SuitabookThe Gollywhopper Games
Jody Feldman
- Reading
- Read a few competition stages at a time and pause when a puzzle, dilemma or alliance changes the pressure. Afterwards, compare Gil’s immediate aim with what seems fair to other contestants.
- Themes
- Competition and achievement: Gil studies and trains for a competition involving trivia, obstacles, mazes, stunts and difficult decisions. Winning is linked to hoped-for changes in family life. The competition is presented as exciting and demanding, but its broader judgement of winning and achievement is not established.
- Reputation and family circumstances: Gil is described as the son of a disgraced former employee, and his family has faced gossip and bad publicity connected with an earlier incident. The book’s stance on this remains unclear.
- Alliances and rivalry: The book addresses alliances and rivalry; the detail of how it is developed remains unclear. Relationships appear to provide support while also being tested by competition, though the book’s final view of those relationships remains unclear.
- Worth knowing
- Consider whether the child would enjoy sustained competition and suspense.