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57th out of 137 books
—
674 voters
Don't Feed the Boy
by
Irene Latham (Goodreads Author),
Stephanie Graegin
No kid knows more about zoo life than Whit. That's because he sleeps, eats and even attends home-school at the Meadowbrook Zoo. It's one of the perks of having a mother who's the zoo director and a father who's the head elephant keeper. Now that he's eleven, Whit feels trapped by the rules and routine of zoo life. With so many exotic animals, it's easy to get overlooked. B...more
Hardcover, 288 pages
Published
October 16th 2012
by Roaring Brook Press
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The main character of this middle grade chapter book is 11-year-old Whit Whitaker, a boy who has lived his whole life at Meadowbrook Zoo in Alabama. His mother is the director of the zoo, and his father is head elephant keeper. Whit is home-schooled, so his only friends thus far have been the animals. Moreover, his parents seem to care more about those animals than him, and he resents it.
One day he meets a young girl, Stella, who comes to the zoo by herself to draw birds. They become friends and...more
One day he meets a young girl, Stella, who comes to the zoo by herself to draw birds. They become friends and...more
What 11 year-old kid wouldn’t LOVE to live in a zoo??? Whit Whitaker, that’s who! Whit did not like living in a zoo, but he had no choice. His mom was the zoo director and his dad was the elephant keeper, but his parents seem more interested in the animals than him. Whit hated living at the zoo. He wasn’t allowed to go out of the zoo at all. He was even home schooled (or is that zoo schooled?) right in the zoo by a tutor. Whit didn’t have any friends and parents that didn’t know he existed most...more
Lots of kids probably dream of living the life 11-year-old Whit lives: his parents care for the local zoo, and he lives on the property with them. But life with the animals isn’t always so great. For one thing, Whit has a tutor, which means he doesn’t go to the local school and he doesn’t get to meet other kids. Also, his parents seem to care more for the animals than they do for him, and he has strict rules that don’t even allow him to leave the property.
Then one day he meets a girl named Stell...more
Then one day he meets a girl named Stell...more
Dec 13, 2012
Emmet O'Neal Library- Children's Department
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Shelves:
2012,
realistic-fiction
Whit lives at the Meadowbrook Zoo, where his mother is the director and his father keeps the elephants – and they both seem to care more about the animals and the zoo than they do about Whit. His homeschool teacher Ms. Connie really gets him, but what Whit really wants is a friend his own age.
So when he gets up the courage to talk to the Bird Girl, who comes every day to draw birds, they strike up a close friendship. He even breaks his parents rules and leaves the zoo to walk to Stella’s nearby...more
So when he gets up the courage to talk to the Bird Girl, who comes every day to draw birds, they strike up a close friendship. He even breaks his parents rules and leaves the zoo to walk to Stella’s nearby...more
Whit lives at the Meadowbrook Zoo, where his mother is the director and his father keeps the elephants – and they both seem to care more about the animals and the zoo than they do about Whit. His homeschool teacher Ms. Connie really gets him, but what Whit really wants is a friend his own age.
So when he gets up the courage to talk to the Bird Girl, who comes every day to draw birds, they strike up a close friendship. He even breaks his parents rules and leaves the zoo to walk to Stella’s nearby...more
So when he gets up the courage to talk to the Bird Girl, who comes every day to draw birds, they strike up a close friendship. He even breaks his parents rules and leaves the zoo to walk to Stella’s nearby...more
Don't Feed the Boy
by Irene Latham
Roaring Brook Press, 2012
Whit lives at the zoo with his parents, who are obsessed with the animals. Whit is not. He's tired of playing second fiddle to elephants and monkeys and wants to explore life outside the zoo. When Whit falls for Bird Girl (Stella), he learns that her family life is much more troubled than his own. But that makes Whit's family struggles no less important. Whit has to learn to speak up for himself in his own family, as well as figure out wh...more
by Irene Latham
Roaring Brook Press, 2012
Whit lives at the zoo with his parents, who are obsessed with the animals. Whit is not. He's tired of playing second fiddle to elephants and monkeys and wants to explore life outside the zoo. When Whit falls for Bird Girl (Stella), he learns that her family life is much more troubled than his own. But that makes Whit's family struggles no less important. Whit has to learn to speak up for himself in his own family, as well as figure out wh...more
First Impression: I always love going into a book not knowing much at all. I find myself enjoying a surprising amount of books that contain no fantasy or paranormal elements lately so I was looking forward to this one.
While Reading: Whit often feels like his parents really should never have had a child, especially when they treat the animals at the zoo with more care than they do him. Because he is not allowed to leave the zoo, Whit finds himself confined to the premises until he meets the Bird...more
While Reading: Whit often feels like his parents really should never have had a child, especially when they treat the animals at the zoo with more care than they do him. Because he is not allowed to leave the zoo, Whit finds himself confined to the premises until he meets the Bird...more
For some reason I found this incredibly tiresome. The writing isn't bad, and the zoo setting is lovely and well-realized, but many things about the premise and plot seemed off, and the protagonist seemed like a spoiled brat, destined for an adulthood as a Nice Guy. And if his name is supposed to be, literally, Whit Whitaker--that seemed very comic book and added to the non-realistic feel. Augh. So much irritated me about the characters and their backstories and what kept feeling like apologia. Y...more
I really liked this book. However, I could go either way on passing or dropping. I don't see a lot of books deal with guns within the home; it seems to be an underused theme, at least in recent years. Obviously, this theme just became incredibly poignant. I think in light of recent events, older elementary students could greatly benefit from exploring gun safety themes within the confines of a well-written and fully developed novel.
I did love the homeschool perspective that Whit provides, and I...more
I did love the homeschool perspective that Whit provides, and I...more
The premise will draw in the animal lovers in the audience since main character, Whit, lives at the zoo with his parents who work there. Since he is also homeschooled by a private teacher, he lacks friends his own age. He also feels that his parents consider the needs of the zoo to be more important than his. He makes friends with a girl who comes to the zoo each day to draw, but actually she is avoiding her home life. The back stories of the various characters did not completely convince, and t...more
Whit has grown up at the zoo. His mother is the director and his father the head elephant keeper. Most kids might think this is a great way of life, but Whit feels like his parents care more about the animals than they do about him. One day he notices a girl about his own age drawing pictures of the birds. As he gets to know her better he finds out her name is Stella. It turns out that Stella is spending a lot of time at the zoo b/c it's safer than being at her house with her abusive, alcoholic...more
I won a copy of Don't Feed the Boy through goodreads (thank you!) and was really excited to read it, mostly because I love zoos. This is a children's book that seems best suited for middle school aged children.
THE GIST OF IT:
Whit is an eleven-year-old boy who quite literally lives at the zoo with his parents. His father is the elephant caretaker and his mother is the director of the zoo. Whit is not allowed to leave the property and has grown very bored of the zoo, which he knows every nook an...more
THE GIST OF IT:
Whit is an eleven-year-old boy who quite literally lives at the zoo with his parents. His father is the elephant caretaker and his mother is the director of the zoo. Whit is not allowed to leave the property and has grown very bored of the zoo, which he knows every nook an...more
I love middle grade books. Although they can be serious, as this book is, there is usually a good resolution because of certain actions of the main characters. In Don’t Feed The Boy, the main character Whit is being raised in a zoo with a personal tutor instead of school because his parents are the zoo managers and feel that this situation for their son is the best possible. They believe that his world is exciting because they love it so much, but unfortunately Whit has other wishes.
At 11, Whi...more
At 11, Whi...more
I really enjoyed Irene Latham's DON'T FEED THE BOY. Whit, the mc, pulls you into his zoo and teaches you about what it is like to live there. He even sprinkles in animal facts without sounding preachy. He hates his zoo home or at least thinks he does and feels the need to escape but what he really needs is a friend - a human one who understands the need to leave your surroundings and experience someone else's life every once in a while. He finds that person in Stella - who has quite a few issues...more
Cole and I read this together. I thought it would be a story about silly adventures at the zoo. I couldn't have been more wrong. It does take place at the zoo, but the topics are much deeper. It gave us many things to discuss. Cole wasn't thrilled with the way Whit seemed obsessed with Stella and talked about her all of the time. By the time we finished the book, Cole did think it was a good book with a satisfying ending.
Whit is ready to escape... the zoo!! He feels controlled, isolated ... caged.
Stephanie Graegin did a great job with the illustrations. My favorite is Whit and Stella (aka Bird Girl) at the Flamingo enclosure.
Don’t Feed the Boy is a wonderful read that covers all the spectrums of a pre-teen’s rollercoaster emotions. Throw in a new friendship, an escaped cobra and a fire: and you have the ingredients for a great book.
Stephanie Graegin did a great job with the illustrations. My favorite is Whit and Stella (aka Bird Girl) at the Flamingo enclosure.
Don’t Feed the Boy is a wonderful read that covers all the spectrums of a pre-teen’s rollercoaster emotions. Throw in a new friendship, an escaped cobra and a fire: and you have the ingredients for a great book.
Nice story of friendship, expanding independence, defying parents, all in a very gentle way. Whit is a very thoughtful boy fed up with his isolation at the zoo and his parents' appearance of caring more about the animals than him. As he gets to know "Bird Girl"/Stella, he learns a whole lot more about bad parenting and proves himself a terrific friend.
Should get a least a 3.5 - not a 4 because it may be a little slow paced for this reading level.
Should get a least a 3.5 - not a 4 because it may be a little slow paced for this reading level.
A unique friendship (not romance) story about a boy and girl, family problems, and the meaning of friendship/growing up. The characters are in 5th grade but read younger. Not a gentle read exactly because of the family problems but gentle/empathetic in terms of the dynamics of the children.
Although eleven year old Whit lives at a busy location the zoo, he is extremely lonely and wants a friend more than anything. When “Bird Girl” or Stella fills that empty void, Whit finds that having Stella as a friend is both fulfilling and challenging at the same time.
A beautifully written story. On the surface it's about a boy who lives in the zoo. His mom is the zoo director and his dad's head elephant keeper, so it makes sense . . . sort of. But there are deeper layers to this novel and it has unexpected turns. Moving and lovely.
This is a delightful story that everyone, young and old, will relate to. If you’re a lover of animals you’ll be happy to know that there are alot of animal facts in this book.
The story shows different people with different problems and how they deal with them.(Very realistic.)
It didn’t end the way I thought it would and that’s always nice to see.(I love a surprise ending!)
So, take a trip to the zoo and meet Whit, Stella, and the rest of the gang. You won’t be disappointed!
Interesting and well-written, but very slow and introspective. I was hoping for something funny, like Belly Up.
Feb 12, 2013
Sheila Renfro
added it
Loved the ending. Learned a lot about the zoo too!
quick read;great story
Eh.
This was a sweet book about a boy whose life revolves around the zoo where his mother is director and his father is elephant keeper. He's homeschooled so he's pretty isolated from other kids his age until he meets Stella, a young girl who comes to the zoo every day to escape her unstable home. There were some unlikely scenes and dialogue exchanges, but overall it was an enjoyable book with a satisfying ending.
Wonderful! Latham handles this story with such wit and wisdom, integrating the normal struggles of Whit, the main character (typical parental issues) with the overwhelming struggles of his friend Stella (an abusive father) without belittling or demeaning of either. A good read!
What a wonderful book. Stella is indeed a good friend to Whit, and vice versa. Children's lives aren't as idyllic as one might hope, and Stella and Whit both have to deal with a lot. I love how much both children grow towards the end of the book.
The one thing that didn't work for me was the title. I don't think it represents the content of the book in any way.
The one thing that didn't work for me was the title. I don't think it represents the content of the book in any way.
Definitely not appropriate for an 8-year-old boy, but he did enjoy it. Heavy topic.
I loved this book! Perfect for my fourth grade students!
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Irene Latham is a poet and novelist from Birmingham, Alabama, who writes heart-touching tales of unexpected adventure. Her new novel DON'T FEED THE BOY is about a boy who lives at the zoo! Her debut novel LEAVING GEE'S BEND was named 2011 ALLA Children's Book of the Year and is set during the Great Depression, and her new book of poems THE COLOR OF LOST ROOMS uses history, nature and art to explor...more
More about Irene Latham...
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