15 Minutes

I am reading this aloud to all 3 of my kids who are 14, 11 and 5. They all love it! It is funny, clever, and about a subject they'd all like to be real - time travel! As a family read aloud, it is good for belly laughs and keeping them on the edge of their seat. It is a fast and easy read! Highly recommended!!

15 minutes was a really fun read. I raced through this fast-paced and hilarious story. The ending was a surprising twist. I plan to read this one aloud to one of my 4th or 5th grade classes next year - they will love it. Zany in the style of Jon Scieszka or Dav Pilkey (the author names 2 of the middle schools in the book after these authors). I will be recommending this book to fans of those authors, but I think almost anyone would enjoy this book. I couldn't help but like Casey's character - he was a great underdog that I kept rooting for in his quest to find himself and find his true friends.

I found 15 Minutes to be an absolutely wonderful book. I read it aloud to my 4th grader and 2nd grader, and they both loved it. The book is exciting AND funny AND thoughtful and just a wonderful read. My reaction is the same as the two other reviews: This book is wonderful for both kids and adults. I can't wait for a movie version of this GROUNDHOG DAY for kids story. I said I read this to my 2nd and 4th grade children. Here's what the 2nd grader has to say: This book is the best book I've ever read in my entire life. I'd really like to buy it and I'd like it if you could possibly make it into a movie. Time travel, I think, is absolutely wonderful and mysterious. --N.

Wisecracking Casey Little is never on time. In fact, "on time" for him is a little late for everyone else. His lack of punctuality causes no end of grief, and no end of visits to the principal's office. Things change when he finds a watch built by his grandfather. He's amazed to learn it's a time machine. One problem. It only goes back fifteen minutes. But that's still pretty cool, right? Casey is faced with tough choices throughout this story. He must weigh the values of friendship, popularity, honesty, and hard work. Young weaves a fun, funny, and punny tale with enough lessons to satisfy parents. This book is easy to read, although there are references that may go over some kids' heads. For example, there's a scene where Casey talks about escargot without knowing what it is. This scene appeals more to adults/older kids who will get the joke. This book would be a great classroom pick. I found no fewer than four possible discussion points and/or possible activities. Books like this are what make learning fun, especially for reluctant readers. Definitely recommended. Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer 6/17/2006

Do-overs are rarely afforded to any of us, and it's intriguing to think about going back in time to correct our mistakes. Like most teens, Casey Little is plagued with daily do-over want-to-dos. Unlike any of us, he gets the chance after stumbling across his grandfather's invention: The Go-Back Machine, which straps to the wrist and whisks the wearer back in time, but only for the past fifteen minutes. There's one minor glitch; sometimes the Go-Back has a mind of its own. Captivating from the first view of the vividly-colored cartoonish front cover, "15 Minutes" is a fast-paced romp through Casey's re-do trips back in time, and sparkles with jokes and Casey's self-inflicted humor to carry him through his perceived "humiliating" adolescent faux pas and dealing with the class bully. Adding to the interest are interactive pages that allow the reader to write his own thoughts. Succinct history lessons and word definitions peak the curiosity and are mingled with moral lessons -- some subtle, some with the kick of a rodeo bull -- all of which combine to make "15 Minutes" a great read for the young man or girl who is looking for something stimulating to wile away summer hours. Definitely time well-spent, even for a grow'd up.