readers will probably enjoy this story. It rings similar to Diary of a Wimpy Kid with a not so popular kid trying to make it through high school. Hal deals with friendship, popularity and family issues. Some readers will notice signs that Hal's family struggles financially which leads to difficulties like the shared bedroom and the cart.

[Saad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hal Rifkind, dubbed 'Cartboy' by his classmates wants his own room. He'll have to work for it however, because his dad isn't that pleased with his history grade - a C. His life seems to be going in a downhill flow. He tries sucking up to his parents, bit eventually, something happens that he would never have predicted.

[Dina · Rating 2 out of 5]

While it had a few really funny moments, I didn't really enjoy it until the end when Hal actually grows up a bit.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really funny! I laughed out loud a few times. It's kinda like Wimpy Kid, but way less "over the top."

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hal was a little twerpy and not as likeable as Greg Heffley, but still a great Wimpy Kid read-alike, really funny moments and overall a memorable premise.

[Harla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed meeting the "Cartboy"! He was actually a very likeable character and funny as well. Fast read and would appeal to the readers of Diary of a wimpy kid.