Pikachu's Vacation: Junior Novel

by Tracey West

Pikachu and his friends, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Togepi go to an amusement park for Pokemon only, but a group of bullies crashes in and threatens to spoil their fun

Genres: Childrens, Chapter Books, Fantasy, Fiction

96 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1999

About the author

Tracey West is the New York Times bestselling author of Dragon Masters, a series in the Scholastic Branches line. She has written more than 400 books for kids, including the Pixie Tricks series and the Underdogs series with Kyla May.

Some readers also know Tracey for writing books based on animation such as Pokémon and LEGO Ninjago.

She currently lives in the western Catskills of New York with her husband, Bill; their adopted dogs; and a whole mess of chickens.

Reviews

[Nathan]

It was very cool.

[Shadow Steve · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whenever you go to the cinema there are 2 movies - the 1st is a 21 minute Pikachu short movie and then the main movie after that same goes to some vhs tapes

Back when I was in the cinema with my uncle aunt and cousin in the late 1990's or early 2000's we were watching Pikachu's Vacation 1st and then Mewtwo Strikes Back. I used to have a couple of Pokemon junior novel books loosely based on Mewtwo Strikes Back and another Pokemon movie called The Power Of One but I never actually read Pikachu's Vacation before. I'm just glad I found it at an op shop and it's been aged a lot

I had to watch the 21 minute Pikachu short movie on blu ray once again this time to compare the difference between the original short and a junior novel

I'm not gonna lie but the script in this book is a lot different than the short for example the quotes from Meouth in the book aren't from the short movie same goes from other quotes from their trainers. Well at least the Pokemon gestures are alright from the short

As much as I adore the 1st Pikachu short the junior novel feels like a let down to me

But feel free to give it a go

2.5/5

[Katt Hansen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I never saw the movie that this was based on, though I know my kids did at some point. I'm kind of glad to give this one a miss because it's just so...bland. NOTHING happens. At all. Pikachu needs to learn how to get along with friends from the look of it, which might have been a decent topic for a half hour TV show, but absolutely excruciating to read about at this much length.

I'm seriously hoping the movie was better.

What bothers me is these books based off of movie and TV characters that seem to assume that kids need bland and watered down plots. This kind of book is given to a child because they liked the character, but does nothing at all to instill a love of reading in the child. Which makes me sad, because there was so much more potential here.

I do understand the author's hands are tied and in no way blame them for this. I don't think they had good material to work with here. For that I give an extra star for all the added effort that they went through as they wrote this book to make it interesting and exciting, even if it did still fall kind of flat.

[Mosley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was reading this to my daughter for a bedtime story and it made me feel so nostalgic. I remember seeing this in theaters. Though the way that they wrote this is quite simple and definitely geared towards kids it was still a fun read for me because I got to pass on apart of my childhood to my daughter.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reluctant readers who like Pokémon will be rewarded with their favorite characters, a good story that moves along and a short book that is easy to finish, thus allowing for a sense of accomplishment; it may lead to more reading. Pickachu!

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pokemon the Movie Chapter Book

All of Ash's, Misty's & Brock's Pokemon go to have their Vacation at the Pokemon Vacation Retreat, The vacation lasts one day.

It's all Fun, Comedy, Adventure, Drama, & Games & Fighting in this book. It was a very good Pokemon Chapter Book, I loved it!

[Charles Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hundredth rating woot! My daughter is really enjoying the pokemon Junior books.

[Sharla Truelove-Albrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a Pokemon fan, but the book wasn't too bad. I think my students will like it, if I can get them to read it.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so wholesome

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute little story

[Kathy (Kindle-aholic) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok. I admit that part of it is that I'm not the hugest fan of Pokemon. It hits me as quite sad and a weird gladiator game where these cute little monsters are captured and then have to fight each other because, well, that's just what you do.

This story is from the Pokemon's POV which I think saved it for me.

It's about the Pokemons day off at the Pokemon Playground. There are some altercations with bullies (and not the ones I thought would be causing trouble). Lots of friendship themes.

I think the kiddos liked it well enough for one read through.

[JD · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 2nd grader is an avid Pokemon fan and devoured this book in less than a week. Probably too easy a read for her, but hey, whatever keeps her interested and reading in her free time is a win for me!

[Vonn]

Great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Holden Frey · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was very cool.

[Piper Bolin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was really fun to read, because it made me feel like I was in the story.

[Stephanie Toogood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute kids book. Makes me want to play Pokemon yellow!