Robinson's Hood

by Jeff Gottesfeld

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Robin Paige is pushed to the brink when the community center where he spends his free time is in danger of closing, his grandmother is shaken down by thugs, and he is forced into doing a bully's homework.

Genres: Young Adult

128 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

HONOR FLIGHT (Candlewick, March 3, 2026). So far, four starred reviews from PW, SLJ, Booklist, and Kirkus.

Too many of America's veterans have never had the means or opportunity to visit their monuments in Washington, DC. Nor did many of them, particularly from the Vietnam era, get the homecoming they deserved.

The Honor Flight program, begun by volunteers in 2005 on the most modest of scales, changed all of that. Today, the Honor Flight Network is massive, and has flown more than 300,000 vets on free trips to DC, each of them accompanied by a volunteer (and paying) Guardian.

I was a Guardian on such a flight in April, 2023. This book is about this remarkable effort, told first person in the voice of an unnamed veteran. That I could reunite for it with Matt Tavares, the illustrator of our TWENTY-ONE STEPS: GUARDING THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER (Candlewick, 2021). Well, as the last line of the book says, "It was an honor."

Reviews

[Myels Shippey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book that I chose to read is the book called " Robison's Hood " by the author Jeff Gottesfeld. This book is about a boy named Robin and what happens to him throughout the book. I like this book and thought it was very interesting.

In the book there was many things that made this book very interesting. One thing that was very interesting was the setting. The setting is very interesting because it is in a dangerous part of the town. The setting where the main character lives is also where the character's grandmother, Miz Paige, owns a shrimp store. This is very interesting because since Robin's grandmother owns a restaurant in the bad part of their town, many things happen to the store. Another example of why this book was very interesting is when the shrimp store gets robbed. This adds to the story a lot throughout the book. Finally one more example of why I found this story to be very interesting is when the book reveals that Robin is doing very well in school. I found this interesting because Robin comes from a dangerous part of town and has a lot of money problems in his family and still does not let it affect his grades in school. I found this book to be very interesting for many reasons.

The book 'Robinson's Hood' by Jeff Gottesfeld was a very good story. I found this book to be very interesting for many reasons. The book 'Robinson's Hood' is a very interesting book.

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robinson “Robin” Paige lives in a rough part of town with his grandmother, who runs a food stand. Robin is tired of being bullied and living scared. When his grandmother’s shrimp shack is threatened by a local gang, Robin has had enough. So, when Robin discovers where the gang is stashing their drug money, Robin becomes a contemporary compatriot of the legendary Robin Hood. Stealing the money from the rich drug lords, Robin distributes the cash to a Community Center in danger of closing for lack of funding. What Robin hasn’t considered what the consequences of his actions might be.

As unlikely as Robinson’s story may be, urban readers may be delighted by the little guy who fights back. Robinson appears weak. He is the small brainy boy that jocks intimidate and hit on to do his homework. He is invisible to pretty girls. He’s a good guy who always pulls the short straw. Classroom discussions may be heated, if students debate the morality of Robinson’s theft. Is it excusable to do the wrong thing for the right reason? And since the novel is open-ended, readers may speculate what will happen in the next installment. Will Robinson get caught? What will the consequences be?

[Ada · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of a very few books that I've read that are targeted for urban boys who don't read very well. Actually, it's one of the few novels for that purpose. It is short enough that a less than great reader won't feel scared, and has a very attractive cover that any boy would be cool with if his friends saw him reading. I also like the relationships in the book, plus all the obvious action with an urban Robin Hood story where the hero takes from the bad guys and gives to the good. There is a great relationship between Robinson and his two best friends, and another with his grandmother who is raising him now that his parents are killed. Along there way there is a lot of action that will rivet boys. People are always saying that boys don't read, and urban boys don't read. This is a book that can be recommended to them with total confidence.

[Judith · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can see the appeal of this book for reluctant readers interested in Urban Fiction, however, the message is skewed. I don't believe that grown ups should encourage kids to engage in risky behavior as Mr. Smith does with the kids. Hmm... I hope this is addressed in the sequel.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the kind of book middle school reluctant readers will enjoy. Fast plot, recognizable characters, and easy vocabulary. The student who returned it declared it the best book ever! She certainly fits the reluctant reader profile.

[Kelsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Personally, I did not enjoy this book. However, this is a good high-interest/low-level book for middle and high school urban populations.

[Wongilonglong · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book there is a boy named robin and every day he goes to a rec. center. The center in the book is having money problems so Robin makes it his mission to earn the money to help the center.

[Dylan pacheco · Rating 4 out of 5]

very suspenseful and really heart felt story about a young boy living in the hood, with his grandma. who is struggling to make money, and on top of that robins favorite place, the rec hall is being closed down due to an unsafe roof. and robin has to find a way to get money without the ninth street rangers getting in the way.