Box of Shocks

by Chris McMahen

Overview

Oliver has helicopter parents—they love him, but they seriously cramp his style. He decides to fill an old wooden box with souvenirs from some of his outrageous and daring exploits. That way, he'll never forget the zombies, the killer dogs and the crazy cows, and his parents will never know that he once jumped from a bridge with the police in hot pursuit. But the biggest shock comes when Oliver realizes that the most terrifying things of all can't be controlled or contained.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781554699193
Publisher:	Orca Book Publishers
Publication date:	10/01/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	168
Lexile:	750L (what's this?)
File size:	610 KB
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Chris McMahen is an elementary school teacher-librarian living near Armstrong, British Columbia. When he's not busy writing, teaching or spending time with his family, he can be found cycling the back roads of the Spallumcheen Valley or making peculiar pottery.

Editorial Reviews

"Oliver's effective first-person narration shifts from accounts of his adventures to a growing understanding about the complicated lives of others—lives that are, often times, more shocking than anything that can be contained in a box."

Booklist

"An enjoyable read, especially for boys, who enjoy realistic adventures."

Eastern New Jersey Regional Library Cooperative

"[Oliver is] an enthusiastic, realistic, and funny protagonist. His adventures come in different forms and it never gets boring to read about what his next challenge will be...Box of Shocks is an excellent realistic novel for kids of both genders between the ages of 9 to 13, and is highly recommended."

KeenReaders.org

"A fantastic read for any boy or girl, mid-readers will find themselves jumping into Ollie's shoes for this fantastic, nail-biting and mind-boggling adventure."

Resource Links

"The settings where daring young Oliver carries out his secret adventures and collects his shocks (souvenirs to remember the experience) are vivid...A memorable story, full of age-appropriate jokes and sayings, and a plot that moves along quickly enough to hook even the most reluctant reader. Highly Recommended."

CM Magazine

"Oliver is a well-drawn character whose pragmatic attitude, honesty and humour are endearing, and who quickly overcomes the reader's initial impression of selfishness...With a facetious warning to read at your own risk, this well-written novel is a fast-paced, quirky experience that touches poignantly upon more serious issues. It will capture children's attention from the start, combining as it does adventure, humour and just a little coming of age."

Canadian Children's Book News

"Oliver's effective first-person narration shifts from accounts of his adventures to a growing understanding about the complicated lives of others—lives that are, often times, more shocking than anything that can be contained in a box."

Booklist

Gr 4–6—Spurred by annoyance with his helicopter parents, Oliver begins filling a secret wooden box with evidence of daring (or at least parent-unapproved) feats: a wrapper from a greasy fast food burger, a photo of a tarantula crawling up his arm, and a rusty bolt from an old bridge from which he jumped. A surprise household move while Oliver is visiting relatives results in his beloved box being left behind. Willing to stop at nothing to reclaim his Box of Shocks, he watches the comings and goings of the family living in his old house and returns to it when they are away. It is bare, and the refrigerator is practically empty. What started as an effort to recover his box becomes an endeavor to reach out to the boy who lives there, who is often alone and who seems to have no food. A touching story of personal growth, gratitude, and kindness, this book will serve as an excellent discussion starter.—Amanda Moss Struckmeyer, Middleton Public Library, WI

School Library Journal

Oliver loves his parents, but they worry about everything.

They are even afraid of the tiny rash he found on his elbow. In desperation, Oliver comes up with a "spectacularly brilliant top-secret plan." He will seek out daring situations—doing things that would certainly shock his parents if they ever found out. In each adventure (his exploits are never too serious), he takes a memento and puts it into what he calls his Box of Shocks. But one thing throws Oliver for a loop. While he is away for the summer, his parents move into the house next door and his Box of Shocks is left behind. In multiple attempts to get the box back, Oliver learns about Diggory, the boy who now lives in his old house—and revelations of his family life are more shocking than anything the box could ever hold. Writing in an immediate first-person perspective, McMahen focuses solely on Oliver; Diggory is peripheral and vague, save for an awkward school scene late in the narrative in which hints of emotional abuse finally slip out. Diggory vanishes when his parents skip town, and readers are left wondering about his fate, but Oliver grows and comes into his own.

A light and capable read, despite (or while glossing over) some serious themes. (Fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews