Two friends, like brothers, have a knack for giving their fellow students (and teachers) nicknames.
(spoiler alert):
I thought that the moral of the story would be that nicknaming is unjust stereotyping, but Korman cleverly twists the theme into a more positive light. I have never seen an author more compassionately regard his main characters. Jeff and Wiley are a lot of trouble, but are portrayed as playful, well-intentioned, and still in the process of growing up.
The only strong moral consequence to their nicknaming is that it backfires on them in a funny, endearing way. One boy, who dislikes his own nickname "Snoopy," argues that you can make any name stick if you say it often enough. He then dares the nicknaming duo to prove their ability by making an unfitting nickname for someone. Snoopy chooses a boy who is so uninteresting that Jeff and Wiley feel stuck, but finally they agree on the "Iceman."
As the story progresses, both boys are forced to test their friendship for the first time when they both fall in love with a girl named Cassandra. In the end, Cassandra doesn't choose either of them for the Sadie Hawkin's Dance, but chooses... the Iceman--who has gone from being an uninteresting, unpopular boy to the "coolest" boy in the school, thanks to his new nickname.
Snoopy wins his bet, but decides in the end to keep his name. I was surprised at this, but on the positive side it is meant to show that Snoopy begins to accept himself as he is--and I felt a little strange about that choice. He could have gotten a new name that still meant something similar, but more positive, like "Sleuth."
This book does a great job portraying how quickly you can change the perception of someone by stereotyping and prejudicing, but what a great way to show this through humour.
Great story, quick read, funny, life lessons, and great plot development. I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
Great for: boys and girls 10-12
would this book be good for a grade seven book report??
ReplyDelete