Bobby The Brave (Sometimes)

Bobby

by Lisa Yee, Dan Santat (Illustrator)

From Lisa Yee and Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat, a hilarious sequel to Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally) .

Bobby fights his fears -- of stage fright, disconnection from his dad, and the evil neighbor cat with twenty-seven toes -- in this hilarious sequel to BOBBY VS. GIRLS (ACCIDENTALLY).



In his last adventure, Bobby Ellis-Chan got stuck to a stinky tree, had underwear attached to his back, and faced down a whole wolfpack of girls. What could be scarier or more humiliating than that?



Oh, how about playing sports with his football-hero dad ...

a cat with 27 toes ...

an asthma attack in public ...

dancing on stage in the school musical ...



And the list goes on! Bobby will have to overcome his fears if he's going to come out on top.

Genres: Middle Grade, Chapter Books, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Asian American, Humor, Asian Literature

153 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2010

About the author

Lisa Yee has written over 20 novels. Her most recent book, Maizy Chen's Last Chance, is about a fifth-generation Chinese American girl, and is a National Book Award Finalist, Newbery Honor, and the Asian Pacific American Children's Literature Award winner.

Lisa's debut novel, Millicent Min, Girl Genius, won the prestigious Sid Fleischman Humor Award. Other books include Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time, Absolutely Maybe, and a series about a 4th grader, Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally) and Bobby the Brave (Sometimes), illustrated by Dan Santat.

Lisa is also the author of several American Girl books and the DC Super Hero Girls series. A Thurber House Children’s Writer-in-Residence, Lisa's books have been named a NPR Best Summer Read, Sports Illustrated Kids Hot Summer Read, and USA Today Critics’ Top Pick.

Lisa lives In Western Massachusetts, but spends a lot of time in Los Angeles, especially when it's cold. Her next book, an awkward and hilarious mystery, is called The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum, and is illustrated by Dan Santat.

You can visit Lisa at www.lisayee.com.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, my kids thought this was a great title. And it suits the story well. Bobby is a 9 year-old boy (same age as my daughter) who loves to skateboard and doesn’t like to play football because he’s not good at it. Problem is, his father is an ex-football pro star, and Bobby’s greatest fear is letting his Dad down, especially since his sister Annie is a quarterback of the high school football team and their father’s pride and joy.

This book was really fun to read to both my kids. It was a little advanced for my 6 year-old son but he got the gist of it and liked the story. It has some funny scenes, themes that most kids can relate to and revolves around school and home. Bobby is a very likable character, who is kind to his younger sister Casey, and whose insecurities and dilemmas are very real. My kids thought Bobby was brave when he handled well the teasing about his asthma attack at school. They learned what it means to have asthma and how serious an attack can be. My kids were satisfied with the ending as all the plot elements were neatly resolved. It was a good change to read a book with a boy’s perspective on things. (My daughter is a girly girl.)

This is the second book in the Bobby series and I think it will do very well. I also think it’s a great father and son read, especially since Bobby's father is a stay-at-home Dad. This was a refreshing change. Altogether, this is a great book.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read with my 4-5 grade summer camp group, it was a funny read with a good message!

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 2nd and last book about Bobby, whose stay-at-home dad is a retired pro-football player, whose mom is a business executive, whose high-school-age sister is a quarter-back following in the shoes of dad, and whose little sister is a budding princess. Not only that, Bobby has plenty of challenges in this second month of his fourth grade year, hot on the heels of the all the problems the first month of school produced.

Bobby is very real, has a supportive family and teacher (who he adores). This would make a great read-aloud for 3rd and 4th grade teachers and for the family. Clocking in at just over 150 pages and replete with humorous illustrations, the book works for independent reading as well. Not only that, but both boys and girls are sure to enjoy it.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are characters I want to talk about in our classroom. They are unique and universal at the same time. I'd love to here which characters my class admire - which characters they find parts of themselves in or parts of their classmates. The teachers are pretty great too.

[lucien alexander “sasha” · Rating 2 out of 5]

i think i really skipped this reading level. stuff along the lines of junie b. and captain underpants seemed babyish even when i was the target audience. bobby and his family are sweet and funny, and i know this is probably a great book for readers who are transitioning to novels.

[Kathy Iwanicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book! I think my third graders will as well! What great messages!

[Zoe Strope · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Bobby Vs. Girls when I was younger and really enjoyed it, so when I heard about this book I had to check it out. I wasn't disappointed.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a very funny book the loved the characters and I relate to it.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

[Sheila Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Asian American boy trying to live up to fathers ideals but is good at other things. Father is working on being the best he can be. Misunderstanding between the two. Bobby has asthma. Fiction chapter book. Good for grades 2-4. Read on first chapter Friday. Series. Illustrated by Dan Santat.

[MARY MASON · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good sequel. I hope the author writes more about Bobby. Characters are realistic and likeable, people you would want to be friends with.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've now read this with both of my sons, and each was a first grader at the time. Younger brother was reluctant at first, but I could tell that he quickly found himself being drawn into the story and he really enjoyed it. Unfortunately I forgot that this is the second Bobby book, so he and I hadn't read the first one together yet. With his older brother, I got the order correct. Anyway, it's been fun revisiting Bobby Ellis-Chan's family story again, especially now that we have a princess-obsessed little sister in our family, too. I like that Bobby's family and friends reflect a diverse society, but without that being the major theme of the series. I think it's important for both types of stories to be shared with kids, so they can see both "windows and mirrors"in literature. I really hope that Ms Yee will someday add another volume to Bobby's story-- maybe in time to read with Little Sis...

[Abby Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not easy having a former pro football player for a father, at least not if you're Bobby Ellis-Chan. Bobby's good at lots of things - skateboarding, being a dog in the school musical, making friends - but football is not one of them! Bobby's already worried that he's not living up to his dad's expectations, but when Bobby gets off on the wrong foot with the new PE teacher things get worse. Mr. Rainerhaus, a big fan of Bobby's dad, announces that they're going to play football in gym. Bobby's toast! Or is he?

I'm happy to report that the second installment of Bobby Ellis-Chan's adventures lives up to the first. Bobby's predicaments are relatable and illustrations by Dan Santat add to the humor in the story. Hand this one to fans of Andrew Clements and other school stories. Here's hoping there are lots more Bobby books to come!

[Suebee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would recommend this to my 3rd/4th grade students.

The second in a series by Lisa Yee, Bobby is a fourth grader whose Dad was a famous NFL star, "The Freezer," but is now a stay-at-home dad. At the beginning of the book, Bobby feels overshadowed by his older sister (who is the high school quarterback) and hears his dad saying, "He's not like me," because Bobby feels like a failure at football. Bobby loves skateboarding, though, and his dad is impressed by his skateboarding skills.

Bobby is cast as Sandy the Dog in his class's production of Annie the Musical, and his asthmatic attack (due to his furry dog costume) stops the show and leads to a class discussion about asthma and other uncontrollable medical conditions.

A likable character.

[Childrens Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this sequel to Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally) and think it will be an easy sell. Bobby does not feel that he can live up to his dad's expectations. His did is a retired NFL player, a huge and kind man, so when they approach the football unit in PE, the teacher expects that Bobby will be a star. Of course Bobby loves skateboarding instead of football but can't quite explain himself to teacher or father. The resolution is realistic, Bobby is a great character, and there are plenty of funny and poignant scenes in the book. No need to read the first book first in this case. Each stands alone. -Maeve

[Herops317]

stupidest book ever

[Pat Salvatini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bobby is the son of a famous linebacker, but he's not interested in football. Or having tea parties with his younger sister. He likes skateboarding. Only his dad doesn't seem to notice how much they are alike, only that he is different. I originally read the story because of the bullying theme, and was disappointed to find this wasn't the theme of the plot, but more of a side note. However, I feel the book stands on its own merits as Yee creates relate-able characters and the pace of the story is good for students between early chapter books and harder intermediate text.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first of Yee's Bobby books that I have read and I am won over. I particularly appreciate her characterization of boys as more than just wise-cracking pranksters. I know way more boys like this nine-year-old Bobby who are considerate, thoughtful, and still like to be goofy and ride their skateboard. Yee manages to offer Bobby as a well-rounded character and still get in a lot of silliness. Totally enjoyable and appreciated.

[Brett Dewey · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son, who's in fourth grade like Bobby, LOVED THIS! He begged to keep reading chapter after chapter. He laughed at the jokes and situations, he TOTALLY related to what was happening - issues like being in the school play, friends, class photo, football... When it was over he asked to read the other one and DUH! I'd given him the second one first. So now we're off to read "Bobby vs Girls (accidentally)"

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great follow-up to Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally). This book picks up right where the last one left off. The conflict in this book focuses on Bobby's relationship with his father. Along the way, he has to work things out with his gym teacher, Mr. Rainerhaus. A really enjoyable read with a happy ending for everyone. I hope more books will be added to this series!

[Joenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fourth-grader Bobby is hurt when he hears his father, a former pro-football player, say that they two of them are nothing alike, but finally summons the courage to talk about it after his public asthma attack proves how right his father is.

Good for older kids (especially boys) reading a bit below their level.

[Lacey Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book illustrates that students should not follow in someone's footsteps if they do not want to do that action or event because they will end up unhappy. People need to know that, no matter what, their family will love them in whatever they decided to pursue to fulfill their extracurricular time as long as it pleases themselves, which is very apparent in this book.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of humor, a bit of warm and fuzzy, and a keen eye for familial relationships. Bobby's observational comments are most entertaining. This one will go over with both genders. Thanks, Lisa, for a book well-written and your keen eye for detail.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bobby's father was a famous football player til his injury. Bobby's older sister is following in his footsteps, but all Bobby can think about with football is about being hurt. To top it off he has asthma. Is there anyway to make his father proud of him?

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bobby is a great character, and his story is very realistic and funny. I would highly recommend this one. Not only will kids enjoy Bobby's story, but it also carries an important message about being yourself.

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story, but nothing too memorable. I liked the relationship between Bobby and his dad and the idea of living up to expectations on both ends. Bobby seemed like a good big brother and a likable character.

[Joanne Palin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this a bit boring and predictable but I enjoyed a few things about it: I loved that the father is a stay-at-home dad and I liked that Bobby's asthma was treated believably. I also found the father-son relationship dynamic very true to life.

[Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I liked Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally) better, this doesn't make this a bad book. As a father of two sons, the issue of communication and misinterpretation is handled well.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute.

[Sue Poduska · Rating 4 out of 5]

This entertaining and amusing volume has a lot to say about family relations and getting along in fourth grade. Bravo!