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Calvin Coconut #1
Calvin Coconut: Trouble Magnet
Fourth-grader Calvin lives near the beach in Oahu with his mom and little sister. Mom “You’re the man of the house.” But Calvin’s not great at being the man of the house, or taking care of his responsibilities. He’s too busy having fun with his pals, and avoiding Tito, the bully.
Trouble Magnet is the first book in a new series for younger readers full of all the fun of growing up in Hawaii. It introduces a wonderful multicultural cast of characters, including Mr. Purdy, who calls his fourth-grade class Boot Camp; Uncle Scoop, who runs the lunch wagon at the beach; Ledward, Mom’s 6'7" boyfriend; and gorgeous, intimidating, 15-year-old Stella-from-Texas, who arrives to be the live-in babysitter—and to step all over Calvin’s turf.
Trouble Magnet is the first book in a new series for younger readers full of all the fun of growing up in Hawaii. It introduces a wonderful multicultural cast of characters, including Mr. Purdy, who calls his fourth-grade class Boot Camp; Uncle Scoop, who runs the lunch wagon at the beach; Ledward, Mom’s 6'7" boyfriend; and gorgeous, intimidating, 15-year-old Stella-from-Texas, who arrives to be the live-in babysitter—and to step all over Calvin’s turf.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
30 people are currently reading
246 people want to read
About the author
Graham Salisbury
32 books99 followersGraham Salisbury comes from a 100-year line of newspapermen, all associated with Hawaii's morning paper, the Honolulu Advertiser. Although a career as a newsman could have been possible, Salisbury chose to imagine rather than report. "I enjoy writing about characters who might have been. To me, exploring fictional themes, situations, and lives is a quietly exhilarating experience. There are times when completely unexpected happenings take place as my fingertips walk the keyboard, things that make me laugh or get all choked up or even amaze me."
Salisbury's drive to write about the emotional journey that kids must take to become adults in a challenging and complicated world is evident throughout his work. Says the author: "I've thought a lot about what my job is, or should be as an author of books for young readers. I don't write to teach, preach, lecture, or criticize, but to explore. And if my stories show characters choosing certain life options, and the possible consequences of having chosen those options, then I will have done something worthwhile."
His books -- Eyes of the Emperor, Blue Skin of the Sea, Under the Blood-Red Sun, Shark Bait, Jungle Dogs, Lord of the Deep, Island Boyz and his short stories, too -- have been celebrated widely with praise and distinguished awards. Graham Salisbury, winner of the PEN/Norma Klein Award, grew up on the islands of Oahu and Hawaii. Later, he graduated from California State University, Northridge, and received an MFA degree from Vermont College of Norwich University. In fact, he was a member of the founding faculty of Vermont College's highly successful MFA program in Writing for Children, now the Union Institute & University.
Other important things to know about this author: He worked as the skipper of a glass-bottom boat, as a deckhand on a deep-sea charter fishing boat, and as an Montessori elementary school teacher. His
rock-and-roll band, The Millennium, had a number one hit in the Philippines, which he composed. He once surfed with a shark, got stung by a Portuguese man-of-war (several times!), and swam for his life from a moray eel. Believe it or not, he didn't wear shoes until the sixth grade and never saw snow until he was nineteen. Graham Salisbury now lives with his family in Portland, Oregon.
Salisbury's drive to write about the emotional journey that kids must take to become adults in a challenging and complicated world is evident throughout his work. Says the author: "I've thought a lot about what my job is, or should be as an author of books for young readers. I don't write to teach, preach, lecture, or criticize, but to explore. And if my stories show characters choosing certain life options, and the possible consequences of having chosen those options, then I will have done something worthwhile."
His books -- Eyes of the Emperor, Blue Skin of the Sea, Under the Blood-Red Sun, Shark Bait, Jungle Dogs, Lord of the Deep, Island Boyz and his short stories, too -- have been celebrated widely with praise and distinguished awards. Graham Salisbury, winner of the PEN/Norma Klein Award, grew up on the islands of Oahu and Hawaii. Later, he graduated from California State University, Northridge, and received an MFA degree from Vermont College of Norwich University. In fact, he was a member of the founding faculty of Vermont College's highly successful MFA program in Writing for Children, now the Union Institute & University.
Other important things to know about this author: He worked as the skipper of a glass-bottom boat, as a deckhand on a deep-sea charter fishing boat, and as an Montessori elementary school teacher. His
rock-and-roll band, The Millennium, had a number one hit in the Philippines, which he composed. He once surfed with a shark, got stung by a Portuguese man-of-war (several times!), and swam for his life from a moray eel. Believe it or not, he didn't wear shoes until the sixth grade and never saw snow until he was nineteen. Graham Salisbury now lives with his family in Portland, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
February 22, 2013
As a whole, this was a good introduction to Calvin Coconut, his family, friends, and some of the differences that exist between the Continent and Hawai'i, exemplified in the new haole kid, Willy. I thought that the book did Hawai'i justice and had no mention of your usual Hawaiian stereotypes - surfing, hula, and pineapples. The book talks about the diversity of races and ethnicities found amongst Hawai'i's youth, the diversity amongst the foods they eat, and their family units. Having grown up in Hawai'i, it is obvious the author has a well-rounded view of Local kids. The author even goes so far as to distinguish the races of the characters, making it obvious that only some characters are Hawaiian despite most of them being born in Hawai'i. This was a subtle and excellent point to make that many people outside of Hawai'i do not recognize.
There are really only two issues I have with the book. The first is the cover which is reminiscent of all things stereotypically Hawai'i. On the cover, Calvin is shown running into the ocean with a surfboard. As far as I can recall, surfing is never mentioned in the book really, especially not Calvin and his friends surfing. There is an incident with a kiteboard, but the cover would not accurately portray that scene. I wonder, then, why the illustrator and others involved in the decision making portion of the artwork (editor, publisher, etc.) felt it necessary to rely on pre-conceived notions of Hawai'i. Was it to make the book more accessible to kids? Seem more exotic? The normal life that Calvin lives as a kid who is always getting into trouble isn't enough to sell the book on its own? I find all of this hard to believe and am disappointed in that decision.
The second issue I have with the book is the treatment of family friend Stella when she comes to visit. Stella arrives from Texas, a blonde haired, blue eyed beauty, and everyone falls all over her. The kids don't really fall all over anyone else in the book or find anyone else overtly attractive - which is to be expected since they're in 4th grade - except for Stella. I may be being overly sensitive, but why did that character have to be the typical western concept of beauty. She could've been any race coming from Texas. Hell, Texas even has a Pacific Islander population. They already indicated that there are few white people in their school in Kailua and that white people are a minority. They got a new white kid in their class - also blonde haired and blue eyed (what, white people don't have brown or black hair anymore? The contrast between white and Pacific Islander has to be so overtly apparent?) - so I don't really understand the need and arrival of this goddess. Yes, she's surly and mean and full of teenage angst which is unattractive, but for the most part this all proceeds as something she will grow out of and adjust out of once she feels more at home.
The last few chapters of Stella really ruined this book for me. I was pretty excited about it up until this point. I think that I will have to read the next installment in the series to see Stella's role before I make up my mind on recommending this book to APA kids.
There are really only two issues I have with the book. The first is the cover which is reminiscent of all things stereotypically Hawai'i. On the cover, Calvin is shown running into the ocean with a surfboard. As far as I can recall, surfing is never mentioned in the book really, especially not Calvin and his friends surfing. There is an incident with a kiteboard, but the cover would not accurately portray that scene. I wonder, then, why the illustrator and others involved in the decision making portion of the artwork (editor, publisher, etc.) felt it necessary to rely on pre-conceived notions of Hawai'i. Was it to make the book more accessible to kids? Seem more exotic? The normal life that Calvin lives as a kid who is always getting into trouble isn't enough to sell the book on its own? I find all of this hard to believe and am disappointed in that decision.
The second issue I have with the book is the treatment of family friend Stella when she comes to visit. Stella arrives from Texas, a blonde haired, blue eyed beauty, and everyone falls all over her. The kids don't really fall all over anyone else in the book or find anyone else overtly attractive - which is to be expected since they're in 4th grade - except for Stella. I may be being overly sensitive, but why did that character have to be the typical western concept of beauty. She could've been any race coming from Texas. Hell, Texas even has a Pacific Islander population. They already indicated that there are few white people in their school in Kailua and that white people are a minority. They got a new white kid in their class - also blonde haired and blue eyed (what, white people don't have brown or black hair anymore? The contrast between white and Pacific Islander has to be so overtly apparent?) - so I don't really understand the need and arrival of this goddess. Yes, she's surly and mean and full of teenage angst which is unattractive, but for the most part this all proceeds as something she will grow out of and adjust out of once she feels more at home.
The last few chapters of Stella really ruined this book for me. I was pretty excited about it up until this point. I think that I will have to read the next installment in the series to see Stella's role before I make up my mind on recommending this book to APA kids.
June 6, 2009
It seems like every other book that’s published these days has a #1 slapped on the spine. I can understand why. Series books allow readers to get comfortable with characters and form a connection that can last over the course of a lot of reading. They’re also the ultimate “what do I read next” solution:
Young Reader: What should I read next?
Me: Well, you read and enjoyed the first outing of Horrible Harry, correct? Might I humbly suggest that you will likely find the second installment of interest.
Young Reader: Why are you talking like that?
Me: Sorry. Try book #2.
Anyway, series books often introduce characters that kids want to go on adventures with. Magic Tree House, Harry Potter, Nate the Great, Cam Jansen, The 39 Clues – the list truly goes on and on, and is growing. Kids like series books. And kids are gonna like Calvin Coconut. In Trouble Magnet (Calvin Coconut #1), readers are introduced to a character that is instantly likable, living in a unique setting, getting into the sort of situations that kids will laugh about and identify with. Push this one on your series-loving young readers.
Calvin lives with his mom and six-year-old sister Darci in Kailua, on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Just about to start 4th grade (and looking forward to his ex-army teacher Mr. Purdy), Calvin receives some surprising news and some bad news. The surprising news is that the Coconuts will be taking on a temporary new member, 15-year-old Stella, from Texas. The bad news is that she’ll be taking over Calvin’s room (moving him to the bug-infested garage) and eliminating his status as the oldest kid in the family. While our hero tries to sort out that predicament, he also has to do his best to fend off the slow witted school bully (sixth grader Tito Andrade) who seems to have it in for him. These two situations eventually collide, paving the way for a conclusion that will please young readers.
When I first got a load of this book I couldn’t help but think “the story takes place in Hawaii and the main character’s last name is Coconut? Isn’t that sort of, I don’t know, offensive?” That concern was put to rest quickly however when the reader learns that Calvin’s father, a one-hit-wonder singer, changed the family’s last name to Coconut from Novio for career purposes. It’s a showbiz thing. This back story also clues the reader into the fact that Calvin’s dad left for the bright lights of the mainland four years ago and has yet to return.
Calvin himself is refreshingly normal, and his personality drives the jovial, upbeat mood of Trouble Magnet. He’s not a genius, but not a poor student either. Funny, but not a class clown. When difficult situations arise, it isn’t the end of the world to Calvin, but it isn’t fun either. There’s a realism to the character that kids will find comfortable.
With so many #1s being applied to spines these days, it’s easy for new series to run together. With humor, likable characters, and loads of readability, Trouble Magnet stands out. Keep checking for Calvin Coconut.
Young Reader: What should I read next?
Me: Well, you read and enjoyed the first outing of Horrible Harry, correct? Might I humbly suggest that you will likely find the second installment of interest.
Young Reader: Why are you talking like that?
Me: Sorry. Try book #2.
Anyway, series books often introduce characters that kids want to go on adventures with. Magic Tree House, Harry Potter, Nate the Great, Cam Jansen, The 39 Clues – the list truly goes on and on, and is growing. Kids like series books. And kids are gonna like Calvin Coconut. In Trouble Magnet (Calvin Coconut #1), readers are introduced to a character that is instantly likable, living in a unique setting, getting into the sort of situations that kids will laugh about and identify with. Push this one on your series-loving young readers.
Calvin lives with his mom and six-year-old sister Darci in Kailua, on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Just about to start 4th grade (and looking forward to his ex-army teacher Mr. Purdy), Calvin receives some surprising news and some bad news. The surprising news is that the Coconuts will be taking on a temporary new member, 15-year-old Stella, from Texas. The bad news is that she’ll be taking over Calvin’s room (moving him to the bug-infested garage) and eliminating his status as the oldest kid in the family. While our hero tries to sort out that predicament, he also has to do his best to fend off the slow witted school bully (sixth grader Tito Andrade) who seems to have it in for him. These two situations eventually collide, paving the way for a conclusion that will please young readers.
When I first got a load of this book I couldn’t help but think “the story takes place in Hawaii and the main character’s last name is Coconut? Isn’t that sort of, I don’t know, offensive?” That concern was put to rest quickly however when the reader learns that Calvin’s father, a one-hit-wonder singer, changed the family’s last name to Coconut from Novio for career purposes. It’s a showbiz thing. This back story also clues the reader into the fact that Calvin’s dad left for the bright lights of the mainland four years ago and has yet to return.
Calvin himself is refreshingly normal, and his personality drives the jovial, upbeat mood of Trouble Magnet. He’s not a genius, but not a poor student either. Funny, but not a class clown. When difficult situations arise, it isn’t the end of the world to Calvin, but it isn’t fun either. There’s a realism to the character that kids will find comfortable.
With so many #1s being applied to spines these days, it’s easy for new series to run together. With humor, likable characters, and loads of readability, Trouble Magnet stands out. Keep checking for Calvin Coconut.
April 17, 2022
Nope, nope, nope. I did not care for this at all. The sexism in the book is sometimes subtle, sometimes obvious, and I ended up having to interrupt one chapter and have a discussion about it; I couldn't go on without saying something was making me uncomfortable as a female reader.
The subtleties were things like Calvin saying that with his door-greeter job he would have to shake hands with everyone, "including the girls." But the entire character of Stella seemed to have been thrown in there as a sex object, which I just can't even wrap my head around in a book for a 4th grader. Our first introduction to Stella talked about her long blond hair, it had Julio gaping and saying, "Oh boy," and then it described her tight jeans and button-up shirt. When Stella had to climb out the window it was with a mention of her hot pink shorty pajamas and falling on her butt. The bully character Tito then gets goo-goo eyes for her as well. And then when Tito was going to harm Calvin for ruining his shirt, Calvin offered to pay for the shirt but the shirt was irreplaceable so he was trying to think of another way to "pay" for the shirt or provide something in exchange, and the method of "payment" he came up with was: Stella. Introduce her to the creep bully in exchange for leaving Calvin alone. And I had to pause that chapter right there, explain to my kids that providing a young lady as payment should never be okay, and sending creeper Tito into Stella's direction is just unfair and mean-spirited.
I have no idea why the publisher didn't think any of this was problematic.
The subtleties were things like Calvin saying that with his door-greeter job he would have to shake hands with everyone, "including the girls." But the entire character of Stella seemed to have been thrown in there as a sex object, which I just can't even wrap my head around in a book for a 4th grader. Our first introduction to Stella talked about her long blond hair, it had Julio gaping and saying, "Oh boy," and then it described her tight jeans and button-up shirt. When Stella had to climb out the window it was with a mention of her hot pink shorty pajamas and falling on her butt. The bully character Tito then gets goo-goo eyes for her as well. And then when Tito was going to harm Calvin for ruining his shirt, Calvin offered to pay for the shirt but the shirt was irreplaceable so he was trying to think of another way to "pay" for the shirt or provide something in exchange, and the method of "payment" he came up with was: Stella. Introduce her to the creep bully in exchange for leaving Calvin alone. And I had to pause that chapter right there, explain to my kids that providing a young lady as payment should never be okay, and sending creeper Tito into Stella's direction is just unfair and mean-spirited.
I have no idea why the publisher didn't think any of this was problematic.
July 9, 2011
Calvin Coconut: Trouble Magnet is the first in a new series by Graham Salisbury. Trouble always seems to find Calvin even when he's doing his best to avoid it. At home he has to give up his room to a girl from Texas. At school he's got a couple of bullies to avoid. To make matters worse, one of the bullies has a crush on the girl from Texas!
The Calvin Coconut books are set on the island of Oahu. As Graham Salisbury explains on the series website, he has set the books in his old elementary school. What this means is that the characters in Calvin Coconut seem real without being an obvious lesson on Hawaiian multiculturalism.
Instead of focusing on Hawaiian culture being different, Calvin and his friends learn through trial and error how different Texas culture. What strikes them as normal strikes Calvin's house guest as weird. Being in a Pacific rim state too, I find Hawaiian culture more normal than Texan, so I can relate to Calvin's bewilderment.
The books are best for children in second through fifth grade. There are delightful illustrations by Jacqueline Rogers to accompany the silliest of the scenes in the book.
There are four books planned and I've read two. I hope to read the others.
The Calvin Coconut books are set on the island of Oahu. As Graham Salisbury explains on the series website, he has set the books in his old elementary school. What this means is that the characters in Calvin Coconut seem real without being an obvious lesson on Hawaiian multiculturalism.
Instead of focusing on Hawaiian culture being different, Calvin and his friends learn through trial and error how different Texas culture. What strikes them as normal strikes Calvin's house guest as weird. Being in a Pacific rim state too, I find Hawaiian culture more normal than Texan, so I can relate to Calvin's bewilderment.
The books are best for children in second through fifth grade. There are delightful illustrations by Jacqueline Rogers to accompany the silliest of the scenes in the book.
There are four books planned and I've read two. I hope to read the others.
October 1, 2015
I asked for suggestions of diverse titles I could potentially booktalk to 3rd graders and this was one of them.
Calvin Coconut (yes, his real last name; it's a long story) is a trouble magnet. It seems no matter how hard he tries to follow the rules, trouble follows him around. Trouble might appear in the form of the school bully who just won't leave him and his friends alone, forgetting to fix the lock on his bedroom door so that their new houseguest gets trapped inside, or accidentally having a huge food fight after his teacher had provided a special treat lunch on the first day of school.
Calvin's adventures are humorous, but with a lot of heart. Kids who like funny stories or kids who always seem to find themselves in trouble will identify with Calvin. Details about Calvin's Hawaiian home make this a good choice for exposing kids to diverse cultures.
Calvin Coconut (yes, his real last name; it's a long story) is a trouble magnet. It seems no matter how hard he tries to follow the rules, trouble follows him around. Trouble might appear in the form of the school bully who just won't leave him and his friends alone, forgetting to fix the lock on his bedroom door so that their new houseguest gets trapped inside, or accidentally having a huge food fight after his teacher had provided a special treat lunch on the first day of school.
Calvin's adventures are humorous, but with a lot of heart. Kids who like funny stories or kids who always seem to find themselves in trouble will identify with Calvin. Details about Calvin's Hawaiian home make this a good choice for exposing kids to diverse cultures.
November 12, 2009
This is not a book I would have picked up were it not on the Texas Bluebonnet Elementary Reading list for 2010-2011. I found it to be a cute story that both boys and girls grades 2 to 4 would like. Fast reading. Cute illustrations. Not a very believable Texas teenage girl character comes to live with Calvin in his home in Hawaii. She's believable as a moody teen. Just not believable as a Texas teen based upon her dialogue. (Has this author even been to Texas or met a Texan?) I liked the setting of the "real Hawaii" as opposed to the tourist version. I have to believe that that rings true since Graham Salisbury grew up in Hawaii.
June 3, 2009
This is an interesting tale of Hawaiian youth angst, a boy growing up in Kailua, experiencing the beauty of the islands as well as the terror of bullies and the guilt of forgotten promises.
It's not the greatest book to read aloud, but our oldest especially liked it and I love the fact that it's set in Kailua, near where we live. It even has a map that is geographically accurate, if not to scale.
I hope to get the other book in this series at our local library as well.
It's not the greatest book to read aloud, but our oldest especially liked it and I love the fact that it's set in Kailua, near where we live. It even has a map that is geographically accurate, if not to scale.
I hope to get the other book in this series at our local library as well.
November 24, 2008
This book should be popular with primary grade children. Calvin has problems at school with a bully and problems at home where he must learn to be responsible. The author's light touch and the Hawaiian setting make the story especially entertaining.
July 8, 2012
It's about time a series of books takes place in Hawaii! Readers looking for humorous stories with main characters who cannot stay out of trouble will like this story about Calvin who finds himself in trouble more than out of it.
October 9, 2023
Calvin Coconut lives in Hawaii with his mom and little sister, and he's your typical 10-year-old trouble magnet. This book is written in Calvin's slangy first-person voice. It's got the same feel as a Wimpy Kid book. There are friends, bullies, teachers, and parents, very much reflecting a kid's life. This book was cute, and I wouldn't mind my boys reading it on their own, but it's not worthy of a read-aloud. The writing leaves much to be desired, and the story wasn't overly well-crafted or inspiring.
It's set in Hawaii, and I was pleased to see a lot of local color—sometimes books set in fun locations don't actually have a strong sense of place and could be set anywhere for all the details they offer.
Every middle-grade book needs a theme, right? This one is "responsibility." Calvin ups his game in this department, so that's good.
One thing that this book has going for it is the dichotomy of bad and good male role models. Calvin's dad left his family behind to be a famous singer in California, so he's your typical MIA dad. But the mom has a boyfriend who is a nice guy, and Calvin's fourth-grade teacher is an ex-army guy who is a very decent dude.
It's set in Hawaii, and I was pleased to see a lot of local color—sometimes books set in fun locations don't actually have a strong sense of place and could be set anywhere for all the details they offer.
Every middle-grade book needs a theme, right? This one is "responsibility." Calvin ups his game in this department, so that's good.
One thing that this book has going for it is the dichotomy of bad and good male role models. Calvin's dad left his family behind to be a famous singer in California, so he's your typical MIA dad. But the mom has a boyfriend who is a nice guy, and Calvin's fourth-grade teacher is an ex-army guy who is a very decent dude.
July 1, 2018
I wasn’t expecting much from this book, but it completely took me by surprise. Calvin is relatable and genuine. His troubles—losing his bedroom, losing a centipede, almost losing his little sister—would be problematic for any kid. But Calvin hails from Kailua, on the windward side of Oahu and kids from here will love to see their favorite foods and turns of phrase (slippers, anyone?) in print. For mainlanders, it’s a window into everyday life in paradise, which doesn’t happen to be all that different for this fourth grader who always seems to find himself in tricky situations.
Tags:
Fourth grade
School stories
Families
Siblings
Bullies
Great teachers
Hawaii
Oahu
Sticky situations
Working moms
Race
Culture
Food
Ethnicities
Friendship
Back to school
Tags:
Fourth grade
School stories
Families
Siblings
Bullies
Great teachers
Hawaii
Oahu
Sticky situations
Working moms
Race
Culture
Food
Ethnicities
Friendship
Back to school
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2019
Calvin lives on Oahu in Hawaii and his island life is interesting in itself - he and his friends are of various mostly Asian descents, often a mix of them, and the kids spend much of their time outdoors, often at the beach, and their English slang is different from what we might hear on the U.S. mainland. Calvin's adventures are mostly fun - the author includes some serious aspects but nothing really intense. Very enjoyable book.
January 25, 2018
I enjoyed this book. I have never visited Hawaii so for me it is interesting reading a book set there and learning about life, foods eaten, and other interesting tidbits about the lifestyle there. I also enjoyed the interactions among family and friends.
April 28, 2021
I picked up this book because my son's name is Calvin. I read it to him. It was okay, but we probably won't read any more of the series. I did like the perspective of someone from Hawaii. Calvin's not the best role model, though.
June 9, 2021
3.5 I rounded up. Another good one for 3rd grade early 4th. Calvin Coconut ( there is a story behind his name) is another likable character. He gets into trouble but doesn’t dwell on it or blame others. It’s also a chance to learn about a part of the country many kids don’t know much about.
February 20, 2018
I think this book is great for elementary kids. They might have a hard time understanding some of the Hawaiian grammar though.
September 14, 2018
Read-aloud with my little boys. They enjoyed it so much they wanted to read the second one.
March 7, 2020
This book was a lot of fun! Calvin is always getting into trouble, but you can't help but love him! The Hawaiian setting is really fun and interesting too.
June 12, 2020
Read this with my reluctant reader, and she enjoyed it. MC is relatable and the story is easy to follow. The ending fell short for me though.
September 21, 2020
Benji says: he likes the part about squishing the centipede but then they saved it.
Want to read
January 14, 2021AR BL 2.8
April 13, 2022
I liked this book very much but I feel like it could have been a little better. But overall it was pretty good.
June 1, 2023
It’s a ok book but definitely not the best.
Most of the series deserves a three or four.
I mean goodish book but needs tons of improvement.
So yeah, a three star book.
Most of the series deserves a three or four.
I mean goodish book but needs tons of improvement.
So yeah, a three star book.
August 23, 2023
I didn’t like this one. I was hoping it would help more with how to handle a bully. Instead he used a girl to get out of a situation. Also a lot of sexism is portrayed in this book.
May 26, 2012
I just finished reading Calvin Coconut: Trouble Magnet for the second time. The first time I read it was two summers ago because I found it at our local library and it looked like it might be a fun read. I read it and thought it was OK.
I didn’t really give it any more thought until I saw that it was one of the Lovelace Award nominees for the coming school year (2012-13). I decided to re-read it. This time I read it aloud with my children (ages 8 and 9-1/2). They LOVED it. My 9-year-old now wants to read the rest of the Calvin Coconut series! I have to say that I enjoyed the book MUCH more when I read it this second time. Maybe it was because I read it with children for whom Mr. Salisbury intended. Reading Calvin with my kids helped me to see some of the humor and fun that I missed the first time around by myself.
Calvin is starting Fourth Grade in his hometown of Kailua, Hawaii. Kind, earnest and ready-for-fun, Calvin has good intentions but somehow those intentions backfire into situations that require difficult explanations to parents and teachers. Along with his friends, Julio, Maya and Willy, we accompany Calvin as he brings a centipede to class, spills juice on the prized Wrestling T-shirt of the biggest, meanest kid at school and accidentally locks the teenage daughter of his mother’s friend in her bedroom–requiring her to crawl out of the window in her pajamas. (This last situation had my kids roaring with laughter while we read it!)
In conclusion, Calvin Coconut is an easy romp of a read for 2nd-5th Grade. It offers an enjoyable independent reading opportunity and, if my experience is any indication, it will provide a rollicking good time as a read-aloud for bedtime, family time or the classroom!
I didn’t really give it any more thought until I saw that it was one of the Lovelace Award nominees for the coming school year (2012-13). I decided to re-read it. This time I read it aloud with my children (ages 8 and 9-1/2). They LOVED it. My 9-year-old now wants to read the rest of the Calvin Coconut series! I have to say that I enjoyed the book MUCH more when I read it this second time. Maybe it was because I read it with children for whom Mr. Salisbury intended. Reading Calvin with my kids helped me to see some of the humor and fun that I missed the first time around by myself.
Calvin is starting Fourth Grade in his hometown of Kailua, Hawaii. Kind, earnest and ready-for-fun, Calvin has good intentions but somehow those intentions backfire into situations that require difficult explanations to parents and teachers. Along with his friends, Julio, Maya and Willy, we accompany Calvin as he brings a centipede to class, spills juice on the prized Wrestling T-shirt of the biggest, meanest kid at school and accidentally locks the teenage daughter of his mother’s friend in her bedroom–requiring her to crawl out of the window in her pajamas. (This last situation had my kids roaring with laughter while we read it!)
In conclusion, Calvin Coconut is an easy romp of a read for 2nd-5th Grade. It offers an enjoyable independent reading opportunity and, if my experience is any indication, it will provide a rollicking good time as a read-aloud for bedtime, family time or the classroom!
December 24, 2014
A solid start to the series, but it does like Salisbury is working too hard as he juggles the introduction of characters, setting, and multiple plotlines. The troubles with which fourth grader Calvin must deal range from the comic (a kiteboarding incident, a centipede on the loose, a food fight) to the serious (his absent father, encounters with the sixth grade bully Tito, and the arrival of Stella, his mother's best friend's daughter, who comes to stay for a while and takes over Calvin's room). Calvin's heart is in the right place as he tries his best to be "the man of the house" and he does learn valuable lessons about the importance of admitting mistakes and apologizing to those affected by his actions. However, I was dissatisfied with the resolution of the bullying issues: I hope that the character of Tito is explored more fully in future additions to the series. In general, I found Calvin to be the only well-rounded character, and was surprised by some of his mom's choices, which seemed to serve plot convenience rather than character development : her sudden announcement of Stella's arrival and her decision to spend the entire day after Stella's arrival shopping at CostCo stuck out as particularly strange. Looking forward to see how the series develops and hoping that some of these issues will be resolved.
October 3, 2010
I was pleasantly surprised to find myself actually loving this book. This is an early chapter book, perfect for transitional readers in grades 2-4. Calvin Coconut can't seem to stay out of trouble, and yet it's never really his fault. He is a lovable 4th grade native Hawaiian who has to be the man of the house and that's not easy when a strange girl from Texas arrives to live with his family! According to some other reviews of this book that I have read, Stella-from-Texas doesn't speak much like an actual Texan teenager and I'm glad of that! Stella is an annoying character, but she helps Calvin with his school bully problem and so I have hope for her yet. I wasn't planning on reading this whole series, but I just might. As Calvin said so humbly, "Who doesn't love Calvin Coconut?" Book 1 was a fun and quick read, and the Hawaiian setting makes this book interesting for me. Now onto Calvin Coconut: The Zippy Fix!
January 11, 2010
In this first book of a planned series, Graham Salisbury has created a fun and believable set of characters that represent a variety of ethnicities and offer insight into daily middle class life growing up on a Hawaiian island. The main character, Calvin struggles with the possibility that he should be the man of the house now that his father has abandoned the family to pursue his singing career. Younger readers will relate to the times when even Calvin’s best effort to be responsible seems to be upended by his everyday adventures. The sporadic black and white illustrations by Jacqueline Rogers add humor and appeal, particularly those of his captured centipede, and they help to give the reader a better idea of Calvin’s environment. While the book’s exotic locale may help to lure in new readers, the charming action of Calvin and his neighborhood will have them eager for the next book in the series.
September 30, 2011
Graham Salisbury, Trouble Magnet (Wendy Lamb Books, 2009)
Salisbury kicks off his Hawaii-set series featuring pre-teen Calvin Coconut with Trouble Magnet, a cute book that introduces the characters and some basics of Hawaiian life to younger readers. I think he may underestimate the knowledge of mainlanders sometimes (is there a kid who's been to a county fair anywhere in the country who doesn't know what shave ice is?), but readers will get “ooh, gross!” kicks out of Calvin's out-of-this-world descriptions of traditional Hawaiian snack food (and I gotta say, anywhere you can buy dried squid in cellophane packages to snack on is all right by me). Salisbury does keep things universal with school bullies, canny-but-not-too-canny adults, and what promises to be a standard romantic subplot as things progress, and it's a nice blend. I liked this one. *** ½
Salisbury kicks off his Hawaii-set series featuring pre-teen Calvin Coconut with Trouble Magnet, a cute book that introduces the characters and some basics of Hawaiian life to younger readers. I think he may underestimate the knowledge of mainlanders sometimes (is there a kid who's been to a county fair anywhere in the country who doesn't know what shave ice is?), but readers will get “ooh, gross!” kicks out of Calvin's out-of-this-world descriptions of traditional Hawaiian snack food (and I gotta say, anywhere you can buy dried squid in cellophane packages to snack on is all right by me). Salisbury does keep things universal with school bullies, canny-but-not-too-canny adults, and what promises to be a standard romantic subplot as things progress, and it's a nice blend. I liked this one. *** ½
June 28, 2011
I read this because it's an Oregon Battle of the Books choice for next year, so my 9 yo son will read it. It's a stupid, ridiculous story! Calvin, the main character, is 9 years old and lives in Hawaii. His dad is a famous singer, changed the family's last name to Coconut and ran off to Vegas. Now they're poor and his mom works at Macy's. He is NINE and starting 4th grade. He has to walk his 6 year old sister home from school and forgets, but they don't admit it to mom. They stay home alone after school. His mom's friend's 15 yo daughter comes to live with them and the way they describe her is completely inappropriate for 3rd to 5th graders to be exposed to. I don't see much here to like, and I can't believe it's on the BOTB list!
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