{"product_id":"the-life-and-times-of-benny-alvarez-isbn-9780062215963","title":"The Life and Times of Benny Alvarez","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis heartfelt story about school, friendship, and family is perfect for readers who can't get enough of such middle grade favorites as Jerry Spinelli and Gary D. Schmidt. From acclaimed author Peter Johnson, \u003cem\u003eThe Life and Times of Benny Alvarez\u003c\/em\u003e is a novel that will make you laugh, cry, and appreciate your family all the more.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEveryone thinks Benny Alvarez is Mr. Negativity. According to Benny, he's just realistic about seeing the \"other side\" of things—when it comes to just about everything. But maybe there's another way to deal with the things Benny can't control—like his ailing grandfather, his wild younger brother, and the know-it-all girls at school. In this poignant novel about acceptance, Benny Alvarez will have to decide . . . is the glass half empty or half full?\u003c\/p\u003e | \u003cp\u003enegative, \u003cem\u003eadjective\u003c\/em\u003e: (1) characterized by lacking positive attributes; (2) Benny Alvarez\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003econtrary, \u003cem\u003eadjective\u003c\/em\u003e: (1) stubbornly opposed or willful; (2) Benny Alvarez\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003efamily, \u003cem\u003enoun\u003c\/em\u003e: (1) any group of persons closely related by blood or marriage; (2) Mom, Dad, Irene, Benny, Crash, Grandpa Alvarez, and Gloria\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003elove, \u003cem\u003enoun\u003c\/em\u003e: a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eloss, \u003cem\u003enoun\u003c\/em\u003e: (1) the state of being deprived of or of being without something that one has had; (2) something that is lost; (3) death, or the fact of being dead\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEveryone thinks Benny Alvarez is Mr. Negativity. According to Benny, he's just realistic about seeing the \"other side\" of things—when it comes to almost everything.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut maybe there's a different way to deal with the things Benny can't control—like his ailing grandfather, his wild younger brother, and the know-it-all girls at school.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this poignant novel about acceptance, Benny Alvarez will have to decide . . . is the glass half empty or half full?\u003c\/p\u003e | \u003cp\u003e“A middle-schooler writes a kids’ novel; an author writes an engaging, amiable read-and, presto, a tale about a boy nicknamed Houdini turns out magical. . . . By turns poignant and downright hilarious, Houdini’s story\/novel is delivered in a voice that’s wonderfully authentic.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews (starred review), about The Amazing Adventures of John Smith, Jr. AKA Houdini\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Johnson (Loserville) delivers a strong contemporary urban novel with cross-gender appeal. . . . Johnson offers solid insights into the varied well-drawn characters, and readers will appreciate Houdini’s realization that ‘writing makes you think very hard about things.’” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly, about The Amazing Adventures of John Smith, Jr. AKA Houdini\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A bit grittier and more believably boylike than most contemporary first-person narratives, this novel has a lot of heart as well. And while a narrator who makes lists is common enough, Houdini’s are decidedly more amusing than most.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist, about The Amazing Adventures of John Smith, Jr. AKA Houdini\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“This slice-of-life novel portrays Benny and his entertaining family and friends with just the right balance of angst and humor. Spot-on.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“This friendship story will appeal to word nerds and those that tolerate them, and it may even produce some tears under cover of humor.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44888133501157,"sku":"NP9780062215963","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780062215963.jpg?v=1730228227","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/the-life-and-times-of-benny-alvarez-isbn-9780062215963","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}