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Pickle Impossible
Twelve-year-old Pierre's remarkable family is known far and wide for their delicious pickles. But when the pickle farm is threatened, only Pierre can save it―by safely transporting a jar of world-famous pickles to an international pickle competition. When Pierre is kidnapped, a cunning young girl named Aurore rescues him. Together they set off with just twenty-four hours until the competition begins. To protect their pickles on the journey, Pierre and Aurore must navigate the ghostly catacombs of Paris, figure out how to safely crash-land a plane, enlist the help of a world-class scientist, and escape a villain who will stop at nothing to capture their jar of pickles.
This madcap adventure has everything a young reader could ask for, including an unlikely friendship, dangerous villains, magical coincidences, and a cliff-hanger at the end of every chapter.
This madcap adventure has everything a young reader could ask for, including an unlikely friendship, dangerous villains, magical coincidences, and a cliff-hanger at the end of every chapter.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
7 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 25, 2012
With a title like this, how can it fail to be a good book? It is about a family of pickle makers who are struggling to save their family home and business. Young Pierre La Bouche sets off to a contest to win (hopefully) $100,000 in a pickle contest in Switzerland (the exact amount of money that the family needs to save the farm) while the rival Borsht family sends their secret weapon, Aurore to kidnap Pierre and steal the pickles so that they can enter and win the contest. It is improbable, but it is funny, and there are so many twists and turns (and trains, scooters and flying things) to keep the reader interested and guessing how the story will end.
Aurore is a priceless character (so full of herself...she goes on and on about how fabulous and wonderful she is, you have to smile!) and Pierre at the same age is labeled 'the cornichon - a delicacy when picked' but average. These young characters race toward the Picklelympics without fear or embarrassment, and they remind you of someone you knew once...maybe yourself, if only in your imagination.
Aimed toward a 4th to 6th grade audience, this is another book that would be wonderful to co-read (again, I am doing this with my grandson Ethan) and embellish the voices and share opinions, especially after Aurore gives her opinion on herself and her beauty (you can just hear the conversation...'Do you think she is really as pretty as she says?' 'Yuk, no, she is stuck up!' that could make the readers co-conspirators in their own right.
I liked it, not necessarily loved, but it was a fast read, and Ethan loves it!
Stutz, E., & Canga, C. B. (2010). Pickle impossible. New York: Bloomsbury.
Aurore is a priceless character (so full of herself...she goes on and on about how fabulous and wonderful she is, you have to smile!) and Pierre at the same age is labeled 'the cornichon - a delicacy when picked' but average. These young characters race toward the Picklelympics without fear or embarrassment, and they remind you of someone you knew once...maybe yourself, if only in your imagination.
Aimed toward a 4th to 6th grade audience, this is another book that would be wonderful to co-read (again, I am doing this with my grandson Ethan) and embellish the voices and share opinions, especially after Aurore gives her opinion on herself and her beauty (you can just hear the conversation...'Do you think she is really as pretty as she says?' 'Yuk, no, she is stuck up!' that could make the readers co-conspirators in their own right.
I liked it, not necessarily loved, but it was a fast read, and Ethan loves it!
Stutz, E., & Canga, C. B. (2010). Pickle impossible. New York: Bloomsbury.
March 4, 2010
This is such a fun book! An unlikely (or should I say "impossible") story which is riveting for all ages, and particularly appropriate for 9-12 year olds who love a good adventure along with a good laugh.
Those of you who have intelligent, literate children who love to be whisked away to far away places in far-fetched stories will love this one.
And there's even a pickle recipe at the end to bring the whole thing 'round full circle.
A page-turner with the promise of ear-to-ear grins.
Those of you who have intelligent, literate children who love to be whisked away to far away places in far-fetched stories will love this one.
And there's even a pickle recipe at the end to bring the whole thing 'round full circle.
A page-turner with the promise of ear-to-ear grins.
November 3, 2012
The book was outrageous, but that was what it was supposed to be. I found the style unique and refreshing. Definitely enjoyed the book, as did my daughters (6-1/2 & 7-1/2).
August 14, 2022
The adventure and mystery begins when 12 year old Pierre La Bouche is chosen by his grandfather to get a jar of pickles to the International Pickelympics contest to help save the family farm. Sounds like a simple task, but what stands in Pierre way is more than he bargained for.
June 4, 2010
Hello Dear Readers,
It is I, Aurore, the fabulous star of Pickle Impossible! I am overjoyed to tell you that this book is impossibly fantastic and ridiculously incredible!! Now, perhaps you are thinking, Aurore is the narrator, she is biased, why should we believe her? Well, I see that you have an inquisitive mind. But let me assure you, everything I say is the absolute truth! In that case (now that you believe me), I will say that not only is Pickle Impossible a wild, cool, fun, funny, surprisingly deep, intelligent, witty, engaging, beautiful, lovable, adorable, exquisite, pristine, perfect in every way, 110% solid gold...story, but it also will entice, surprise, cajole, shock, tickle, rattle, uplift, rejuvenate, enliven, and literally sweep you off you feet! And if you happen to be that Hollywood producer that is considering right now phoning me up to ask me to star in a movie about the book, you can be rest assured that yes, I will win Best Actress for my role, and yes, this movie project will be a watershed, a turning point, a climax, a zenith, a summit, a revolution, a landmark, a coup, a piece d'resistance, a masterpiece, a out-of-the-park home run, and we should get to work on it as soon as imaginably possible! The rest of you will have to wait for this to happen, but you can console yourselves by reading the book from cover to cover several times, and enjoying a cornichon (pickle) or two as you do.
So, so, so delighted to be writing you, good reader! I look forward to meeting you on the page, and soon, on the silver screen!
All the very best,
The Great Aurore
P.S. Pierre agrees with every word I have written (and says a polite 'bonjour' to you all). He would write a review as well, but he is really a very simple boy, and the review would be five words, no more.
It is I, Aurore, the fabulous star of Pickle Impossible! I am overjoyed to tell you that this book is impossibly fantastic and ridiculously incredible!! Now, perhaps you are thinking, Aurore is the narrator, she is biased, why should we believe her? Well, I see that you have an inquisitive mind. But let me assure you, everything I say is the absolute truth! In that case (now that you believe me), I will say that not only is Pickle Impossible a wild, cool, fun, funny, surprisingly deep, intelligent, witty, engaging, beautiful, lovable, adorable, exquisite, pristine, perfect in every way, 110% solid gold...story, but it also will entice, surprise, cajole, shock, tickle, rattle, uplift, rejuvenate, enliven, and literally sweep you off you feet! And if you happen to be that Hollywood producer that is considering right now phoning me up to ask me to star in a movie about the book, you can be rest assured that yes, I will win Best Actress for my role, and yes, this movie project will be a watershed, a turning point, a climax, a zenith, a summit, a revolution, a landmark, a coup, a piece d'resistance, a masterpiece, a out-of-the-park home run, and we should get to work on it as soon as imaginably possible! The rest of you will have to wait for this to happen, but you can console yourselves by reading the book from cover to cover several times, and enjoying a cornichon (pickle) or two as you do.
So, so, so delighted to be writing you, good reader! I look forward to meeting you on the page, and soon, on the silver screen!
All the very best,
The Great Aurore
P.S. Pierre agrees with every word I have written (and says a polite 'bonjour' to you all). He would write a review as well, but he is really a very simple boy, and the review would be five words, no more.
December 13, 2010
Reviewed by Kira M for TeensReadToo.com
Pierre's family is about to lose their house. Their only hope: the Picklelympics Contest. Entrusted with his father's perfect jar of pickles, Pierre must find his way to Bern, Switzerland, to win the contest.
His grandfather's rival, Mr. Borsht, however, wants to buy the farm and is determined to stop Pierre from making it to the contest. From having the boy kidnapped to sending La Renardette, a trained professional, to steal his pickles, he'll do anything and everything it takes to make sure Pierre fails.
Can Pierre beat the odds and save his home - or will Mr. Borsht win?
A fun adventure for pickle lovers. The characters are well-developed and likable, and the plot is fast-moving and entertaining. Those who like fantasy, action, and adventure will enjoy reading PICKLE IMPOSSIBLE.
Pierre's family is about to lose their house. Their only hope: the Picklelympics Contest. Entrusted with his father's perfect jar of pickles, Pierre must find his way to Bern, Switzerland, to win the contest.
His grandfather's rival, Mr. Borsht, however, wants to buy the farm and is determined to stop Pierre from making it to the contest. From having the boy kidnapped to sending La Renardette, a trained professional, to steal his pickles, he'll do anything and everything it takes to make sure Pierre fails.
Can Pierre beat the odds and save his home - or will Mr. Borsht win?
A fun adventure for pickle lovers. The characters are well-developed and likable, and the plot is fast-moving and entertaining. Those who like fantasy, action, and adventure will enjoy reading PICKLE IMPOSSIBLE.
January 5, 2011
In this silly thriller, absolutely ordinary average Pierre must take a jar of his grandfather´s best pickles to the international Picklelympics in a last ditch effort to save the family farm. Narrated by Aurore, granddaughter of the villainous competitor and gorgeous film superstar in the making, who starts off helping her grandfather capture Pierre, but then remorsefully helps him on his journey. Despite his relentless averageness, Pierre continually surprises both Aurore and himself with his abilities and the fame of various odd members of his family that get them out of various...pickles?, oh alright, sticky situations. Non-stop action and a narrator who isn't always reliable, with a thread of silliness throughout, this his a highly enjoyable read.
October 3, 2011
Read this to my 7-year-old, and he enjoyed it. It is fast-paced, cartoonish at times, and has an appealingly full-of-herself narrator. I did find some POV shifts jarring (the narrator tries to cover her tracks by saying that she knows what's in other people's heads because she interviewed them after the events of the story) and there were the occasional "I thought to myself" phrases which are like chalk to teeth. But all in all, this is a good and quick read.
June 9, 2010
This is an imaginative adventure novel for kids aged 9 to 12. As a grown-up, I enjoyed it too. It moves at a lively pace through France and Switzerland, adding notes of fantasy and science fiction that appeal to boys and girls. The leading characters, Aurore (the narrator) and Pierre, emerge as real personalities. A great gift.
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June 21, 2010Great book! Read it in one sitting--couldn't put it down! Great, colorful characters and a quirky, fun plot. Unusual obstacles for the heroes of the story, which made it interesting, and fun to read. Really fast-moving. Some mysteries left unsolved, which begs the question of a sequel...?
May 19, 2014
Excellent combination of humor, fantasy and some facts of life for our child heroes in this one. What I liked is that you can't classify it in one genre, it keeps you guessing the whole way. Use of culinary elements as part of fantasy is genius, as well as Aurore's over-the-top personality.
May 23, 2010
I worked on this when I was an intern!
June 21, 2014
this book was one of my favorite books because all the dangerous stuff in this book all started with a jar of pickles
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews