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No Coins, Please
How much trouble can six 11-year-olds cause on a tour across the United States? A lot when Artie is along. His knack for making money impresses everyone--except the FBI.
184 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
7 people are currently reading
398 people want to read
About the author
Gordon Korman
249 books4,422 followersGordon Korman is a Canadian author of children's and young adult fiction books. Korman's books have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide over a career spanning four decades and have appeared at number one on The New York Times Best Seller list.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
June 17, 2024
DEEPLY offended by the back cover text on the 2005 reprint which calls Artie "Donald Trump in a kid's body", Artie has MUCH better business sense and ethics than that man. This book was a TRIP (across country in a white van) and I really enjoyed it. If you can find a print copy a modern tween would probably more or less enjoy it too. (And if they don't: sic an attack jelly on them.)
https://www.frowl.org/worstbestseller...
https://www.frowl.org/worstbestseller...
December 8, 2009
Fun book. The kids loved it. I hope they learned something; all I need is one of them to become a tycoon to put me on easy street the rest of my life. Anne made some attack jelly and put it in her bedroom, but she's just thinking of her own safety, not the family income. -sigh-
August 9, 2018
This was an excellent, fun, quick read from Gordon Korman. Full of diverse and quirky characters, this book follows the story of the responsible Rob and his shopaholic co-councelor Dennis as they watch over six eleven year-old boys throughout their journey across the country. Their summer journey takes some unexpected turns as the counsellors must continually chase down a disappearing camper. This camper is none other than Artie Geller, a reserved young boy who just happens to be a consummate hustler. As the group travels from state to state, Artie manages to transform his seventy-five dollar spending money into a fortune by the end of the trip. No matter the scam, whatever the product, Artie only has one hard rule: No Coins, Please.
December 14, 2012
I chose this book, because of its cover, I thought it seemed like appealing book and that I might want to read it, so I added it to my kindle. No Coins, Please, is about a ingenious, 11 year old, scam artist named Artie who signs up for a tour around the U.S. with two teenage tour guides and a couple of other 11 year old boys. During their whole trip, Artie sneaks away from the group and goes off to swindle some innocent people into buying his rip-off items. My favorite quote from No Coins, Please, was, "Artie, do you have everybody's money?" I think that quote shows how much money Artie had pocketed just from that trip. I find it amazing and hilarious that a small boy of Artie's age could scam so many wiser, and older people. Gorden Korman's writing style has been one of my favorites for a long time now, he makes you feel like you're really in the car with the Ambulance crew, and that seems really difficult to pull off. I would recommend this to any boy-genius looking to make some good money, I personally liked it, because I saw a lot of myself in Artie.
December 6, 2022
Gordon Korman is the master of telling an engaging, smart, and sarcastic story that resonates with the 10-13 boys' age group. This was a good chuckle with the boys, but I definitely won't recommend it to anyone who likes more serious things. Overall, a fun and clean way to pass the time.
July 9, 2012
This is a good story, but be careful of the kid you give it to, you might give them ideas...
In all, this was a very clever story, which aspires to poignancy in places, but really gets overwhelmed by the humor factor which Artie brings to the story. He's smart, he seems to be polite, and he always follows the letter of the rules outlined for him; but, then, somehow he always manages to get into some kind of outrageous trouble and come out on top. Everything else in the book is eclipsed by Artie's schemes, and years after the fact, it's not the lessons that the story was trying to tell that I remember, or any of the ancillary characters, but Artie's hi-jinks.
This is a fun book, first and foremost I think. Despite everything else, the kid reading it wants to be Artie; to get in trouble and then out of it, landing on his feet with a fat wad of cash every time.
In all, this was a very clever story, which aspires to poignancy in places, but really gets overwhelmed by the humor factor which Artie brings to the story. He's smart, he seems to be polite, and he always follows the letter of the rules outlined for him; but, then, somehow he always manages to get into some kind of outrageous trouble and come out on top. Everything else in the book is eclipsed by Artie's schemes, and years after the fact, it's not the lessons that the story was trying to tell that I remember, or any of the ancillary characters, but Artie's hi-jinks.
This is a fun book, first and foremost I think. Despite everything else, the kid reading it wants to be Artie; to get in trouble and then out of it, landing on his feet with a fat wad of cash every time.
December 29, 2011
Rob and Dennis chase Artie's money-making schemes across the country. This is a 5-star book in my memory and I almost wish I hadn't reread it with more years of readership and life behind me. Still funny, but Artie has become less charming and more grating with time.
February 1, 2021
I loved Gordon Korman as a child and of all his books, I loved No Coins, Please the most. It was hilarious and inspiring, this story of a kid smooth talking his way to a fortune with nothing more than a few clever ideas and complete disregard for authority. I mean, this kid was making money! From adults! I was certain I would be a young tycoon in no time. In retrospect, some of Artie's schemes may have been ever-so-slightly implausible. Still funny, though. Great book for budding entrepreneurs (or con-men).
March 13, 2014
I don't care if this book is intended for a younger audience or not, I will keep rereading this every time I need a laugh. Like the rest of Korman's books, 'No Coins, Please' is funny, adorable, and features a sneaky and conniving child that both impresses and amuses you. One of the best parts about this book is seeing each of Artie's schemes unfolding, and trying to guess what he plans next at each turn of the page. Worth every second it takes to find the book and read it.
May 14, 2015
This is a really fun book which I have always enjoyed ever since I first read it. Artie Geller, an 11-year-old con-artist who makes money from suckers using some ingenious scams, has been one of my literary heroes, and I see a lot of Artie in myself, as I am always using my brain to make money wherever possible!
December 14, 2017
This was a very funny book just like all of the other Gordon Korman books. Artie is a wizard at making money. He has only one rule to his money-making schemes: No coins. Dennis and Rob are best friends but don't think the same at all. Dennis is a crazy counselor who loves to have fun, but Rob is more cautious minded who is very careful. I suggest this book to anyone who needs a good laugh
April 6, 2007
This book brought out the entrepreneur in me. Enjoy the humor and the summer trip, camps, and more :D
December 20, 2007
I read it as an adult, because it was my husband's favorite book as a child. It is laugh out loud funny, I wish I'd read it as a kid.
January 25, 2008
This is probably one of my favorite Gordon Korman books. It actually reminds me of myself in elementary school.
February 16, 2008
With classic lines like "Be the Ambulance, make toast" and "Ask me. I'm a cow expert," this Gordon Korman book is one of my top favorites. I shall never look at grape jelly the same way again. :)
July 17, 2008
How does Korman come up with all his ideas?!
January 8, 2009
Loved this book! So cute, something I remember randomly when something sparks my memory. Read it in fifth grade and recently bought a copy online -- very funny and memorable!
February 11, 2009
when is this going to be made into a movie? It'd rival ferris bueller!
May 14, 2009
One of my favorite childhood authors, the book was about a kid who basically manages to make businesses all throughout a summer cross country road-trip. partly fueled the sloanie in me.
July 21, 2012
My favourite Korman
March 31, 2013
Grim parody of life in 20th century America. Think Blade Runner meets The Pardoner's Tale, only with more irony. Arguably the most important Canadian novel of the last, well, ever.
October 3, 2013
What creativity and imagination. I love the adventures and wish I could be milking cows in Nebraska or dancing at the Pretzel.
March 3, 2014
One of my favourite childhood books, I always admired Artie. I read it aloud to Lauren as our bedtime story after we finished NeverEnding Story.
March 18, 2014
An old favourite I reread to my eleven-year-old son. I still love Artie's money-making schemes.
Read
April 27, 2016A reread, obviously. Still hilarious!
October 15, 2023
This is the 37th volume I have read from the masterful pen of Gordon Korman. Mid Last year, in 2022, Korman published his 100th book. Yes you read that correctly, his hundredth book. My introduction to Korman’s works was the 39 Clues back in 2009. With every volume I read from Gordon Korman I am entertained and often challenged. My son often reads these books to me or with me. I am currently bouncing around several of his series and from his most recent to oldest books. This was the third standalone story written by Korman. Originally published in 1984, I believe there have been 14 editions of this book the last in 2005, but there does not appear to be an eBook edition which is a great pity.
My son and I started reading Gordon Korman books together a few years ago, when he was given one as an end of year gift by his teacher. She gave the whole class the same Scholastic edition and wrote a note to each student in their copy of the book. Prior to that I had a read a few of his contributions to the 39 Clues series and had enjoyed them. After reading book 1 in the Bruno and Boots or MacDonald Hall series I was hooked and know I will be reading all the volumes that Korman has written. And maybe trying to track down some of the older editions before there were updated.
The current description of this volume is:
“A zany cross-country tour where cash is king and the laughs are large in classic Korman style! Dennis and Rob find perfect summer jobs as counsellors on the JT Juniortours cross-country driving tour. Dennis is in heaven - he thinks he and his friend Rob have scored the perfect summer jobs. But Rob quickly points out what Dennis never factored in - the group of boys they're now completely responsible for. That includes Artie Geller - Donald Trump in a 10-year-old's body. Artie gives his counsellors the slip whenever possible to set up new business opportunities. Dennis and Rob soon learn they can't control Artie, and that they have to hide every one of his schemes from the tour boss to protect their own skins.Visions of beautiful female counsellors are replaced by visions of bankruptcy... and the FBI.”
The description on the back of the edition I tracked down was:
“How much trouble can six 11-year-old campers cause on a tour across the U.S.A.? A Lot-especially when Artie Geller is one of them. He just can’t stop making money. From selling “attack jelly” on the streets of New York to opening the world’s most exclusive disco in Denver, Artie’s wacky ideas make big bucks. In fact, everybody things Artie’s a genius-except the FBA!”
The chapters in this volume are:
The Ambulance
Where’s Artie?
A Piece of America
A Day At The Races
Cost-Cutting
The Power of Positive Parking
No Frills
The Denver Twist
Heaven-Sent
A Little Difference of Opinion
Adventures of the Old Guy
Coins
Who would have thought that Canadian’s would have been the team constantly in trouble during the Juniortours. Often late, missing check-in’s, and with one member constantly disappearing. Artie says he goes nowhere and does nothing special. But if that is the case why does he keep going missing.
This is another fantastic read from Gordon Korman. I could not put it down and devoured it in a single sitting, staying up too late. It was exciting to watch the group dynamics on team Ambulance and especially as Artie came out of his shell and drew the other guys into his plots. And to be honest the story ends in such a way they could have easily been another volume covering their time in LA, and the return trip to Montreal.
A great story about friendship, belonging and finding our place. Watching the 6 kids and 2 councillors as they grew through the adventure was great fun. The characters are wonderfully written. It is a great story guaranteed to entertain the young and the young at heart! It is another excellent read from Korman’s masterful pen! I can easily recommend this book and series!
My son and I started reading Gordon Korman books together a few years ago, when he was given one as an end of year gift by his teacher. She gave the whole class the same Scholastic edition and wrote a note to each student in their copy of the book. Prior to that I had a read a few of his contributions to the 39 Clues series and had enjoyed them. After reading book 1 in the Bruno and Boots or MacDonald Hall series I was hooked and know I will be reading all the volumes that Korman has written. And maybe trying to track down some of the older editions before there were updated.
The current description of this volume is:
“A zany cross-country tour where cash is king and the laughs are large in classic Korman style! Dennis and Rob find perfect summer jobs as counsellors on the JT Juniortours cross-country driving tour. Dennis is in heaven - he thinks he and his friend Rob have scored the perfect summer jobs. But Rob quickly points out what Dennis never factored in - the group of boys they're now completely responsible for. That includes Artie Geller - Donald Trump in a 10-year-old's body. Artie gives his counsellors the slip whenever possible to set up new business opportunities. Dennis and Rob soon learn they can't control Artie, and that they have to hide every one of his schemes from the tour boss to protect their own skins.Visions of beautiful female counsellors are replaced by visions of bankruptcy... and the FBI.”
The description on the back of the edition I tracked down was:
“How much trouble can six 11-year-old campers cause on a tour across the U.S.A.? A Lot-especially when Artie Geller is one of them. He just can’t stop making money. From selling “attack jelly” on the streets of New York to opening the world’s most exclusive disco in Denver, Artie’s wacky ideas make big bucks. In fact, everybody things Artie’s a genius-except the FBA!”
The chapters in this volume are:
The Ambulance
Where’s Artie?
A Piece of America
A Day At The Races
Cost-Cutting
The Power of Positive Parking
No Frills
The Denver Twist
Heaven-Sent
A Little Difference of Opinion
Adventures of the Old Guy
Coins
Who would have thought that Canadian’s would have been the team constantly in trouble during the Juniortours. Often late, missing check-in’s, and with one member constantly disappearing. Artie says he goes nowhere and does nothing special. But if that is the case why does he keep going missing.
This is another fantastic read from Gordon Korman. I could not put it down and devoured it in a single sitting, staying up too late. It was exciting to watch the group dynamics on team Ambulance and especially as Artie came out of his shell and drew the other guys into his plots. And to be honest the story ends in such a way they could have easily been another volume covering their time in LA, and the return trip to Montreal.
A great story about friendship, belonging and finding our place. Watching the 6 kids and 2 councillors as they grew through the adventure was great fun. The characters are wonderfully written. It is a great story guaranteed to entertain the young and the young at heart! It is another excellent read from Korman’s masterful pen! I can easily recommend this book and series!
October 4, 2018
I promise I read books that are not written by Gordan Korman! But I recently remembered how much I adore his writing, and maybe fell into a mini binge session that has invaded my posts. Today I’m all about No Coins, Please, a roadtrip novel where two counselors try (in vain) to wrangle an eleven-year-old con artist. Yes, you read that right.
This middle-grade book leaps the divide between children’s novel and YA easily. Younger readers will be entertained by Artie Geller’s plans to elude his counselors and slowly build up his cash reserves with scheme after brilliant scheme . . . while older readers will connect with Rob and Dennis’ desires for an “easy, all-expense paid cross-country trip” that is disrupted by a clever young charge. I, personally, was in love with both sides of the story and was kind of rooting for Artie as well as the counselors.
Dennis pointed to a picture of two stalwart counselors standing behind six bright-eyed young boys, all of them framed by the Grand Canyon and an immaculate blue sky. “That’s us in a few weeks.”
“But, Dennis, we’ll have kids to take care of. We don’t know anything about kids.”
Dennis shrugged. “What’s to know? You just drive them around and make sure they don’t get themselves killed.”
Rob and Dennis are the perfect comedy duo from those black-and-white, soundless films I never really watched but hear older people talk about a lot. There’s Rob, trying to keep things from falling apart (when they really clearly are) and then you have Dennis: preparing the next disaster before the first one has even settled. If it’s not Artie up to no good, then you can be sure Dennis will be doing something to disrupt the schedule.
I was super excited about the amount of Canadian representation in this book. (All my Canadians, you know what I’m talking about.) Dennis and Rob are a part of the first wave of Canadian counselors to join JuniorTours, so it’s a big deal that they make a good impression. (Let’s just say they kinda sorta don’t.) Readers get a frequent visit from the executive director of JuniorTours, Mr. Butcher, as he rails on Rob and Dennis for the many ways their leg of the tour goes wrong.
Five crowns for a standout cast of characters, non-stop laugh moments, and an inspirational eleven-year-old. I’m sorry but no matter how shady you can say Artie is for his deals … I wish I had that kind of genius at his age. And woooow, do I relate to Rob and Dennis camp counselor struggles. I recommend this to anyone who has ever worked with kids X 100!
Join me on my book journey!
This middle-grade book leaps the divide between children’s novel and YA easily. Younger readers will be entertained by Artie Geller’s plans to elude his counselors and slowly build up his cash reserves with scheme after brilliant scheme . . . while older readers will connect with Rob and Dennis’ desires for an “easy, all-expense paid cross-country trip” that is disrupted by a clever young charge. I, personally, was in love with both sides of the story and was kind of rooting for Artie as well as the counselors.
Dennis pointed to a picture of two stalwart counselors standing behind six bright-eyed young boys, all of them framed by the Grand Canyon and an immaculate blue sky. “That’s us in a few weeks.”
“But, Dennis, we’ll have kids to take care of. We don’t know anything about kids.”
Dennis shrugged. “What’s to know? You just drive them around and make sure they don’t get themselves killed.”
Rob and Dennis are the perfect comedy duo from those black-and-white, soundless films I never really watched but hear older people talk about a lot. There’s Rob, trying to keep things from falling apart (when they really clearly are) and then you have Dennis: preparing the next disaster before the first one has even settled. If it’s not Artie up to no good, then you can be sure Dennis will be doing something to disrupt the schedule.
I was super excited about the amount of Canadian representation in this book. (All my Canadians, you know what I’m talking about.) Dennis and Rob are a part of the first wave of Canadian counselors to join JuniorTours, so it’s a big deal that they make a good impression. (Let’s just say they kinda sorta don’t.) Readers get a frequent visit from the executive director of JuniorTours, Mr. Butcher, as he rails on Rob and Dennis for the many ways their leg of the tour goes wrong.
Five crowns for a standout cast of characters, non-stop laugh moments, and an inspirational eleven-year-old. I’m sorry but no matter how shady you can say Artie is for his deals … I wish I had that kind of genius at his age. And woooow, do I relate to Rob and Dennis camp counselor struggles. I recommend this to anyone who has ever worked with kids X 100!
Join me on my book journey!
May 8, 2020
This middle grade novel traces the adventures of two 18-year-old counsellors and their six eleven-year-olds as they tour the United States. It's been one of my favorite Gordon Korman books since I first read it in elementary school, and it has stood the test of time, as my own children loved it as well.
The plot centers around Artie Geller, a financial mastermind who devises bizarre and brilliant schemes to get rich along the way. Each of his business enterprises is a highlight of the book, although there are other side-plots that follow the rest of the group. Each character has a defining character trait or interest. While it can make them appear one-dimensional, Korman does a good job of building in moments for each of them. This helps make them part of the plot instead of just filler characters.
Artie's character is well-written to build (and maintain) a sense of mystery while also making him likeable enough that the reader wants him to succeed. We're constantly left wondering how he comes up with his ideas, as well as why he's so driven to get rich. All across the country, the question remains at every stop (and in between): Can Rob and Dennis make it across the country keeping track of Artie, satisfying the other five kids, staying out of the way of their angry boss, handling the teasing and bullying from the rival tour group, and refraining from killing each other?
The plot centers around Artie Geller, a financial mastermind who devises bizarre and brilliant schemes to get rich along the way. Each of his business enterprises is a highlight of the book, although there are other side-plots that follow the rest of the group. Each character has a defining character trait or interest. While it can make them appear one-dimensional, Korman does a good job of building in moments for each of them. This helps make them part of the plot instead of just filler characters.
Artie's character is well-written to build (and maintain) a sense of mystery while also making him likeable enough that the reader wants him to succeed. We're constantly left wondering how he comes up with his ideas, as well as why he's so driven to get rich. All across the country, the question remains at every stop (and in between): Can Rob and Dennis make it across the country keeping track of Artie, satisfying the other five kids, staying out of the way of their angry boss, handling the teasing and bullying from the rival tour group, and refraining from killing each other?
September 14, 2015
The over-the-top zaniness of Gordon Korman's children's books is definitely present in this story of Artie Geller, a young entrepreneur on a cross-country trip, and Dennis and Rob, his two clueless camp counselors. It's a fun story, with Artie's business schemes becoming more and more elaborate and culminating in a brush with the F.B.I., but for me this book lacked something, especially when compared to the Macdonald Hall books.
To me, the plot felt formulaic and repetitious, with Artie constantly sneaking off to make money, the counselors searching desperately for him, and then Artie showing up again and acting vague and innocent about his whereabouts. The humor lacked any punch, and the characters weren't very memorable. It was a fairly entertaining(though disappointing) book, and there are some good moments throughout(mostly the emotional ones) that break up the monotony, but mostly it's just the same scenario happening over and over, simply turned up a few notches each time. Oh, and we don't even find out how Artie got the Road Hogs to be nice to his group! Tsk, tsk!
To me, the plot felt formulaic and repetitious, with Artie constantly sneaking off to make money, the counselors searching desperately for him, and then Artie showing up again and acting vague and innocent about his whereabouts. The humor lacked any punch, and the characters weren't very memorable. It was a fairly entertaining(though disappointing) book, and there are some good moments throughout(mostly the emotional ones) that break up the monotony, but mostly it's just the same scenario happening over and over, simply turned up a few notches each time. Oh, and we don't even find out how Artie got the Road Hogs to be nice to his group! Tsk, tsk!
January 4, 2008
A childhood favorite that doesn't stand up *quite* as well as some of Korman's other work -- the MacDonald Hall books still make me cry laughing, as do the slightly more young-adult work (as opposed to pre-teen, which this is). But it has Korman's signature wackiness and great dialogue, even if I feel like some the characters were padding.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews