Slider Hardcover – September 12, 2017

Solid choice for the 2018-2019 Texas Bluebonnet book list! Professional reviews placed this book slightly above the fourth graders that make up one half of my library’s population in a very conservative district so a preview read was required before purchasing and promoting. I am happy to report that the book’s content was not only engaging, but perfectly appropriate for 4th graders, despite the fact that the main character and his friends will be entering high school at summer’s end. David is a young man facing life filled with circumstances universal to many: a heavy case of middle kid “invisibleness,” changing dynamics between long time friends, family drama, a special needs brother, and a major mistake that needs a fast and expensive fix. All this couched in the world of competing eating! Pete Hautman creates completely likeable characters who struggle to solve their problems in a way that touches the heart and leaves the reader satisfied. Not every situation has a fairy tale solution but that will make the ending all the more appealing to my readers who already understand that life is never perfect but who need the hope that everything will be OK anyway. I highly recommend this book to readers 4th grade and up but recognize that the length may be off-putting to some of the elementary aged students.

Fans of Gordon Korman will be drawn to Hautman's character of David. A lovable teenager with a passion for eating contests and occasional bad choices, David is easy for adolescents and those who love them to relate to. Even better, though, is the creation of David's family, including his brother Mal and sister Bridgette, who add depth to David's character through their relationship with him. As a librarian, I would recommend this to any student craving a realistic fiction story about a well-rounded character who faces challenges in a somewhat humorous story line. It is a great match for the middle grade crowd.

Slider is an engaging, funny, true-to-life story about competitive eating, navigating friendship dilemmas, understanding an autistic sibling, and finding one’s place in their family. David is easy to love and the family dynamics in this story are truly heartwarming. I would totally hand this to anyone looking to read more “boy books.” If you enjoy middle-grade books about food, friendship, or those with thoughtful neurodiversity rep (although not OwnVoices), this is one I would recommend.

Daughter loves to read, got this in the Amazon Book Club subscription. About a boy and an eating contest (from what I gather). 11yo is a bookworm and found this a fun read. She recommends

My 12 year old daughter really enjoyed it said it was funny

Great book! Bought this for my 13-year old and I read and enjoyed it myself.It was a 1 or 2-day read for me.Enjoyable, light reading about a boy trying to undo a mistake he made.I could see this happening to anyone!

I read this book with my 12 year old son and we loved it! The characters were so fun and the story was engaging. We also loved the story behind his autistic brother. What a great read!

My seventh grade students fought to see who would be able to borrow this book next. So of course, I had to read it myself. Entertaining and well-written, I enjoyed every page!

Not what I wanted.