Go Big or Go Home by Will Hobbs

Go Big or Go Home by Will Hobbs (published 2008). 185 pages. 700L, RL 3.9. This book entertains intermediate level children with the possibility of a meteorite giving super-human powers to an average boy.

                                                      

KIRKUS REVIEW (January 1, 2008)

Extreme sports and extraterrestrial bacteria that thrive in extreme environments are the ingredients for Hobbs’s latest adventure. A meteorite plunging through 14-year-old Brady’s bed begins an exciting summer in South Dakota for Brady and his visiting cousin Quinn. Bike riding up and down the mountains, exploring an unknown cave, fishing for lake trout from a flimsy rubber boat and watching a full-size catapult hurl a discarded toilet bowl are all part of the action. The long-dormant extremophile bacteria from the meteorite revive to infect Brady. The first symptoms are positive—he can bike faster and longer than ever before. But soon he has disturbing episodes of total paralysis. On top of that, his long-time enemies, the Carver boys next door, get possession of the stone. The Black Hills setting is well drawn, including interesting details about the Crazy Horse Memorial, where Brady’s father is a construction worker. With convincing, first-person narration, a fast pace and plenty of suspense, this is a welcome addition to Hobbs’s extremely reader-pleasing work. (Fiction. 10-15)

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This story had my fourth grade class begging for more each time I placed my bookmark between the pages, signaling the end of our read aloud time. They were riveted to the story line, guessing what would happen next and what they would do with the super-human powers Brady experienced. It led to a great writing activity where the students all imagined what they would do to help make their world better if they found themselves suddenly gifted with super-human powers. Some critics may think that because it has boy characters, meteorites, and debilitating bacteria, that is not well-received by more feminine students. However, this was not the case. All of my students were engrossed and engaged in this fun read aloud. An extra bonus was that my students all sent letters to Will Hobbs (who resides in Colorado) afterward, and he was so gracious to respond quickly to our class.  

Posted by Liz Stafford