Editorial Content for Slacker
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Reviewer (text)
What happens when a self-proclaimed “champion slacker” --- one who lives, eats, breathes and sleeps video games --- starts a new club (just to get his parents off his back) that becomes the most popular club ever in his middle school?
"Author Gordon Korman...ha[s] a knack for delving into the middle school male psyche."
Cameron Boxer almost lets his house burn down while he is in his basement engrossed in a video game. His parents give him an ultimatum: He must become involved in one activity that doesn't involve video games; if not, they will ban him from his beloved pastime. Thinking he is being clever and getting away with something, he starts a phony club called the Positive Action Group (P.A.G.), not intending for anyone to actually join it. Why would anyone even want to? The club's not real, it doesn't do anything, and Cam certainly doesn't intend for it to amount to anything.
But, of course, that’s exactly what it does. First, Daphne wants to join because she wants to save a beaver. Then Mr. Fanshaw, the guidance counselor, wants to know what's going on with a new club he's not aware of. Then other people hear about the club and word gets around. Before he knows it, Cam is one of the most popular guys in his school, being sought out for projects and activities. Now, he has hardly any time left to play video games. That's not what he had planned.
The tale is told from 10 different points of view. This made for a very interesting perspective as to how the characters really felt about what was happening in the story. And, it is told with much humor. Author Gordon Korman's writing style reminds me of Don Calame's style when he wrote SWIM THE FLY. Calame had a knack for delving into the middle school male psyche; so does Korman.
All in all, this was a very satisfying story. It wouldn't surprise me if another book starring Cameron Boxer comes out someday as he's a character many adolescent boys can identify with.
Teaser
Cameron Boxer is very happy to spend his life avoiding homework, hanging out with his friends, and gaming for hours in his basement. It's not too hard for him to get away with it . . . until he gets so caught up in one game that he almost lets his house burn down around him. Oops. It's time for some serious damage control --- so Cameron and his friends invent a fake school club that will make it seem like they're doing good deeds instead of slacking off. The problem? Some kids think the club is real --- and Cameron is stuck being president. Soon Cameron is part of a mission to save a beaver named Elvis from certain extinction. Along the way, he makes some new friends --- and some powerful new enemies.
Promo
Cameron Boxer is very happy to spend his life avoiding homework, hanging out with his friends, and gaming for hours in his basement. It's not too hard for him to get away with it . . . until he gets so caught up in one game that he almost lets his house burn down around him. Oops. It's time for some serious damage control --- so Cameron and his friends invent a fake school club that will make it seem like they're doing good deeds instead of slacking off. The problem? Some kids think the club is real --- and Cameron is stuck being president. Soon Cameron is part of a mission to save a beaver named Elvis from certain extinction. Along the way, he makes some new friends --- and some powerful new enemies.
About the Book
Cameron Boxer is very happy to spend his life avoiding homework, hanging out with his friends, and gaming for hours in his basement. It's not too hard for him to get away with it . . . until he gets so caught up in one game that he almost lets his house burn down around him.
Oops.
It's time for some serious damage control --- so Cameron and his friends invent a fake school club that will make it seem like they're doing good deeds instead of slacking off. The problem? Some kids think the club is real --- and Cameron is stuck being president.
Soon Cameron is part of a mission to save a beaver named Elvis from certain extinction. Along the way, he makes some new friends --- and some powerful new enemies. The guy who never cared about anything is now at the center of everything . . . and it's going to take all his slacker skills to win this round.
