Calvin Coconut: Rocket Ride

by Graham Salisbury, Jacqueline Rogers (Illustrator)

Overview

Calvin's dad is a famous pop singer, and he's going to be in a concert on the island! Everyone wants to go. Dad gave Calvin's mom 10 tickets, and Calvin has to decide who gets the last ticket: teacher's pet Shayla, who has a crush on him (ick!) or Tito the bully? But much more important: Calvin  hasn't seen his dad in four years. And he's never met Dad's new wife. Will Dad still like Calvin now?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780385739658
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	09/11/2012
Series:	Calvin Coconut Series
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 7.80(h) x 0.90(d)
Lexile:	410L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

GRAHAM SALISBURY is the author of six Calvin Coconut books: Trouble Magnet, The Zippy Fix, Dog Heaven, Zoo Breath, Hero of Hawaii, and Kung Fooey, as well as several novels for older readers, including the award-winning Lord of the Deep, Blue Skin of the Sea, and Under the Blood-Red Sun. Graham Salisbury grew up in Hawaii. Calvin Coconut and his friends attend the same school Graham did—Kailua Elementary School.

Editorial Reviews

When Calvin Coconut's father schedules a concert in Oahu to promote his popular new album, Rocket Ride, Calvin is nervous and excited to see him for the first time in four years. This is the eighth offering in a highly entertaining, heartfelt series. As in previous story arcs, Calvin must contend with a bully, Tito, whose obnoxious behavior often creates quandaries for Calvin as he squares off against him, which he does even as he realistically quakes in his boots. This installment is no exception--Tito initially ridicules a girl at school for liking Calvin's dad's music, but that doesn't stop him from later demanding that Calvin score him a ticket for the sold-out show. In a touching turn of events, normally antagonistic Stella, a teen friend of the family who lives with them, shares a bit about her own background to bolster Calvin's spirits. The main event is Calvin's reunion with his father. His dad is contrite, committing to make a change in order to see Calvin and his sister more often. Calvin feels good about this promise and feels immediate warmth toward Marissa, his dad's new wife. The ease with which everyone accepts one another in Calvin's family is remarkable, at times perhaps a touch unbelievable. Yet this story is also replete with strengths--funny, genuine dialogue, multidimensional characters and well-paced plotting, to name a few. Calvin continues to charm. (Fiction. 7-10)

Kirkus Reviews