SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Politics in Practice
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • *Best New Books*
    • Annual Best Lists
  • Reviews
    • One Star Review
    • Nonfiction
    • Toon Reviews
  • Articles
    • Authors
    • Link Du Jour
  • Covers
    • Covering the Newbery
    • Cover Curiosity
    • Unfortunate Covers
  • News
    • Books on Film
    • Morning Notes
  • Newsletter

June 3, 2009 by Travis Jonker

Book Review: Trouble Magnet (Calvin Coconut #1) by Graham Salisbury

June 3, 2009 by Travis Jonker   5 comments

coconutcov

Trouble Magnet (Calvin Coconut #1)
by Graham Salisbury
Illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers
Wendy Lamb Books (Random House)
ISBN: 9780385737012
$12.99
Grades 3-5
In Stores

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

*Recommended*

It seems like every other book that’s published these days has a #1 slapped on the spine. I can understand why. Series books allow readers to get comfortable with characters and form a connection that can last over the course of a lot of reading. They’re also the ultimate “what do I read next” solution:

Young Reader: What should I read next?

Me: Well, you read and enjoyed the first outing of Horrible Harry, correct? Might I humbly suggest that you will likely find the second installment of interest.

Young Reader: Why are you talking like that?

Me: Sorry. Try book #2.

Anyway, series books often introduce characters that kids want to go on adventures with. Magic Treehouse, Harry Potter, Nate the Great, Cam Jansen, The 39 Clues – the list truly goes on and on, and is growing. Kids like series books. And kids are gonna like Calvin Coconut. In Trouble Magnet (Calvin Coconut #1), readers are introduced to a character that is instantly likable, living in a unique setting, getting into the sort of situations that kids will laugh about and identify with. Push this one on your series-loving young readers.

Calvin lives with his mom and six-year-old sister Darci in Kailua, on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Just about to start 4th grade (and looking forward to his ex-army teacher Mr. Purdy), Calvin receives some surprising news and some bad news. The surprising news is that the Coconuts will be taking on a temporary new member, 15-year-old Stella, from Texas. The bad news is that she’ll be taking over Calvin’s room (moving him to the bug-infested garage) and eliminating his status as the oldest kid in the family. While our hero tries to sort out that predicament, he also has to do his best to fend off the slow witted school bully (sixth grader Tito Andrade) who seems to have it in for him. These two situations eventually collide, paving the way for a conclusion that will please young readers.

When I first got a load of this book I couldn’t help but think “the story takes place in Hawaii and the main character’s last name is Coconut? Isn’t that sort of, I don’t know, offensive?” That concern was put to rest quickly however when the reader learns that Calvin’s father, a one-hit-wonder singer, changed the family’s last name to Coconut from Novio for career purposes. It’s a showbiz thing. This back story also clues the reader into the fact that Calvin’s dad left for the bright lights of the mainland four years ago and has yet to return.

Calvin himself is refreshingly normal, and his personality drives the jovial, upbeat mood of Trouble Magnet. He’s not a genius, but not a poor student either. Funny, but not a class clown. When difficult situations arise, it isn’t the end of the world to Calvin, but it isn’t fun either. There’s a realism to the character that kids will find comfortable.

With so many #1s being applied to spines these days, it’s easy for new series to run together. With humor, likeable characters, and loads of readability, Trouble Magnet stands out. Keep checking for Calvin Coconut.

Read a Publishers Weekly Q & A with author Graham Salisbury.

Also reviewed by Kidliterate, Literate Lives, Roundtable Reviews.

Find this book at your local library with WorldCat.

Filed under: *Best New Books*, Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Travis Jonker

Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

A Fuse #8 Production

31 Days, 31 Lists: 2023 Math Books for Kids

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Science Comics: Frogs | Review

by Johanna

Heavy Medal

The search is on for the 2024 Heavy Medal Award Committee

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Politics in Practice

November 2023 Election Hot Take: It was a good night for libraries, a bad night for censorship

by Peter Bromberg

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Book Review: LGBTQIA+ Books for Children and Teens, Second Edition by Kathleen Breitenbach and Liz Deskins

by Amanda MacGregor

The Yarn

Christina Wyman talks about Jawbreaker

by Colby Sharp

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Best Picture Books 2023 | SLJ Best Books

3 Picture Books for Three Kings Day | Holiday Roundup

Best Nonfiction Elementary 2023 | SLJ Best Books

4 Festive Graphic Novels For Young Readers | Holiday Roundup

Best Nonfiction Middle to High School 2023 | SLJ Best Books

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bill says

    June 3, 2009 at 5:32 pm

    I got my hands on an ARC of book #2 and it’s very well done too. I think kids are going to love Calvin.

  2. tierany says

    November 28, 2010 at 7:36 pm

    you said book review a think you need a book summary on this page .i think that that is reud

  3. Nedi says

    November 28, 2010 at 9:33 pm

    i lovw calvin coconut

  4. melissa says

    April 21, 2011 at 1:31 pm

    My 2nd grade class loves these books and are waiting with baited breath for the next one to be released later this year.

  5. dobre katowice says

    December 30, 2015 at 11:21 am

    wzorowe rzetelne biuro t?umacze? katowice dobre

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • Author/Illustrator Blogs

    • Erin Stead Illustration
    • Hey, Rabbit!
    • James Preller's Blog
    • MATTHEWCORDELLBLOGS
    • Mo Willems Doodles
    • The Scop
  • Book Blogs I Like

    • A Book and a Hug
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • A Kids Book a Day
    • A Year of Reading
    • Abby (the) Librarian
    • Awful Library Books
    • Becky’s Book Reviews
    • Better Book Titles
    • Book-A-Day Almanac
    • Bookends
    • books4yourkids.com
    • bookshelves of doom
    • Bottom Shelf Books
    • Calling Caldecott
    • Caustic Cover Critic
    • Chad C. Beckerman
    • Charlotte’s Library
    • Cheryl Rainfield
    • Chicken Spaghetti
    • CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATION
    • Collecting Children’s Books
    • Cybils
    • EarlyWord
    • educating alice
    • Finding Wonderland
    • For Those About to Mock
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Good Show Sir
    • GottaBook
    • Great Kid Books
    • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
    • Hi Miss Julie!
    • Jen Robinson’s Book Page
    • Kidsmomo
    • Maria T. Middleton Design
    • Nerdy Book Club
    • Neverending Search
    • Nine Kinds of Pie
    • One Book, Two Books, Old Books, New Books
    • Out of the Box
    • Oz and Ends
    • PlanetEsme
    • Read Roger
    • Reading Rants!
    • Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
    • sharpread
    • ShelfTalker
    • so tomorrow
    • The Children's Book Review
    • The Miss Rumphius Effect
    • Uncovered Cover Art
    • Waking Brain Cells
    • Watch. Connect. Read.
  • Library Blogs

    • ALSC Blog
    • Blue Skunk Blog
    • librarian.net
    • LISNews
    • Stephen's Lighthouse
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Unshelved
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Politics in Practice
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • Refreshing the Canon Booklist
    • Read Free Poster
    • 2023 Youth Media Awards
    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023