Johnny Hangtime

July 31, 2000
Gutman's (Babe and Me) latest novel introduces a 13-year-old with a career that kids will surely find cool: he's a "stuntkid," performing daring feats on behalf of Ricky Corvette, a teen movie star and heartthrob. Johnny's father, a legendary stuntman, allegedly died three years earlier while filming a daring maneuver over Niagara Falls. The plot moves between Johnny's stints on the set of New York Nightmare (including some behind-the-scenes revelations about pulling off seemingly impossible stunts) and his non-working life, which entails being roughed-up by the school bully. The boy's flip, first-person narrative will endear him to readers ("I was having such a good time that I nearly forgot to open my parachute. This can be dangerous, as you might imagine"). The tale culminates in a dangerous stunt at--where else--Niagara Falls, and though the credibility of Gutman's plot crumbles (Johnny's long-lost father appears on the set, begging his son to forgo the stunt; Ricky Corvette suddenly decides, for the first time ever, to perform his own action scene, and breaks both his arms and legs in the process), the author sets the scene for a sappy Hollywood ending, and a kid-pleasing wrap. Ages 8-12.

January 1, 2001
Gr 3-7-A fluffy read with a truly preposterous plot that requires suspension of disbelief at almost every turn. However, because of these very liabilities, the story will hook older reluctant readers. Johnny Thyme, 13, does all the stunts, or "gags," for all-American teen idol Ricky Corvette. Ricky wants the public to think that he does all of his own stunts, so Johnny's contract requires that he tell no one what he does. It also prevents him from fighting, going to gym class, or anything else that might cause him bodily injury. This creates problems when a bully begins extorting money from him. The only real plot development occurs near the end when Johnny is to perform a Niagara Falls stunt that killed his father. It turns out, though, that Johnny's father is not dead at all, but was just badly injured, and disappeared for some pretty contrived reasons. Johnny stands up to Ricky Corvette for the first time, Ricky's movie career ends as he is injured doing the Niagara Falls gag, and Johnny becomes a star in his own right. The details of the stunt work seem well researched and ring true, even if readers don't believe for a minute that a child would be allowed to do what is described in the book. Still, there are some laugh-out-loud moments, and the action will appeal to readers wanting high-interest, low-reading-level material.-Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ

Copyright 2000 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2002
Gr 6-8-Thirteen-year-old Judith of Nesscliff is a talented musician in 13th-century England. She is distraught when her gluttonous stepfather announces her betrothal to the middle-aged and coarse Lord Walter. At her engagement dinner, Judith is entranced by Robin, a musician in the King's Minstrels, and decides to escape by disguising herself as a boy, "Jude," and begins a trek across England to audition for this prestigious group. Along the way, she encounters those who help and those who harm or hinder her, including a cruel thief and a beautiful lady who thinks "Jude" would make an ideal husband. While the book has its strengths, it is not consistently well written. Too often, the characters' thoughts rather than their actions provide details about themselves or other characters. Though plenty happens to Jude, the events do not tie together in a way that creates a true feeling of suspense, and the ending, in which Judith and Robin head off to his family manor together, seems to come too soon and too abruptly. Karen Cushman's The Midwife's Apprentice (1995) and Catherine, Called Birdy (1994, both Clarion) are more satisfying. However, even though this novel has some weaknesses, Haahr has created a strong and charming female character.-Toni D. Moore, Simon Kenton High School, Independence, KY

Copyright 2002 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.