How Oliver Olson Changed the World
Author: Claudia Mills
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 8-10 years
SUMMARY
Oliver Olson was very sick as a young child. Ever since then his parents have been extremely protective. They won't let him ride his bike out of the cul-de-sac. They won't let him go to sleep-overs. They won't even let him do his own homework. Now that Oliver is in third grade, he is ready to exert a little more independence. His teacher tells her students to design a diorama of the solar system. They can work alone or with a partner. When Oliver shows the assignment to his parents, they immediately begin to take over. However, Oliver has some creative ideas of his own. He decides to risk his parents' disapproval and informs them that he is going to partner with Crystal to create a diorama. To his astonishment, they agree. The next step is to convince his parents to let him go to the third-grade space sleepover at school. In the meantime, his teacher has given them another assignment for which his mother, of course, has provided the "perfect" answer. In the end, Oliver may not have discovered a way to change THE world, but he certainly comes up with an idea that will change HIS world.
CRITIQUE
This is an enjoyable and humorous book for the early reader. It would also be a good read aloud for primary students. While the story is not particularly profound, it does touch on several themes that could lead to some interesting discussion. I appreciated the absence of the puerile talk that permeates so many books written for young readers. I also liked that the author portrayed Oliver exerting some independence without becoming disrespectful toward his parents. I would recommend this book.
RATINGS
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude: None
Frightening/Suspenseful: None
Profanity: Mild
Sex: None
Substance Use: None
Mature Themes: None
Violence: None
SPECIFIC CONTENT
Profanity:
-Uses the word 'stupid' on one occasion.
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