|
How I, Nicky Flynn, Finally Get a Life (and a Dog) |  | Author: Art Corriveau
Publisher: Amulet Books
Category: Book
List Price: $16.95
Buy New: $6.49
as of 9/2/2010 23:21 MDT details
You Save: $10.46 (62%)
New (30) Used (13) from $4.29
Seller: sleepdepraved
Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 361625
Media: Hardcover
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Pages: 272
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 6.6 x 1
ISBN: 0810982986
EAN: 9780810982987
ASIN: 0810982986
Publication Date: May 1, 2010
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
| |
| Features:
| • | ISBN13: 9780810982987 | | • | Condition: New | | • | Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed |
|
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
| |
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Nicky Flynn’s life just got a whole lot harder. His parents are going through a messy divorce, and as a result he’s starting a new life, in a new city, in a new school. Now his mom has brought home Reggie, an eighty-pound German shepherd fresh from the animal shelter, who used to be a seeing-eye dog. At first Nick isn’t sure about this canine intrusion—it’s just another in a series of difficult changes. Soon, however, Nick is on the path to finding out why a seeing-eye dog would be left at an animal shelter, and along the way discovers that Reggie is a true friend that Nick can rely on. But when he tries to reconnect with his dad, Nick puts everything on the line, including the life of his new best friend.
Art Corriveau is a brilliant new voice for middle-grade fiction. How I, Nicky Flynn, Got a Life (and a Dog) is a heartfelt and honest look at the effects of divorce and the wonders of friendship.
|
| Customer Reviews:
 A real kid for once! July 17, 2010
K.C. (New York, NY)
This is such a refreshing and fun take on a real boy in the real world, who is trying to cope with his parent's recent divorce and his mother's descent into depression. Funny and clever, the main character, Nicky Flynn finds himself the owner of a very special dog that you instantly love and see as Nicky's savior. Nicky begins to reinvent his life through real and made-up adventures with his dog.
I love the true-to-life sarcasm Nicky has (so perfect for his age) and I think so many children will avidly follow the gripping tale of Nicky and his dog getting into (and out of) sticky situations! Kids will also appreciate seeing a child who face some complicated family problems without warning or preparation.
This book is such a nice combination of exciting plot and soulful content. Just great.
GREAT BOOK FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ABOVE July 16, 2010
Sam
Nicky Flynn is a gritty, uncompromising read. Nicky is a smart kid whose cards have dealt him a difficult hand. He's also a courageous kid with a big imagination, who faced with a few challenges, ultimately learns to deal with the problems surrounding him. The catalyst for Nicky's growth is the failed seeing eye dog that Nicky's mother brings home from the pound, initially much to Nicky's disappointment. Little by little, the two bond, and as they set out to unravel a mystery, Nicky learns to be responsible and compassionate. The language is real, as is Nicky's voice. I found it a definite page-turner and highly recommend it for middle school and above.
 a(nother) story about a boy and his dog July 11, 2010
Wayne S. Walker (Salem, IL)
Nicky Flynn is eleven years old (P.S.--eleven and three fourths) and in the sixth grade. His parents have just gone through a messy divorce. His nice house in suburban Littleton, MA, has been sold. His dad has moved into an apartment in Littleton, and he and his mom have moved to Charlestown, just outside of Boston, for her new job, so he has to go to a new school and try to make new friends. Nicky misses his dad, who is supposed to see him a couple of weekends a month, and he is sure that his mom is lying when she tells him that his dad has called or texted or emailed to say that he has a sales meeting in Vegas, or colleagues visiting from out of town, or the flu.
Then Nicky's mom goes out and brings home an eighty pound German shepherd named Reggie from the animal shelter. While taking Reggie for a walk in Monument Park, he meets three old guys from the veterans home playing bocce who recognize Reggie as their blind friend Alf Santorello's guide dog. Trying to find out why a guide dog was taken to the animal shelter, Nicky goes around Alf's neighborhood with Reggie pretending to Alf's grandson. Then things blow up between him and his mom. After she goes to give Nicky a high five Reggie attacks her and she says that he's going back to the animal shelter. So Nicky runs away with Reggie to find his dad, walking part of the Boston Freedom Trail in the process. But Reggie gets injured on the way. Will Nicky make it to his father's place? Will he work out things with his mom? And will Reggie be all right?
Written as if told by Nicky himself, this is a very interesting story that will hold the reader's attention. Plus there's some information about the Boston Freedom Trail. At first Nicky comes across as a smart-mouthed kid, but he learns some very important lessons about both himself and others, especially how to cope with disappointments in life. There are some cursing and profanity (the "d" and "h" words are found occasionally and "God" is used as an interjection) and even a little vulgarity (the terms "pi** and a** are used). Both dog and human "pee" along with dog "poop" are mentioned. Nicky says that a boy "gives me the finger," and his mother watches a television show that she says is too mature for him because of "making out"--but they continue watching it anyway. Also there is a scene where a girl dives for a kickball, and her skirt bunches up around her waist so that everyone can see her underpants. Some people may not have a problem with these things, but many parents would probably at least like to know about them. Also Nicky's mom seems to have a little problem with her wine, but in the end she decides to work on it. Young people who have faced divorce or dysfunctional family situations will probably be able to identify with Nicky.
 Book Review: LibraryLoungeLizard.com May 18, 2010
Darcy Wishard (Kelso, WA)
Summary: Nicky Flynn's life just got a whole lot harder. His parents are going through a messy divorce, and as a result he's starting a new life, in a new city, in a new school. Now his mom has brought home Reggie, an eighty-pound German shepherd fresh from the animal shelter, who used to be a seeing-eye dog. At first Nick isn't sure about this canine intrusion--it's just another in a series of difficult changes. Soon, however, Nick is on the path to finding out why a seeing-eye dog would be left at an animal shelter, and along the way discovers that Reggie is a true friend that Nick can rely on. But when he tries to reconnect with his dad, Nick puts everything on the line, including the life of his new best friend.
Every so often a book comes a long that really hits home when it comes to the issues that kids can really relate to. You can only imagine how many kids I talk to throughout the year who are currently or in the recent past, dealing with divorce and some sort of upheaval different than their pre-divorce life. This book really hits the mark and catches all the little pitfalls that lie along the path of divorce and separation.
Feeling rejected by his father and responsible for his mother, Nicky is overly mature for a 12 year-old (his mother often refers to him as acting more like a 40 year-old than a 12 year-old.) This leads to some anger management issues that sometimes get in the way and its obvious that what Nicky thinks and what he actually says and does are two different things.
The climax of the story is when Nicky risks losing his newly found friend and sidekick Reggie in an effort to reconnect with a father who may not have the best of intentions. A heartwarming story that will connect with a lot of readers.
I loved Nicky Flynn April 21, 2010
DAC (Atlanta, GA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Nicky Flynn's parents are getting a divorce. After, a scary incident at dinner, Nicky's mom decides it's time to leave. Throughout the story Nicky has flashbacks to that moment in the kitchen. Nicky and his mom move to a small apartment in Charleston. Nicky's mom told him they would be living in Boston, be he isn't fooled.
"Charlestown isn't Boston. You can sort of see Boston from Charlestown, if you squint through a bunch of highway overpasses and bridge. But Charlestown itself is pretty much exactly what it says - a town named Charles - not much bigger than Littleton, where I'm from. About the only difference is that Charlestown's a lot more run down and dirty. We now live in a one bedroom apartment on the parlor level (which is the first and a half floor) of one of these so called town house on Eden street. Eden is supposedly the beautiful garden where Adam and Eve live when they named all the animals. About all they could name here in Charlestown are alley cats and squirrels." (from the arc)
That was a long excerpt even with edits, but I wanted to show how well the author did with Nicky Flynn's voice. He sounds like the 11 yr old boy he is supposed to be. Yes, Nicky is a little negative about Charlestown but he's sad about his parents getting divorced and losing all his friends. There are many moments in the book when Nicky Flynn is positive after he comes to accept the changes in his life.
Things begin to turn around for Nicky after his mom gets him a dog. Reggie is a German shepard and a retired seeing eye dog. Reggie has a mind of his own and soon he has Nicky taking him to all of the places he's familiar with. Its thanks to Reggie that Nicky starts to get to know Charlestown. Nicky mom's is busy working, trying to support the two of them. Nicky has nothing better to do, so he decides to find out why Reggie is retired and what happened between Reggie and his old handler.
At school Nicky is doing an independent study project for English class on seeing eye dogs. The author slips in some very nice facts about seeing eye dogs. At one point in the story Nicky, gets a little taste of what it feels like to be blind and must put all his trust in Reggie.
Corriveau gives the reader a great feel for the city of Boston, when Nicky and Reggie go on the Freedom Trail tour. This is a very well layered story. Its also serious, funny and thoughtful. There is always talk about where are the books with boys. I believe this is a great one. If you haven't figure it out already I loved it. Nicky Flynn is one of my favorite male protagonist of 2010. This is perfect for fans of The Schwa was Here by Neal Shusterman or Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass
|
|
|
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME. Web Design, Maintenance, and Hosted by K9Sites.com | |
