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The Bad Present
The boy kicked himself. When his dad handed him the small wooden box on Christmas morning, the instructions were quite clear. "Open the box before you go to sleep tonight." Couldn't be easier. But how was the boy to know his dad actually meant it? Granted, his dad said “it may be the most important thing you will ever do in your entire life,” but his mom said the same thing about algebra, and everyone knew that wasn't true. His father should have known better. Twelve-year-old boys don’t listen. So of course the boy forgot and now, for some reason he can't understand, his life has taken a downward spiral that will only end when he can figure out the clues to how the box works. The Bad Present is a touching, riotously funny mystery story, chronicling a boy's desperate quest to understand the box, his life, and the world around him.
244 pages, Paperback
First published November 25, 2014
445 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 27, 2015
First of all, I want to thank the author for sending me a copy for free.
This book is just perfect.
It has a story that don't let you put the book down.
One of the best books I've ever read, with a beautiful message full of love, hope and bravery, just as life should be. It's like the perfect universe.
I absolutely recommend it.
And remember to open this book on Christmas night. It might be the most important thing you ever do.
This book is just perfect.
It has a story that don't let you put the book down.
One of the best books I've ever read, with a beautiful message full of love, hope and bravery, just as life should be. It's like the perfect universe.
I absolutely recommend it.
And remember to open this book on Christmas night. It might be the most important thing you ever do.
April 10, 2015
"It was the last present of the morning, and my dad handed it to me with such seriousness that I almost thought it wasn't a present at all but something far more sinister, like a list of weekly chores."
But it wasn't. It was a small wooden box, an empty wooden box. "Empty as Joey Dinglemore's head in math class, empty as my head whenever I looked at Mallory Moore across the room, when no one was looking." All he had to do was open the box on christmas night. The only thing, and he forgot. But what was the worst thing that could happen then? Well, just doom. Now only him, a very young and funny kid, can fix his terrible mistake and save the world.
There is no way you can avoid giggling while reading The Bad Present. The plot is great, there are many unexpected and awesome twists, and the characters are really likeable. I loved the references and I learned some Latin. There is humor, and mystery, but there's also young love. What could be as sweet as young love? It's amazing because they're innocent and shy, there's no insta-love, and there's nothing affecting their feelings besides from the fact that they really, really like each other. Love is simple, we make it more complicated.
"At that moment, I learned that loving someone was easy, but showing it takes courage. I didn't have courage, not then. It wasn't a good excuse, but it was the truth."
Kids are wise, we forget that when we grow up. We discredit our younger self for being "innocent and foolish", we believe our adult version is better because we think we know better, but it's not exactly like that. There's a reason why little boys and girls say that adults are boring. We were awesome when we were kids, we could see the world in a way we can't fathom when we grow up, and I strongly believe that they know that, they know we're missing the marvels of the world we live in. So read this book, allow yourself to be reminded that you can see things in a different way, let the kid inside you show you the way. Or give this book to a young girl or boy, they will enjoy it a lot too, and they will thank you for giving them an amazing story.
I didn't know what to expect from this book, but I started reading and it was so good and entertaining, and then I read the last pages and it became something special. I was laughing out loud and suddenly I was crying a lot, and I didn't understand why... I cryed because I felt young and old at the same time. Sometimes you think there is a happy ever after but life doesn't work like that. You accomplish great things and yet you feel like a loser in the future anyway, and you ask yourself over and over: where did I go wrong?. It was something special, and you can't simply explain special. It's also hard to write a story that can mean so much to someone, but James Mendenhall did it with his first book, and that's why I hope he keeps writing.
One of the rules of the box is "I give so that you may give". I received this great book from the author, and now I'm giving it to my siblings because I like sharing things that are special to me with the people I love.
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
But it wasn't. It was a small wooden box, an empty wooden box. "Empty as Joey Dinglemore's head in math class, empty as my head whenever I looked at Mallory Moore across the room, when no one was looking." All he had to do was open the box on christmas night. The only thing, and he forgot. But what was the worst thing that could happen then? Well, just doom. Now only him, a very young and funny kid, can fix his terrible mistake and save the world.
There is no way you can avoid giggling while reading The Bad Present. The plot is great, there are many unexpected and awesome twists, and the characters are really likeable. I loved the references and I learned some Latin. There is humor, and mystery, but there's also young love. What could be as sweet as young love? It's amazing because they're innocent and shy, there's no insta-love, and there's nothing affecting their feelings besides from the fact that they really, really like each other. Love is simple, we make it more complicated.
"At that moment, I learned that loving someone was easy, but showing it takes courage. I didn't have courage, not then. It wasn't a good excuse, but it was the truth."
Kids are wise, we forget that when we grow up. We discredit our younger self for being "innocent and foolish", we believe our adult version is better because we think we know better, but it's not exactly like that. There's a reason why little boys and girls say that adults are boring. We were awesome when we were kids, we could see the world in a way we can't fathom when we grow up, and I strongly believe that they know that, they know we're missing the marvels of the world we live in. So read this book, allow yourself to be reminded that you can see things in a different way, let the kid inside you show you the way. Or give this book to a young girl or boy, they will enjoy it a lot too, and they will thank you for giving them an amazing story.
I didn't know what to expect from this book, but I started reading and it was so good and entertaining, and then I read the last pages and it became something special. I was laughing out loud and suddenly I was crying a lot, and I didn't understand why... I cryed because I felt young and old at the same time. Sometimes you think there is a happy ever after but life doesn't work like that. You accomplish great things and yet you feel like a loser in the future anyway, and you ask yourself over and over: where did I go wrong?. It was something special, and you can't simply explain special. It's also hard to write a story that can mean so much to someone, but James Mendenhall did it with his first book, and that's why I hope he keeps writing.
One of the rules of the box is "I give so that you may give". I received this great book from the author, and now I'm giving it to my siblings because I like sharing things that are special to me with the people I love.
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
March 15, 2015
I wasn't sure what to expect when I read this book - I've never been a huge fan of holiday novels, but this went far beyond any expectation I could have conjured. This novel sucked me in and would not let go. I read it in a day! Mendenhall is a natural storyteller who totally has the voice of a 12-year-old boy down pat, right down to the awkwardness around girls. This book carries you through a magical journey that keeps you guessing right up until the end. You never know what's around the next corner. This book was humorous, witty and heartfelt. The humor in it reminded me a lot of the Wayside School books I used to read as a kid. I think this book is good for any age, because who doesn't like a clean adventure, filled with innocence and magic? You can't help but read the last page with a smile on your face and warm, fuzzy feelings in your heart.
Excellent job, Mendenhall! If I could have given this novel 6 stars, I would have!
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Excellent job, Mendenhall! If I could have given this novel 6 stars, I would have!
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
February 26, 2015
The Bad Present by James Mendenhall is a well written story about a boy, falling in love, being part of a family, and being part of the bigger world around him. Mr. Mendenhall wrote wonderful and personable characters in an engaging story. I enjoyed the interactions between the characters as well as the history tidbits and Latin phrases used throughout the book. Mr. Mendenhall, also, includes the idea that 12 year olds (and girls!) can still like dinosaurs. This book is definitely a book to be read by young adults, or even together as a family.
****I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.****
****I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.****
March 7, 2015
I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This book reads as part fable and part coming-of-age story. A young boy is giving a box which he is supposed to open before he goes to bed on Christmas, or very bad things will happen. Well, the young man forgets and sure enough, things start going very wrong. The boy then begins a year long journey to try and right his wrong and along the way finds out a little about himself, his family, and his friends.
With entertaining characters, this tale will enchant readers of Diary of a Wimpy Kid along with those who enjoy fairy tales with an edge. Even adults will enjoy the story of love, family, and what people will do to keep their "village" together.
This book reads as part fable and part coming-of-age story. A young boy is giving a box which he is supposed to open before he goes to bed on Christmas, or very bad things will happen. Well, the young man forgets and sure enough, things start going very wrong. The boy then begins a year long journey to try and right his wrong and along the way finds out a little about himself, his family, and his friends.
With entertaining characters, this tale will enchant readers of Diary of a Wimpy Kid along with those who enjoy fairy tales with an edge. Even adults will enjoy the story of love, family, and what people will do to keep their "village" together.
December 11, 2015
I won this book from a First Reads giveaway. It was moderately interesting with some amusing moments. I'd recommend it to a middle-school level reader. The main situation with the box and the consequences for not following the rules just didn't stay coherent for me. However, I did like the emotional atmosphere of the closing chapters. On the basis of the closing chapters, I'd probably give the book 3 1/2 stars. Thank you to the author and his publishers for the free copy.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews