What do you think?
Rate this book
Food for Thought
[Penguin Readers Level 3]
Original / British English Farm work isn't Joe's idea of holiday fun. He wanted to spend the summer surfing. But when he finds himself in the middle of a disagreement about GM (genetically-modified) crop trials, life becomes more interesting. He also meets two very different girls. But what do they really want from him?
Original / British English Farm work isn't Joe's idea of holiday fun. He wanted to spend the summer surfing. But when he finds himself in the middle of a disagreement about GM (genetically-modified) crop trials, life becomes more interesting. He also meets two very different girls. But what do they really want from him?
50 pages, Paperback
First published June 5, 1998
About the author
Pauline Francis
89 books24 followersI love books. I translated them when I lived in Africa – and I worked with them when I was a teacher and a librarian, but I never thought about writing them.
One day, about ten years ago, I decided to become a full-time writer.
My first books were for younger readers. In Drake’s Drummer Boy (1998), Will sails around the world with Sir Francis Drake; in Sam Stars at Shakespeare’s Globe (2006), Sam works with William Shakespeare.
As you can see, the sixteenth century fascinates me. A few years ago, I started to write for older readers, about people who faced very tough decisions in a world that was changing quickly: Lady Jane Grey, in Raven Queen; the lost colonists in A World Away; and the young Elizabeth in Traitor’s Kiss.
What is a typical writing day? I write very early in the morning in a coffee shop. Then I use my computer to re-write and to do my research at home in my study.
I am married with two grown-up children, and I live in Hertfordshire close to London and to Cambridge. I enjoy going to the cinema and the theatre – and anywhere where I can watch other people.
One day, about ten years ago, I decided to become a full-time writer.
My first books were for younger readers. In Drake’s Drummer Boy (1998), Will sails around the world with Sir Francis Drake; in Sam Stars at Shakespeare’s Globe (2006), Sam works with William Shakespeare.
As you can see, the sixteenth century fascinates me. A few years ago, I started to write for older readers, about people who faced very tough decisions in a world that was changing quickly: Lady Jane Grey, in Raven Queen; the lost colonists in A World Away; and the young Elizabeth in Traitor’s Kiss.
What is a typical writing day? I write very early in the morning in a coffee shop. Then I use my computer to re-write and to do my research at home in my study.
I am married with two grown-up children, and I live in Hertfordshire close to London and to Cambridge. I enjoy going to the cinema and the theatre – and anywhere where I can watch other people.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 31, 2012
Penguin Readers, Level 3
-Time: 10/28 - 40minutes 30 - 50minutes
-7 word summary: man - farm - surfing - two girls - GM(genetically modified)- lie - forgive
-Discussion question
1. when do you buy some crops(beans and corns), do you worry bout GM?
I didn't worry about GM, but I have never eaten GM crops.
2. If your parents have a bad relationship with other parents, do you feel bad their children?
NEVER!It's not relation thier children even if my parents don't like their parents. I want to have good relationship with him.
It's difficult for me to understand thier situation between nomal farmer and GM farmer. for them, it's really important problem.
However, a main character(man) didn't think deeply for it.
So I felt sad ;(
-Time: 10/28 - 40minutes 30 - 50minutes
-7 word summary: man - farm - surfing - two girls - GM(genetically modified)- lie - forgive
-Discussion question
1. when do you buy some crops(beans and corns), do you worry bout GM?
I didn't worry about GM, but I have never eaten GM crops.
2. If your parents have a bad relationship with other parents, do you feel bad their children?
NEVER!It's not relation thier children even if my parents don't like their parents. I want to have good relationship with him.
It's difficult for me to understand thier situation between nomal farmer and GM farmer. for them, it's really important problem.
However, a main character(man) didn't think deeply for it.
So I felt sad ;(
January 8, 2025
At first I was disappointed because the book was felt like the love story of young people. However, it was connected with GM (genetically modified), so I felt that it will be interesting and continued to read it. But it wasn't written deeply about GM, and as a result it was one ordinary love story, so I was disappointed it again.
June 15, 2014
1; Penguin Readers Level 3
2: 6/13=30 minutes 6/15=55 minutes
3: holiday, farmer, surfing, GM food, Potato, heavy rain, promise
4: a) The potato said David "Do you want to eat me?"
b) I saw the illustration before I read this book. In this illustration, potato have foot and talked with a boy. I thought this story is kind of science fictions.
However, this story wrote about GM food problems. David stayed his uncle house which have a big farm in Newquay. They grew some vegetables without chemical fertilizer. But near their farm, new farmer came and built a GM farm. David uncle and his wife worried about GM food because they thought GM food pollute their food. People in the Newquay also worried about GM food. So they hold a demonstration to protest GM food. Potato is one of the the demonstrations.
5: GM food is known for all over the world. In Japan, some GM soybeans or corn are used now. Certainly, GM food has some advantages, but it also has some disadvantages. Experts say GM food cause health problems and environmental problems. This story wrote about GM food problems. In this story, David uncle said "Our vegetables are polluted by GM food through the wind." I think it is an excess thought but many people worried about GM food. This story is not only fun but also very thoughtful. I realized we should think about GM food.
2: 6/13=30 minutes 6/15=55 minutes
3: holiday, farmer, surfing, GM food, Potato, heavy rain, promise
4: a) The potato said David "Do you want to eat me?"
b) I saw the illustration before I read this book. In this illustration, potato have foot and talked with a boy. I thought this story is kind of science fictions.
However, this story wrote about GM food problems. David stayed his uncle house which have a big farm in Newquay. They grew some vegetables without chemical fertilizer. But near their farm, new farmer came and built a GM farm. David uncle and his wife worried about GM food because they thought GM food pollute their food. People in the Newquay also worried about GM food. So they hold a demonstration to protest GM food. Potato is one of the the demonstrations.
5: GM food is known for all over the world. In Japan, some GM soybeans or corn are used now. Certainly, GM food has some advantages, but it also has some disadvantages. Experts say GM food cause health problems and environmental problems. This story wrote about GM food problems. In this story, David uncle said "Our vegetables are polluted by GM food through the wind." I think it is an excess thought but many people worried about GM food. This story is not only fun but also very thoughtful. I realized we should think about GM food.
May 3, 2014
I thought this book was boring for me.
When I saw this book's cover, I thought this book is the kind of impressed story.
But this story was not the kind of it.
Why I think this story is boring is that this story dosen't have especially interesting part for me.
But Having read this book, I'm a little interested in surfing.
I have never done surfing.
So I want to try to do surfing.
And this story gave me that friendship is most important in everything.
Especially keeping the promise is important.
It often appeared ” gm crops".
First time,I didn't know that word's meanings.
After having checked this word, I thought that's why this word is important in this story.
And then, I don't want to eat gm crops.
And some words I don't know were included in this story.
So I thought I should study english more hard.
And some phrase I don't know were included in it also.
So It was difficult for me to read this book.
I'm not sure that I could understand this story.
I wanna understand this level's book perfectly in the future.
So I'll continue to read english book in order to improve my english level.
When I saw this book's cover, I thought this book is the kind of impressed story.
But this story was not the kind of it.
Why I think this story is boring is that this story dosen't have especially interesting part for me.
But Having read this book, I'm a little interested in surfing.
I have never done surfing.
So I want to try to do surfing.
And this story gave me that friendship is most important in everything.
Especially keeping the promise is important.
It often appeared ” gm crops".
First time,I didn't know that word's meanings.
After having checked this word, I thought that's why this word is important in this story.
And then, I don't want to eat gm crops.
And some words I don't know were included in this story.
So I thought I should study english more hard.
And some phrase I don't know were included in it also.
So It was difficult for me to read this book.
I'm not sure that I could understand this story.
I wanna understand this level's book perfectly in the future.
So I'll continue to read english book in order to improve my english level.
October 3, 2012
Penguin active reading, lebel 3
Time 10/1: 45min 10/2: 45min
7-word summary
Jim - firm - surfing - GM- organic - trash -problem
Q1. Do you like vegetables? Do you eat organic foods?
A1. Yes. I like vegetables very much.
My grandparents are making vegetables.
My mother likes organic food, so my family often eat it!
Q2. Have you ever played surfing?
A1. I have never played surfing.
I live in Gifu, so there are no oceans,
So I don't have chances to play it.
This story is interesting.
At first, the main character, Joe, was not interested in
firm, and he was interested in surfing. But he went to
firm to help his uncle and aunt.
He met two girls and he changed his mind.
I like this change.
Time 10/1: 45min 10/2: 45min
7-word summary
Jim - firm - surfing - GM- organic - trash -problem
Q1. Do you like vegetables? Do you eat organic foods?
A1. Yes. I like vegetables very much.
My grandparents are making vegetables.
My mother likes organic food, so my family often eat it!
Q2. Have you ever played surfing?
A1. I have never played surfing.
I live in Gifu, so there are no oceans,
So I don't have chances to play it.
This story is interesting.
At first, the main character, Joe, was not interested in
firm, and he was interested in surfing. But he went to
firm to help his uncle and aunt.
He met two girls and he changed his mind.
I like this change.
April 21, 2016
1. PENGUIN READERS, 3
2. 04/14=30minutes; 04/15=40minutes; 04/18=25minutes
3. Joe/help/ GM crop/Anna/Kate/surfing/lie
4.
a. This book's type was mixed ecology and lovestory. In the passage, people quarreled about GM crop.
b. I did not like Anna's behaviour because she did not try to hear Joe's oppinion. Finally, she lied him.
5. This book's main story was about GM crop. I did not know about GM crop so I felt this story was a little difficult. I thought Joe's life dramatically changed since he came his uncle's house. He met new friends and he was involved in their struggles. Through reading this book, I wanted to know about GM crop more.
2. 04/14=30minutes; 04/15=40minutes; 04/18=25minutes
3. Joe/help/ GM crop/Anna/Kate/surfing/lie
4.
a. This book's type was mixed ecology and lovestory. In the passage, people quarreled about GM crop.
b. I did not like Anna's behaviour because she did not try to hear Joe's oppinion. Finally, she lied him.
5. This book's main story was about GM crop. I did not know about GM crop so I felt this story was a little difficult. I thought Joe's life dramatically changed since he came his uncle's house. He met new friends and he was involved in their struggles. Through reading this book, I wanted to know about GM crop more.
October 14, 2009
I like this book. This is the book that talks about the farm, however
this main character isn't thinking of farm. The story starts at the farm and it talks about farm, but this main character is thinking of two girls that has completely different personality. The reason I like this book, in my age i'm really interested in girls and how they act.
If there is another sequel, there would be another girl has completely different personality. So that makes Joe more confuse. Last I recommand this book to boys that are in my class.
this main character isn't thinking of farm. The story starts at the farm and it talks about farm, but this main character is thinking of two girls that has completely different personality. The reason I like this book, in my age i'm really interested in girls and how they act.
If there is another sequel, there would be another girl has completely different personality. So that makes Joe more confuse. Last I recommand this book to boys that are in my class.
November 13, 2014
1. Penguin readers level 3
2. 11/10= 20 11/12=75
3. farm holiday boring GM interesting girls plan
4.I disagree with the GM
cropbecause It' s not healthy and it has dangerous.
5. I am interested in to assist farm work ,but I also would think I don't want to go there in the summer vacation in the same as Jor. The reason is there are no young people amd the place is quite. I would feel sad and lonely. Nevertheless, Jor sent a good time, so it is important to do some new things and broaden our outlook.
2. 11/10= 20 11/12=75
3. farm holiday boring GM interesting girls plan
4.I disagree with the GM
cropbecause It' s not healthy and it has dangerous.
5. I am interested in to assist farm work ,but I also would think I don't want to go there in the summer vacation in the same as Jor. The reason is there are no young people amd the place is quite. I would feel sad and lonely. Nevertheless, Jor sent a good time, so it is important to do some new things and broaden our outlook.
April 30, 2014
1.Penguin Readers/ Level3
2.4/30 90min
3.Farm, GM crop, work, surfing, troubles, scientist, vegetable
4. a. If GM food is grown, there won't be any organic farms in ten years' time.
b.It's serious problem! Our body always need organic fresh vegetables.
5. It was very difficult for me to understand this story(problem). GM crop is useful, but I think it's not good for our health. I hope GM crop won't develop more.
2.4/30 90min
3.Farm, GM crop, work, surfing, troubles, scientist, vegetable
4. a. If GM food is grown, there won't be any organic farms in ten years' time.
b.It's serious problem! Our body always need organic fresh vegetables.
5. It was very difficult for me to understand this story(problem). GM crop is useful, but I think it's not good for our health. I hope GM crop won't develop more.
April 27, 2016
1. Penguin, level 3
2. 27/04/2016: 80 minutes
3. a boy; farm; crop; GM; plan of vacation; uncle; aunt
4. The young boy who wants to do surfing on the beach has decided to stay with his uncle and aunt for helping them and work with them during his vacation.
5. I like to reading this book. This is level 3, but there are any difficult words and easy to read. I haven't finished reading all, but I think the end of this story, his mind will change.
2. 27/04/2016: 80 minutes
3. a boy; farm; crop; GM; plan of vacation; uncle; aunt
4. The young boy who wants to do surfing on the beach has decided to stay with his uncle and aunt for helping them and work with them during his vacation.
5. I like to reading this book. This is level 3, but there are any difficult words and easy to read. I haven't finished reading all, but I think the end of this story, his mind will change.
November 8, 2012
Penguin readers Pauline Francis Level 3
110 minutes
sumary farm uncle gene discuss group food
What do you think about the gene recombination?
I think it is not good however if we want to live long, we should do it for food.
Can you answer why people have to do gene recombinations?
maybe, people want to live long and they need more food.
110 minutes
sumary farm uncle gene discuss group food
What do you think about the gene recombination?
I think it is not good however if we want to live long, we should do it for food.
Can you answer why people have to do gene recombinations?
maybe, people want to live long and they need more food.
April 19, 2016
It is so funny book
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews