Piper Reed, Rodeo Star

Piper Reed #5

by Kimberly Willis Holt, Christine Davenier (Illustrations)

A visit to Piper's grandparents' ranch means time for exploration and adventure!--in Kimberly Willis Holt's Piper Reed, Rodeo Star , featuring illustrations by Christine Davenier

Piper's parents are going on vacation to France and not taking the whole family. What rotten luck! Still, Piper always looks on the bright side. The Reed sisters will be visiting their two sets of grandparents in Piney Woods, and Piper is determined to have four adventures. By working in a grocery store, listening to Tori's scary stories, and lassoing a calf, Piper almost reaches her quota. But sometimes the best adventures are the most unexpected ones.

Genres: Childrens

176 pages, Paperback

First published March 29, 2011

About the author

Kimberly Willis Holt is the author of the Piper Reed series, including Piper Reed, Navy Brat, Piper Reed, Clubhouse Queen, and Piper Reed, Rodeo Star. She has written many award-winning novels, including The Water Seeker and My Louisiana Sky, as well as the picture books Waiting for Gregory and Skinny Brown Dog. A former Navy brat herself, Holt was born in Pensacola, Florida, and lived all over the U.S. and the world—from Paris to Norfolk to Guam to New Orleans. Holt long dreamed of being a writer, but first worked as a radio news director, marketed a water park, and was an interior decorator, among other jobs. A few years after she started writing, her third book, When Zachary Beaver Came to Town, won a National Book Award for Young People's Literature. She resides in West Texas with her family.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/kimber...

Reviews

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Readers who enjoy Judy Moody, Clementine, and Ramona will enjoy reading about Piper Reed's adventures. These books will have special appeal to military children, whether they be Navy, Army, Marine or Air Force "brats."


Each book is lively with humor that will appeal to both children and adults. Piper does learn a lesson in each of the books, but the stories never have the feel of a lecture. And Piper still manages to be her own true self without becoming a "better child." (I recently watched an interview with Beverly Cleary who stated that she created Ramona to be real and not a moral tale about children who always learn their lesson and become "better children." I think Beverly Cleary would like Piper Reed - and who knows, Piper and Ramona might even make good friends.)

In the latest installment, Piper says goodbye to her best friends who are being transferred by the Navy, goodbye to her parents who are taking a trip over Christmas and heads out to spend the holidays with her four grandparents and her two sisters. While visiting the grandparents, Piper is determined to have four adventures.

Children who enjoy grandparent stories may enjoy this title in the series most.

Other titles in the series:

Piper Reed: Navy Brat
Piper Reed: The Great Gypsy (also published as Piper Reed Clubhouse Queen)
Piper Reed: Party Planner
Piper Reed: Rodeo Star

This series is great for classroom (or family) read alouds. It's must have for school or classroom libraries that serve military children. Non-military children will enjoy the series as well.



Recommended for Ages 9 and up.



Mrs. Archer's Rating: 5 of 5.

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a funny series! One cannot help but love Piper despite her mischievous, and sometimes overly optimistic self!

[Mary E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feisty Piper is back with more mayhem.

[January · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was cute. One of the better stories from the series.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fifth book in the Piper Reed series by Kimberly Willis Holt. We can relate to these stories about a military family, even if our experiences with the military aren't quite the same. We also love Piper's spunk and enthusiasm.

This story begins just before the Christmas holidays. Piper learns that her parents are going on a second (really the first real) honeymoon to Paris, France while she and her sisters spend the holidays with their extended family in Piney Woods. And to top it all off, two of the members of the Gypsy Club move away. The group of friends has a farewell party and Piper creates some lasting memories with her goodbye present. It's a bit of a traumatic upheaval in her life, but after Piper waves goodbye to her friends, she is determined to have four adventures during her trip.

Overall, this is a very entertaining story. All ends well, and there are two surprises at the end of the story. Piper certainly learns some important lessons, especially about friendship and the importance of spending time with family during the holidays.

We read this entire book in two reading sessions and although it took us about ninety minutes, I would still consider it a fairly quick read. We really enjoyed the story and are looking forward to the next book in the series, Piper Reed, Forever Friend.

[Texas State Poder]

This was a quick read and was very engaging and interesting from start to finish. Before I began I did not realize that is was a series and can't wait to go back and read book one. The characters are a girl named Piper and her parents. Piper has to go live with her grandparents while her parents take a trip to Paris. She is happy to go stay at her grandparents ranch and gets to be in a rodeo with her cousins. I enjoyed reading and learning about things that happen at a rodeo.

[Joenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

After bidding goodbye to her friends Michael and Nicole, who are moving away, Piper and her sisters spend winter break with their two sets of grandparents in Piney Woods, Louisiana, where Piper learns that the best adventures are the unexpected ones.

[Photina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this series. And I love that I can sit and listen to my oldest daughter read it. I also like that there is a series that my daughter can identify with with the Navy, moving, and being so young.

[Marianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, as Piper stories always are. I also like that the main character is dyslexic...

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

i like the part when they have a big party and they invite her neighbors and do a lot of rodeo activities.

[Kamicarlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are simply delightful and so much fun to read aloud with kids.

[Hillvan]

580L