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The Gollywhopper Games #2
The New Champion
The Golly Toy and Game Company is hosting the regional rounds for the next Gollywhopper Games, and this time it's brother against brother in the physical challenges and mental puzzles. The companion to the popular The Gollywhopper Games will appeal to fans of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Chasing Vermeer.
Chock-full of puzzles, riddles, and challenges for the reader to solve along with the main characters, this fast-paced companion to The Gollywhopper Games is bigger, bolder, and braver! The Golly Toy and Game Company's Gollywhopper Games was such a big success the last time, the company's executives have decided to host the competition again. Cameron and Spencer Schein have scored two highly sought-after slots in the regional round—will one of the Schein brothers make it all the way to the finals? Favorite characters from the first book make guest appearances, and a new cast of competitors, both boys and girls, get set to compete against (and with) Cameron and Spencer. There are twists and turns and complications—as well as lots of great things to eat—in this page-turner of a race to the finish line!
Chock-full of puzzles, riddles, and challenges for the reader to solve along with the main characters, this fast-paced companion to The Gollywhopper Games is bigger, bolder, and braver! The Golly Toy and Game Company's Gollywhopper Games was such a big success the last time, the company's executives have decided to host the competition again. Cameron and Spencer Schein have scored two highly sought-after slots in the regional round—will one of the Schein brothers make it all the way to the finals? Favorite characters from the first book make guest appearances, and a new cast of competitors, both boys and girls, get set to compete against (and with) Cameron and Spencer. There are twists and turns and complications—as well as lots of great things to eat—in this page-turner of a race to the finish line!
400 pages, Unknown Binding
First published April 22, 2014
15 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
About the author
Jody Feldman
10 books52 followersJody Feldman never knew she always wanted to be a writer when she grew up. If you’d cornered her as a kid, she’d have mentioned doctor or teacher, but that was just an answer. Her passions ran more toward treasure hunter, codebreaker, movie director, or inventor, but her practical side couldn’t imagine how to get there.
Her path to writing meandered through the University of Missouri School of Journalism and a short career in advertising. She wrote a lot about shoes. And then a lot more.
Jody’s first children’s novel, The Gollywhopper Games received the 2011 Georgia Children's Book Award and the 2011 Grand Canyon Readers Award, and found its place on many other state lists. It also received the Kids Wings Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature and the 2008 Midwest Booksellers Choice Awards Honor for Children’s Literature. Her second, The Seventh Level (both books from HarperCollins/Greenwillow) debuted on the Summer 2010 Indie Next List and received the 2011 Missouri Writers Guild Show Me Best Book Award. Upcoming, thanks to popular demand, two follow-ups to The Gollywhopper Games.
A lifelong resident of St. Louis, Jody likes to travel, cook, watch football, and solve crossword-type puzzles. And she loves knowing she can explore any dream, career or adventure with the characters in her books.
Her path to writing meandered through the University of Missouri School of Journalism and a short career in advertising. She wrote a lot about shoes. And then a lot more.
Jody’s first children’s novel, The Gollywhopper Games received the 2011 Georgia Children's Book Award and the 2011 Grand Canyon Readers Award, and found its place on many other state lists. It also received the Kids Wings Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature and the 2008 Midwest Booksellers Choice Awards Honor for Children’s Literature. Her second, The Seventh Level (both books from HarperCollins/Greenwillow) debuted on the Summer 2010 Indie Next List and received the 2011 Missouri Writers Guild Show Me Best Book Award. Upcoming, thanks to popular demand, two follow-ups to The Gollywhopper Games.
A lifelong resident of St. Louis, Jody likes to travel, cook, watch football, and solve crossword-type puzzles. And she loves knowing she can explore any dream, career or adventure with the characters in her books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
April 28, 2015
Loved the first book in the series, and I can't wait to read the next. Mind-games and puzzles unite to form an extraordinary spin of action and emotion in Feldman's The New Champion. Overall 4/5 stars; an entertaining read for all ages!
March 7, 2021
It took me two books to figure it out, but I am not a Jody Feldman fan. I don't sympathize with her characters and worse, I don't root for them. The contest in a toy factory concept ought to be fun, but the way Feldman writes it just falls flat for me. The horrible ending of this one was just the final straw. It didn't even end up lowering the rating as I was already at two stars and my assessment didn't dip quite enough to justify one. We will not be reading the third book in this series.
July 3, 2020
I wasn't positive I wanted to continue, but I'm glad I did. These really are fun fantasies with mostly solvable puzzles. This is a bit long, esp. because it doesn't spend much time on the 'world-building' as the first. So, yeah, I do recommend reading the first first, if you can. After all, you can enjoy the story of the triumph of the underdog, and/or the puzzles, your call. This one had a significant second story, too, of behind-the-scenes with the executives of Golly Toys... nice to get an adult perspective on the situation.
May 3, 2015
4.5 stars! thought the diamond challenge was a little bit eh... liked the ending though a little abrupt... seemed obvious who the mole is Just Enjoyed Not Keeping In Nice Stuff! Sequel can not come fast enough and ask my friends and colleagues... I don't usually do sequels! Nice way to begin my summer!
April 19, 2015
I had no idea that there was a sequel, but when I saw it at the library I was so excited! The book had everything that might have been missing from the first games, and the tension between Spencer and Cameron let the reader see more into Cameron's thoughts. I'm looking forward to book three, as I loved the puzzles in this book and Jody Feldman's overall writing style.
June 13, 2014
I thought the ending of this was weak. Not because of who did or didn't win, but because of what happened at the very end. (Won't continue with why as I don't want to leave spoilers.)
February 2, 2019
The Gollywhopper Games: The New Champion by Jody Feldman wasn't as good as the fist one. But I guess i was ok.
August 16, 2019
I was actually a little surprised with how well this sequel followed the Gollywhopper Games. It did, of course, lose a little of the original's magic, but considering how much worse it could be (ahem...like the third book in the series...) it did a great job. The new characters weren't carbon copies of the original ones, and sometimes I even mix up the teams and the plots, which goes to show that the two books have a similar (high) quality. Nothing could've captured the je ne sais quoi of the original Gollywhopper Games, but the sequel managed to successfully keep the enthusiasm going.
January 29, 2024
This series didn’t need to be a trilogy. However, I did like this book, but less than the first one. I liked Cameron quite a bit as a character, even if he had less personality than Gil, and even if the only interesting side character was Clio. It felt like a rehash of the first book, which I suppose was inevitable. Still, it was an entertaining story with great puzzles and continued to possess what made the first Gollywhopper Games book great.
October 23, 2017
Found this in the young adult section of the library but it read younger to me. I haven’t read the prequel but followed just fine and it was perfect for holding my interest, helping me escape for a while and not making me think or feel too deeply. I’m not getting to bed on time but one can’t have everything, I suppose!
May 18, 2023
It was a really fun second book in the series. I loved the puzzles and stunts. The only problem, if you can call it that, is that it felt like a repeat of the first book. But it was good enough that I am about to start the next one. Enjoy!
November 26, 2018
Amazing book. It is full of puzzles and story.
June 17, 2019
Super fun puzzle-adventure tale. Loving this series and anxious to track down the next installment. Would be a super fun read aloud.
June 1, 2022
Really nice book, really liked it! The beginning was a bit slow but the end was amazing!!!! On to book #3!
October 31, 2024
the main character legit lost i was stunned bro didnt get his disney happy ending lol:))
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2025
Kids loved listening to Cameron confront one puzzle after another in this audiobook. Great ending!
May 21, 2025
Just read this book with a great niece - I really enjoyed the puzzles and fun.
December 5, 2014
This review can also be found at my book blog, Read Till Dawn
First, I absolutely loved the first book in this series (it's a series! I only discovered there was a sequel a week ago, and I can't wait for the third one!). Click here to check the first book out on Goodreads - I'm requesting it from the library and plan to review it soon, but I wanted to get this review off my chest first.
Okay, so as you may have already figured out, I loved the original. Sure it wasn't too deep and philosophical, and maybe it was pretty obvious how things would turn out. But you know what? Everyone needs a book like that once in a while. Coming off of reading The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion and the Fall of Imperial Russia (Click here to read my review!), I was ready for just the kind of light, fun book The Gollywhopper Games has to offer. So when I was browsing the library and I saw this book, I grabbed it, shoved it in my bag, and started reading it the minute I got in the car. The fun thing about these books is that they're chock full of puzzles that are instrumental to the plot (think Hunger Games or Survivor, but you're beating everybody else at puzzling instead of, you know, scary things. And the prize for winning is a million dollars).
Did I like this book as much as the last one? I'm not sure. I think there's a novelty to the first book that can't be replicated with this one, but The New Champion did as well as it possible could in the follow-up department. Feldman clearly knew that she was writing a book purely because people wanted more of the first one: she even puts that in there, showing the Gollywhopper heads deciding to do another Games because everyone was so obsessed with the first ones. She walks a fine line between drawing fans of the first book, and coming across as totally just ripping off of it. I'd say she succeeded pretty well. There were a few points where I was like "wow, this is like a recast of the first book!" But then it would turn out to be different in some way. It was full of nods to the first book, but still succeeded in being its own original story. Kind of like Mockingjay from the Hunger Games, I guess. Except this book is for kids.
Well, technically it's for kids. There's nothing inappropriate in it (unless you count one character wearing a tank top for, like, a minute in the first book), so anyone who can understand it can read it. But it's not just a kiddy book, or a spoof of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (though it's that too, and I for one like these books better than the Roald Dahl ones): it's a book for people of all ages. When I finished The New Champion, I handed it off to my mom. When she's done with it, it will go to my middle school-aged brother. Both my brother and my mom loved the first one. My youngest brother (in elementary school) got interested in the books so I requested the first one from the library for him and, let's be honest, myself as well. People of all ages can read and enjoy this book. So please, by all means, read it! Just start with the first one. I promise you won't be disappointed.
First, I absolutely loved the first book in this series (it's a series! I only discovered there was a sequel a week ago, and I can't wait for the third one!). Click here to check the first book out on Goodreads - I'm requesting it from the library and plan to review it soon, but I wanted to get this review off my chest first.
Okay, so as you may have already figured out, I loved the original. Sure it wasn't too deep and philosophical, and maybe it was pretty obvious how things would turn out. But you know what? Everyone needs a book like that once in a while. Coming off of reading The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion and the Fall of Imperial Russia (Click here to read my review!), I was ready for just the kind of light, fun book The Gollywhopper Games has to offer. So when I was browsing the library and I saw this book, I grabbed it, shoved it in my bag, and started reading it the minute I got in the car. The fun thing about these books is that they're chock full of puzzles that are instrumental to the plot (think Hunger Games or Survivor, but you're beating everybody else at puzzling instead of, you know, scary things. And the prize for winning is a million dollars).
Did I like this book as much as the last one? I'm not sure. I think there's a novelty to the first book that can't be replicated with this one, but The New Champion did as well as it possible could in the follow-up department. Feldman clearly knew that she was writing a book purely because people wanted more of the first one: she even puts that in there, showing the Gollywhopper heads deciding to do another Games because everyone was so obsessed with the first ones. She walks a fine line between drawing fans of the first book, and coming across as totally just ripping off of it. I'd say she succeeded pretty well. There were a few points where I was like "wow, this is like a recast of the first book!" But then it would turn out to be different in some way. It was full of nods to the first book, but still succeeded in being its own original story. Kind of like Mockingjay from the Hunger Games, I guess. Except this book is for kids.
Well, technically it's for kids. There's nothing inappropriate in it (unless you count one character wearing a tank top for, like, a minute in the first book), so anyone who can understand it can read it. But it's not just a kiddy book, or a spoof of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (though it's that too, and I for one like these books better than the Roald Dahl ones): it's a book for people of all ages. When I finished The New Champion, I handed it off to my mom. When she's done with it, it will go to my middle school-aged brother. Both my brother and my mom loved the first one. My youngest brother (in elementary school) got interested in the books so I requested the first one from the library for him and, let's be honest, myself as well. People of all ages can read and enjoy this book. So please, by all means, read it! Just start with the first one. I promise you won't be disappointed.
January 27, 2014
*Review of ARC*
Buzzwords: Games/competition, puzzles, sibling rivalry, cameras, integrity
The Gollywhopper Games are back, with just as much excitement and fun as before. I adored our new POV character, Cameron, who is smart, sweet, honest, and really needs to learn to see his own worth, not just how he fails to measure up to his brother. Kids will love solving the puzzles with Cameron, and seeing him, his brother Spencer, and others compete to win the million dollars and other Gollywhopper prizes, holding their breath as the tense moments of elimination come up. They will also see a lot of emotional truth in such interactions as those between Cameron and Spencer, as well as between the brothers and their parents; and between the kids in the competition, friend and foe.
Buzzwords: Games/competition, puzzles, sibling rivalry, cameras, integrity
The Gollywhopper Games are back, with just as much excitement and fun as before. I adored our new POV character, Cameron, who is smart, sweet, honest, and really needs to learn to see his own worth, not just how he fails to measure up to his brother. Kids will love solving the puzzles with Cameron, and seeing him, his brother Spencer, and others compete to win the million dollars and other Gollywhopper prizes, holding their breath as the tense moments of elimination come up. They will also see a lot of emotional truth in such interactions as those between Cameron and Spencer, as well as between the brothers and their parents; and between the kids in the competition, friend and foe.
February 2, 2014
The New Champion of the Gollywhopper games is a straightforward pleaser. The pace moves along quickly, drawing readers into the tension of competition. Despite the lingering question leading into another sequel, readers will still be satisfied with the conclusion for our likable protagonist and his family. Favorites from the original are back, but our new pack of contestants have their own challenges of personality to overcome. A great pick to read aloud and challenge your listeners to solve the various word puzzles before revealing the solutions. Just be ready to shelve any cynicism or disbelief and have a good time (our main character gets a call from the President. Yes, really.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2014
This is the second installment of the Gollywhopper Games and the title does not disappoint. Cameron and his older brother Spencer compete in the Gollywhopper Games, a competition sponsored by a large toy company and shown on national television. The up-to-date plot, nonstop action, clever puzzles, and great character development will grab middle graders' attention. A positive message wraps up the story.
October 14, 2016
This is the second book in the series and it starts with a new round of the Games. This time, the main characters are two brothers and they are battling against a new round of games. We see favorite characters from the first book who make guest appearances and there are new puzzles to solve. There is an undercurrent of sabotage that may derail the entire games. Anyone who enjoyed the puzzles and story of the first book will enjoy this one as well.
March 1, 2014
Another fantastic read from Feldman! Though it got off to the teeniest bit of a slow start, by the second chapter or so the pace and the interest skyrocketed. Excellent character development and fun challenges make this a great pick for any kid who enjoys puzzles, mental challenges and all around fun. Definitely worth the read.
March 17, 2016
Cameron has never gotten any attention from his parents, who focus on his more talented older brother, Spencer, who's amazing at everything. Trying to increase his chances in The Gollywhopper Games, Spencer forces Cameron to enter for a ticket; a ticket that Cameron wins. Suddenly Cameron is solving puzzles on national television for money and fame. Along with 999,999 other kids, of course.
July 12, 2014
Such a fun read! Clever puzzles, great games, and some pretty difficult contestants! I enjoyed the tough question moment Cameron faces near the end of the book. Could lead to some great discussions. Looking forward to the third book!
July 5, 2016
I really liked solving the puzzles throughout this book. I liked reading about the different characters, though I was really sad that they didn't use the same characters from the first book. Overall, this book was not as good as the first one, but it was still an enjoyable read.
July 5, 2014
Really enjoyed this one--just like the first. Great to offer to those kids who like math and logic but not to read. I love this genre of puzzle books!
June 19, 2014
GREAT sequel to the Gollywhopper Games - it's one year later and there is another Gollywhopper contest, starting out with two brothers competing for the prize. - NB
May 26, 2015
Fully shouldn't have read this series out of order (accidentally read book #3 before this one). *sigh* That being said it stands as a solid 2nd book.
February 24, 2017
I like the first better!!! but still pretty good!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews