I, Freddy

The Golden Hamster Saga #1

by Dietlof Reiche, Joe Cepeda (Illustrator), J. Maxwell Brownjohn (Translator)

Freddy is not happy with his boring treadmill life at the pet store. He continually embarrasses himself in an attempt to get adopted. Freddy believes he will have a more civilized and exciting life as soon as he has a home. After a series of funny misadventures (including encounters with a fierce tomcat and two guinea pigs who speak in Shakespearean couplets) he teaches himself to read and write. He then pens his witty and heartwarming autobiography that tells of his journey to self discovery. A hamster has never been smarter or funnier in telling the tale of his exceptional life.


First published in Germany in 1998.

Genres: Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Middle Grade, Humor, Animal Fiction, Chapter Books

203 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[John F · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was Fantasy. I didn't like this book vary much. I thought it was kind of pointless. at the beginning of the book i liked it but towards the end it got stupid. Its about a hamster and his life pretty much. I would not suggest this stupid book. It was a waste of my time. It was about as fun as watching paint dry. Please take this book out of history of man kind. I would rather spend the day with a dead goat. Id rather eat hairy mold then read this book again. Other then that it was a pretty good book.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

We just happened upon this series at the paperback swap section of our library. We really enjoyed the first book and have noticed that there are four more in the series, so we will be starting the second book soon. We like the anthropomorphic descriptions of the pets and their interactions the best.

new word: impudent

[Hannah Lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found an old childhood fave to add to my classroom library the other day. Loved revisiting this story! Forgot how much I loved these books!

[Manybooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not really enjoy (and have in fact never really liked) anthropomorphic animal stories all that much except in folktales. But well, because Dietlof Reiche's talking golden hamster Freddy does not ever appear to be wearing human clothing or is shown by Reiche as walking around on two hind feet (which tends to rather creep me out, is also why I never really could get into Kenneth Grahame's classic The Wind in the Willows either) and since I have rather enjoyed all of the other Dietlof Reiche novels I have read to date, I decided to give Freddy. Ein Wildes Hamsterleben (I, Freddy in John Brownjohn's English translation) a try.

Thus and for me very much pleasantly surprisingly so (and to such an extent that I now want read the entire Freddy series, but preferably all of the novels in their original German), Freddy. Ein Wildes Hamsterleben has been both entertaining and humorous, with in particular my inner (and German) child immediately absolutely adoring Freddy, his clever ways of thinking and his touchingly funny descriptions always making me hugely smile (that all the characters of Freddy. Ein Wildes Hamsterleben are wonderfully crafted by Reiche, nicely narrated by Freddy and always seem to interact realistically with one another). And even young Sophie's mother, even the in my opinion main villain of Freddy. Ein Wildes Hamsterleben Mommy (Mami in German) fits perfectly into the story, even though there are many many times I do kind want to put her in a cage and take her to the pet store, for while she in Freddy. Ein Wildes Hamsterleben might indeed have a pet dander allergy, Mommy's attitude towards Freddy and regarding her daughter Sophie obviously really loving her new companion animals does make me hugely cringe, and that I do feel so so so sorry for Sophie losing custody of Freddy and basically having no say in the matter at ALL when Mommy decides to get rid of Freddy and callously gives him away to another family. But indeed, as foils for Freddy, Sophie, Sophie's father and Freddy's new "owner" Master John, sure, Mommy fits this role really nicely, although adult I would probably want a less stereotypical and cardboard like baddie inhabiting the pages of Freddy. Ein Wildes Hamsterleben (and I guess I would also like Freddy. Ein Wildes Hamsterleben and Freddy as a character just a very tiny bit more if he did not end up talking with Master John and with Master John responding to him, but this is but a very minor issue indeed and as such petty much insignificant as well). And indeed, because I also really do hugely enjoy Dietlof Reiche's writing style, his narrational tone for Freddy. Ein Wildes Hamsterleben (very easy and fluid, enmeshed with very much humour, yes, even with my very very mild annoyances regarding talking hamsters and the like, my rating for Freddy. Ein Wildes Hamsterleben is a low but still a pretty solid five star rating and that I am now going to try to obtain the entire Freddy series for my personal bookshelves as well).

Finally, since John Brownjohn's translation of Freddy. Ein Wildes Hamsterleben, because I, Freddy is actually available on Open Library, I quickly skimmed through to get a feel for the translation. And Brownjohn's translation is (at least in my humble opinion) generally very good, but that I personally do not think that he is able to truly sufficiently capture all of Dietlof Reiche's humour, that I, Freddy is very decent but just does not feel as entertaining and as funny as Freddy. Ein Wildes Hamsterleben feels and sounds (and that if I were rating I, Freddy, my rating for John Brownjohn's translation would be around three and a half stars).

[Αγγελική Ανθοπούλου · Rating 3 out of 5]

Εντάξει, με το σκεπτικό ότι είναι βιβλίο για νέους από 11 ετών, αξίζει να το διαβάσουν γιατί έχει απλές έννοιες, κατανοητές και δημιουργικές.

Ένα χρυσόμαλλο χάμστερ ως αφηγητής είναι αστείος και διασκεδαστικός…σωστά;
Ε, σε αυτό το βιβλίο δεν ισχύει.
Ο Φρέντυ είναι πονηρός, έξυπνος (πολύ εξυπνότερος από ένα ανθρώπινο παιδί) και με το παράπονο στο στόμα. Όλα του φταίνε. Και δυστυχώς η αγάπη που έχει για το κορίτσι που τον φρόντιζε στην αρχή δεν είναι αρκετή για να θεωρηθεί «καλό χαρακτηριστικό» συγκριτικά με όλα τα κακά χαρακτηριστικά του χαρακτήρα του.

Δικαιολογείται επειδή είναι χάμστερ και όχι άνθρωπος; Ίσως. Αλλά επειδή έχει ανθρώπινη σκέψη, όπως φαίνεται, θα μπορούσε να του δωθεί και κάποιο χιούμορ έστω. Όχι απλώς να είναι υπεροπτικός.

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kids loved this! It’s silly and fun plus the hamster has an excellent vocabulary!

[Rónán Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nostalgic book from my childhood, I love the self assurance and independence of the hamster. Really makes you feel powerful as a kid

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dit boek zou geschikt zijn voor kinderen vanaf 11 jaar. Ik vond dat er heel veel moeilijke woorden in stonden, die kinderen van 11 jaar echt nog niet allemaal kennen. Daarnaast zit er weinig actie in het boek en dat kan saai zijn voor kinderen. Het valt onder B-boeken, maar het zou net zo goed onder de C-boeken kunnen vallen, doordat er heel veel moeilijke woorden gebruikt worden. Als je naar de titel van het boek kijkt verwacht je een verhaal over een hamster die op avontuur gaat, en je verwacht niet dat dat avontuur het leren lezen en schrijven, dit is niet zo aantrekkelijk voor kinderen. Het boek is zowel geschikt voor jongens als voor meisjes.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

While my kids (6 & 8 yrs old, 8 y.o. mostly) seemed to really enjoy this book as I read it to them before bed, I thought the book was a little too complicated had they been reading it by themselves. I had to put inflection into it and explain several concepts to them. I would recommend only kids that read very fluently and infer really well from the story read this. Think another year would have maybe been about right for my 8 y.o.

Otherwise, cutish story about a hamster that can read and write and an adventure he gets into with some "friends".

[Kasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book recommended on a website as a "funny" book. I have been on a quest for humorous books that my son would enjoy reading since he loves humor so much. This book was pretty fun. The humor was very juvenile, which is understandable since this is a juvenile book. I think the humor would appeal to my son, but it didn't really appeal to me...I'm not really sure why. I can't put my finger on it. We'll see if my son likes it.

[Lars Guthrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't want to like this. Too cute. Too inane. That's what I kept telling myself. But in the furry little animals genre, it veers more on the 'Bunnicula' side, and less on the "Geronimo Stilton' side. This is about an intellectual hamster. And I loved Joe Cepeda's deceptively simple pen and ink drawings. Maybe I like the furry little animals genre more than I'd like to admit.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't as good as I expected it to be, but it was good. Freddy likes to read and write like me, even though he's a hamster! I REALLY want a hamster!

[Vera Viselli · Rating 4 out of 5]

"È il mio momento. Enrico e Caruso, i due porcellini d'India, si sono finalmente dati una calmata, il vecchio William si è ritirato di buon ordine sulla sua coperta da gatto e Mister John è uscito. È il momento di iniziare a scrivere la mia storia. Ovviamente, come ogni scrittore con un po' di cervello, mi chiedo: interesserà poi a qualcuno quello che voglio raccontare? Questa storia merita di essere scritta? Credo di sì: un tipo molto in gamba nasce e cresce in un'angusta prigione, viene venduto a degli estranei e trasferito a più riprese, infine riesce a scappare e, grazie alla sua intelligenza, a riconquistare la propria libertà. Be', se non è una storia questa! Ovviamente, come ogni scrittore con un po' di cervello, uso un computer. Mister John mi ha dato il suo codice di accesso. Carino da parte sua, ma non era necessario. Infatti l'avevo rosicchiato già da tempo. Io rosicchio di tutto. Codici d'accesso, semi di girasole, vermi della farina. Be', veramente i vermi non si rosicchiano, ma siccome ne vado pazzo e non me li danno mai io ve ne parlo lo stesso. Forse dovrei anche accennare al fatto che sono un criceto. Per l'esattezza un criceto dorato, in latino: mesocricetus auratus. Con il volgare criceto (cricetus cricetus) ho in comune tanto quanto, diciamo, un computer con un pallottoliere. In effetti, noi criceti dorati siamo molto particolari. Ma su questo avrò modo di ritornare in seguito. Nessuno sverrà di stupore se confesso di avere avuto i natali in una gabbia. Finora i criceti dorati non hanno avuto altra scelta che nascere prigionieri, affannarsi a far girare la piccola ruota della vita in cattività e infine cadere nell'Eterno Letargo".


Ho adorato le avventure di Freddy, il criceto dorato più intelligente che abbia mai visto, amante della lettura e della libertà (esattamente come me!).

[Jennie Koh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Move over, Stuart Little, there is a new mouse in town. Except this mouse is a hamster. And not just any hamster. He is a golden hamster of the highest order - and destined for great things.

Freddy is not happy with his boring treadmill life at the pet store. He continually embarrasses himself in an attempt to get adopted. Freddy believes he will have a more civilized and exciting life as soon as he has a home. After a series of funny misadventures (including encounters with a fierce tomcat and two guinea pigs who speak in Shakespearean couplets), he teaches himself to read and write. He then pens his witty and heartwarming autobiography that tells of his journey to self-discovery. A hamster has never been smarter or funnier in telling the tale of his exceptional life.

[Ellee Nichols · Rating 3 out of 5]

Copyright date: 2003
Star rating: 3
Award: N/A
Genre: Children's Early Chapter Book
Summary w/ themes: This book is about a hamster that gets adopted by a girl. With her, he learns to read and is very eager to write, but has a challenging time doing so. Will he be bale to write like he wants to? This book has themes of animals and persistence.
Use for future classroom: This would be a good book in my library for beginning chapter book readers that like hamsters.
Thoughts of book: This was quite an interesting book. I don't know what I expected when I picked it up except for the fact that it looked like a pretty easy read. The story was very interesting, and I enjoyed the illustrations that went with it.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Freddy just wants to talk to Mr. John. He is a pretty smart hamster to discover that he likes to read and wants to start writing as well. Sir William (tom cat), Caruso and Enrico ( 2 guinea pigs) he now lives with have helped him discover the true promised land of Assyria ( real life). Was upset that Freddy made the choice to leave Sophie (his 1st owner).This is a very cute story that I'm glad I got the chance to read.

[Ren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, being the first in the series, sets everything up. Cute, but not great. I came across the 2nd book ages ago and really enjoyed it. Now on to #4 since my library oddly has only the first and fourth books in the series.

[Moritz · Rating 4 out of 5]

gewitztes Hamsterkerlchen Freddy verschlägt es von der Tierhandlung zu Sofie und Master John. Nebenbei lernt er Schlösser knacken, lesen und schreiben und schließlich auch sich mitzuteilen.
Das ist durchwegs spaßig und vergnüglich, leichte Lektüre für zwischendurch^^

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Polecił mi tę książkę mój drogi brat. Całkiem fajnie się czytało, o dziwo nie miałam takiego uczucia, że to książka dla dzieci i nie była też pisana takim dziecinnym językiem. Zaciekawiła mnie, aż jestem sama zdziwiona! I chyba nawet chętnie przeczytałabym kontynuację przygód Frediego!

[Inge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eine spannende und lustige Geschichte, das Buch hat zwar ein paar Längen, aber die Story als solche fand ich gut. Als Kind hätte ich sicher auch noch alle Folgebände gelesen. Vielleicht tue ich das noch.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring. I think something was lost in the translation.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a very well written book for this age group (7-10). I found it quite enjoyable.

[Darren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like it! Awesome book!

[Elsbeth Magilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars from my son. I find the hamster in these books snotty and smug, but it has a ton of good vocabulary so I like that.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book. Maybe a bit advanced for my six-year-old daughter, but she.rather enjoyed it being read to her.

[Maggie Panning · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute story that we all enjoyed. It makes a very fun read-aloud.

[helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so much fun and educating.

To my future self: chose this for bedtime stories or reading time for my niece/nephew or own kid.

[mundi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 en verdad, fue entretenido 🥹

[Jaci ☻ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Childhood fave!!

[Dana Goosen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg i loved it. I’ve read it to practice German, it has short feasible sentences, picked up lots of expressions from it.