The Gollywhopper Games

February 4, 2008
When his father is charged with embezzlement, 12-year-old Gil Goodson becomes an outcast at school and his family sinks under a black cloud that doesn't lift, not even after his dad is acquitted. From this somber premise, first-time novelist Feldman concocts an outlandish method by which Gil will come out on top again—and get enough cash so his family can move. But winning the Gollywhopper Games, a contest sponsored by the toy company that fired his father, means besting 25,000 entrants in a series of brainteasers. Gil makes it to the final 10, where two teams compete against each other. His teammates are as obnoxious as the golden ticket holders on Charlie Bucket's famous tour, though not as imaginatively drawn, and their bickering nearly drains the fun from the whacked-out challenges they face. Indeed, the appeal of the book lies in the puzzles, which involve unscrambling clues hidden in rhyming verses and then tackling various stunts (obstacle courses, mazes, scavenger hunts) that get increasingly difficult as the field is winnowed. As the outcome of this intricate, potentially interactive story is never in doubt, many kids will want to put the story on pause to try to work out each answer. Final illustrations not seen by PW
. Ages 10-14.

June 1, 2015

Gr 4-6-In this companion novel to the previous two "Gollywhopper Games" novels, football-loving Zane gets a concussion that takes him off the field. He suddenly finds himself competing in the Gollywhopper Games alongside a nerdy kid named Elijah. Polar opposites, their strengths complement one another and they become unlikely friends. Purchase where the previous installments fly off the shelves.

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2015
The Gollywhopper Games come back for a third round of puzzlers and prizes, with the main contestant a kid who is totally into football. Sidelined by a concussion, Zane is smart, loves math and strategy, and is deeply afraid his football days are over. For him, competing in the Gollywhopper Games is a chance to regain his edge. In this iteration of the games, contestants work alone for some tasks but must pair and team up for others-but never with the same people, creating situations in which contestants are both cooperating and opposing one another at the same time. In the games, Zane is always thinking about how he can optimize his chances, but hindrances abound to make it tough. Zane is a good-looking, popular kid, but he recognizes the assets scrawny young genius Elijah can bring to the contest. In the background, game sponsor Bert Golliwop frets about sabotage to this spectacular publicity stunt for his company. Rule twists aside, readers will find this edition of the games similar to the first two; as before, the fun is in the puzzles and being inside Zane's head as he works out his answers. Zane is all about the strategy and what is needed to help each team member bring their best work. It's this altruism, combined with a competitive spirit, that will have readers rooting for these kids. (Fiction. 8-12)

COPYRIGHT(2015) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2015
Sidelined by his latest concussion, football star Zane Braycott applies his love of strategy and competition to the third round of Gollywhopper Games, navigating puzzles as well as new friendships. Feldman's knack for leading readers through her diverse characters' solutions without losing their interest carries the narrative, which is unfortunately slowed by a conspiracy subplot involving competing toy companies.

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)