Ernie Banks, named for the legendary Chicago Cubs shortstop, is a troubled, thirteen-year-old juvenile delinquent. Abandoned on the doorstep of the...
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Mar 10, 2011
± Colleen of the Crawling Chaos ±
rated it: 
2.5
This is a cute little middle-grade story which doesn't quite cross age-barriers, but which I think people of the age it's written for would probably love. It reminded me, in some ways and at some times, of Ferngully, which I loved as a child - though it's not so similar to seem derivative.
But the story's a bit twee at times and, at times, I find the action hard to follow. One second they'd be over doing one thing, and then, all of a sudden, over there doing somethi More...
This is a cute little middle-grade story which doesn't quite cross age-barriers, but which I think people of the age it's written for would probably love. It reminded me, in some ways and at some times, of Ferngully, which I loved as a child - though it's not so similar to seem derivative.
But the story's a bit twee at times and, at times, I find the action hard to follow. One second they'd be over doing one thing, and then, all of a sudden, over there doing somethi More...
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Nov 09, 2008
Lara's
rated it: 
Synopsis: Who is Ernie Banks? He thinks he's an orphan roughing it out in the Lakeside School for boys. However, what he truly is, is something much more vital, powerful and mysterious. He is magical and the survival of the Puddlejumpers (along with the rest of humanity) depends on him recalling all that they've lovingly shown him.
Review: “Whoodeewhoooo!” This is the story of young orphan Ernie Banks deposited thirteen years earlier at the Lakeside School for Boys with nothing but a Chicag More...
Review: “Whoodeewhoooo!” This is the story of young orphan Ernie Banks deposited thirteen years earlier at the Lakeside School for Boys with nothing but a Chicag More...
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Aug 28, 2011
Charlyn
rated it: 
The Puddlejumpers knew they must have a hero and it would be the baby stolen from his crib, small Shawn whose mother died shortly after his birth. Their plan to raise the child and teach him what he must know to overcome their enemies, the Troggs, goes awry during a wild escape when the three-year-old is found by a trucker and taken to the Lakeside Home for Boys. The boy, now named Ernie Banks because of a basecard card found with him, is placed in foster homes but he is always returned to
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Nov 16, 2009
Caroline
rated it: 
I'm not gonna lie. I didn't love this book. If I had to give it a rating based on just what I thought about it, it'd get a big, fat, 1. But I have issues with talking rocks. This is the second fantasy book I've read recently that involved a talking rock (the other was Tamora Pierce's Melting Stones), and for some reason that is a plot element that just shuts me down. I thought the evil neighbors that were actually monsters were a bit ridiculous as well. So it wasn't a fantasy book for me, but I
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Jan 08, 2010
Janis
rated it:
This one left me underwhelmed. It's likeable, and the story thread of the boy without parents, and the man who lost his wife and son is enjoyable and touching. But I found the Puddlejumpers unsympathetic at the begining. What they did at the begining was heartbreaking and made me angry. That made it hard to switch to care about them as much as I would have liked when they later are endangered by evil people, although certainly threatened by a fate worse than they deserve. I liked it ok, I ju
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May 27, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
Strange concept worked out. Ernie grows up in foster care but had a unique early childhood - he was born to be the Rainmaker, the savior of an odd little race of creatures called Puddlejumpers. They literally jump through puddles into another underground-ish world. Their arch enemies create dry, horrible conditions while the Puddlejumpers bring life and rain. Ernie remembers none of this until he arrives for a work program at the very farm he was born, with the Dad he doesn't remember. He c
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Aug 04, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. It's a real page turner! Of course you cringe as the puddlejumpers steal Shawn from his widowed father. The imagery is convincing and at times I even felt a bit claustrophobic as they go underground. The strongest image I am left with is of the troggs...their smelly description, piling all kinds of horrible odors on top of rotting potatoes, made me wince. I think kids will be able to relate to Ernie's misunderstood existence in the boy's home and his fear of doing wh
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Mar 11, 2009
Tara
rated it:
I picked up Puddlejumpers by Mark Jean and Christopher C. Carlson, on a whim. I'd never heard anything about it before, but it sounded interesting enough. I enjoy young adult fantasy novels. This one fits right into the genre--a fantastical world existing right in the middle of our normal human one, or in the case of Circle, Illinois, right underneath our normal one.
Puddlejumpers are small earthy creatures that inhabit a world below the Up Above where all the humans live. They love M More...
Puddlejumpers are small earthy creatures that inhabit a world below the Up Above where all the humans live. They love M More...
Jun 28, 2008
Jennifer
rated it:
Reviewed by Tasha for TeensReadToo.com
Ernie Banks was left on the doorstep of the Lakeside Home for Boys when he was just three years old. Now, ten years later, he's thirteen and well on his way to spending his life running from the law.
The one thing that irks him is that he knows he used to belong to someone. See, he came to Lakeside with a baseball card, an unusual crystal acorn necklace, and a weird spiral-shaped birthmark on his right foot. Out of desperation, Ernie More...
Ernie Banks was left on the doorstep of the Lakeside Home for Boys when he was just three years old. Now, ten years later, he's thirteen and well on his way to spending his life running from the law.
The one thing that irks him is that he knows he used to belong to someone. See, he came to Lakeside with a baseball card, an unusual crystal acorn necklace, and a weird spiral-shaped birthmark on his right foot. Out of desperation, Ernie More...
Jun 20, 2008
Tasha
rated it:
Ernie Banks was left on the doorstep of the Lakeside Home for Boys when he was just three years old. Now, ten years later, he’s thirteen years old and well on his way to spending a life running from the law. The one thing that irks him though is he knows he used to belong to someone. See he came to Lakeside with an Ernie Banks baseball card, an unusual crystal acorn necklace, and a weird spiral shaped birthmark on his right foot. Out of desperation Ernie is sent out to a farm in the middle of no
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Jan 23, 2010
carissa
rated it:
Recommended Ages: grades 5-9
Kidnapped as a baby by Puddlejumpers, little people who live in a world below puddles, twelve-year-old Ernie must find courage to save the Puddlejumpers by leading them into battle against their mortal enemies, the Troggs.
Great book - fast-paced with interesting characters. While I was reading it, I could really "see" the action, but then, one of the authors is a writer for television and film, so the fast-paced action totally makes
Kidnapped as a baby by Puddlejumpers, little people who live in a world below puddles, twelve-year-old Ernie must find courage to save the Puddlejumpers by leading them into battle against their mortal enemies, the Troggs.
Great book - fast-paced with interesting characters. While I was reading it, I could really "see" the action, but then, one of the authors is a writer for television and film, so the fast-paced action totally makes
Jun 27, 2011
V
rated it: 
The main character is introduced to us as a baby and this is when he first encounters the Puddlejumpers. The relationship between the baby and Puddlejumpers lasts for about the first 1/3 of the book. Since neither characters speak English there is almost no dialogue in this section of the book. When we are introduced to the character again at an older age, I've found that I don't really care about this character or even this book.
Apr 29, 2010
Beth
rated it:
Add this to Secret of Platform 13 and Harry Potter read-alike lists. As a baby, Shawn is stolen from his home by a race of little people known as Puddlejumpers. He is the fulfillment of their prophecy, he is their Rainmaker. He is "rescued" by a trucker, re-named Ernie Banks and sent to an orphanage where he considered only a troublemaker. Characterization is stellar in this book and the plot is a real page-turner. Imaginative!
Mar 07, 2011
Mom
rated it:
this is a young fiction story, It was pretty good, held my attention been a while since i had a book that I couldn't wait to get back too, of course it was a book on tape so i was always anxious to get back in the car to finish listening to the book. There are some spine tingling moments and a few feel good bring a tear to your eye moments. I would recommend it to anyone. It would be a good read aloud for older kids.
Mar 16, 2008
Christina
rated it:
What a sweet book. It's like "The Borrowers" meets "Annie," except without any music and the main orphan is a boy. :-) Orphan Ernie Banks lives a rough life in a Chicago boys' home, always getting into trouble and feeling out of place. We the reader learn before he does that as a baby he was 'kidnapped' and raised by eleven-inch tall little forest creatures called Puddlejumpers--until he was separated from them and brought to the orphanage. The Puddlejumpers anointed him thei
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Feb 02, 2012
Jackie
rated it:
I picked this book up while browsing at the library, and I definitely enjoyed reading it. What I liked better though was reading this book to my three siblings who also enjoyed it. I think this book is more interesting read out loud then to yourself. I especially liked how the story line/plot worked itself out so neatly. I highly recommend this book for about 8-12 year olds.
Aug 11, 2010
Hannah
rated it:
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was interesting, original and emotional. Actually, it was a fine blend of everything a book should be. Of course, it had those parts that were very convenient and/or impossible. But, the overall story was good and the conclusion was fitting. The characters were also likable. It was just a good book, and I defiantly recommend reading it.
Aug 08, 2011
Alex
rated it:
This books overall plot was just really weird. Pretty much the only reason I read it was to see how Russ found out that "Ernie" was his son, Shawn Frazier. Little elves stealing a baby and calling him their rainmaker. I don't actually see what was so special about him considering that he wasn't above and beyond anybody else in the story. Any elf could have thrown the crystal acorn, which was a pretty stupid idea in my opinion, into the live furnace.
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Jan 19, 2011
Rose
rated it:
This was a cute, sweet book, more oriented for kids I think. The hero is a 13 year old orphan who gets sent to live in a farm for 3 weeks when he gets in trouble with the law. During his time at the farm he manages to solve the case of the missing Quilt Baby who was kidnapped from the farm years ago & thus figuring out his own life story & his history with the adorable little creatures called Puddlejumpers.
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Jul 31, 2009
Brinlie
rated it:
It was kind of out there, I didn't quite understand how they knew it was Shawn who was the chosen one lot's of kids are born the 1st day of Spring. It also didn't make sense how they HAD to kidknap him, they could've talked to him when he was older he probably would've done it. also the puddle jumpers they're names weren't like they're launguage which didn't make sense, although it was easier to understand. I liked trying to pronounce all their words.
Dec 20, 2011
Ocelot
rated it:
It was okay. It didn't really keep me reading it (But, I did finish it). I don't know why I didn't absolutely love it- there was just something off-putting about it. I thought that there were a few more cliches than were necessary, and that the ending was a little rushed. But, if you need a book quick and you want it to be clean, this would be a good one.
May 06, 2008
Traci
rated it:
Once in awhile, a book will leap out and surprise you. My quest was to find a final teen book to booktalk after a looooong year of booktalks. I was at the point where I felt burnt out and longed to read some books just for pleasure, rather than for work. I picked up Puddlejumpers as a last resort, figuring I hadn't talked about a fantasy novel for a long time, but not having much hope of it grabbing my interest.
Was I wrong! From the very first line to the very last "Hooty-ho More...
Was I wrong! From the very first line to the very last "Hooty-ho More...
Jun 23, 2010
Mauri
rated it:
A very original story. I loved the magic and the characters in this book. The only reason I don't give it five stars is because once again the kids don't go to the grown ups for help. Why is it that every children's book seems to follow this trend? Sometimes I'm concerned that this is teaching our kids the wrong message.
Apr 22, 2009
Sharon
rated it:
This book is probably closer to a 4.5.
The book is a fantasy story of a young orphan who finally finds family with the help of a little bit of magic (It may sound Harry-Potteresque, yes, but this book doesn't feel like a cheap knock-off; it stands on its own merit).
I spend a very enjoyable rainy afternoon with this story.
The book is a fantasy story of a young orphan who finally finds family with the help of a little bit of magic (It may sound Harry-Potteresque, yes, but this book doesn't feel like a cheap knock-off; it stands on its own merit).
I spend a very enjoyable rainy afternoon with this story.
Aug 05, 2011
"Young Frodo Baggins must battle the orcs as he journeys to dispose of the ring of power in Mount Doom."
Oh wait - that's another book. This book is a huge rip off of Lord of the Rings.
I also don't look to kindly on creatures who steal babies from widower fathers.
Oh wait - that's another book. This book is a huge rip off of Lord of the Rings.
I also don't look to kindly on creatures who steal babies from widower fathers.
Jan 11, 2009
Reita
rated it:
Puddlejumpers are 12 inch high people who decide a human baby is their Rainmaker. They take care of him in the Upworld until he is 6 months old. They kidnap him and take him to their underground world and teach him Puddlejumper things. Another story of good versus evil.
Aug 07, 2009
Nancy
rated it:
If you liked Lord of the Rings, you love this one. A world of 12-inch high Puddlejumpers looking for their Rainmaker" to bring the rains back to a drought-stricken world. Is the troubled orphan, Ernie Banks, the real Rainmaker? A great full-scale battle at the end of the book!
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Oct 16, 2008
Angela
rated it:
Good book! The puddlejumpers are elfin-life creatures who are able to create and use puddles to pass from our world to the Underland where they live. They live in fear of larger more sinister creatures who invade their land and our world and they look forward to the birth of a prophesied Chosen One. The Chosen One, the Rainmaker, will be a human child to be raised by Puddlejumpers and eventually turned into one of them; he will defeat their mortal enemy. Shawn is the mortal baby that they find
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Apr 05, 2009
Erin
rated it:
Ernie Banks is a 13 year old juvenile delinquent who knows very little of his past. Jumping back 13 years, the reader finds out about Puddlejumpers, miniature people who jump through puddles to an underground fantasy world. A human baby is discovered to be their Rainmaker, but after preparing him for a life of being a Puddlejumper, their world is threatened by the evil Troggs and the baby escapes. The story moves quickly, but jumps around a lot, sometimes leaving the reader wondering when it w
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