The Gollywhopper Games

Read this book! I first checked it out from my school library thinking all right, this will be good. But it wasn't just good... it was PHENOMENAL!!! Jody Feldman is a genius. The book had a perfect mixture of suspense and excitement, and I couldn't put it down. This book is about a boy named Gil (Gilbert) who is a contestant in the legendary gollywhopper games. The day of the games is full of mystery, ecstasy, and fun, with puzzles, mazes, and a grand prize worth millions. Can Gil rise to the challenge of solving the puzzles, or will he lose to a couple of cheaters? Buy this book now, read it, and find out the answer to this question and more.

Twelve-year-old Gil Goodson and his parents have had a grueling 18 months of legal battles, press invasions and tarnished reputations in their Orchard Heights community. Gil's father, a former employee of the Golly Toy & Game Company, was falsely accused of embezzlement. And although the jury finds him innocent, a big chunk of the community refuses to accept it. Even Gil is the victim of emotional and physical harassment at school, and is chased off his sports teams. Thinking it won't ever get better, he begs his dad to move. However, the family can't afford it. Then Gil gets an idea. To celebrate their 50th anniversary, Golly Toy & Game Company announces a huge event --- The Gollywhopper Games! Open to young people ages 11 to 15, contestants will compete in a series of clever puzzles and physical stunts to win a huge collection of prizes. Gil makes a deal with his dad: If he wins, then the family moves away from Orchard Heights forever. Easy, right? Not exactly. Since Gil's dad isn't an employee anymore, eligibility won't be an issue (though it could turn into a big problem later). But what definitely will be an immediate problem will be getting into the competition. Twenty-five thousand kids will start off --- including 500 instant wins hidden in Golly Toy & Game products, 20,000 winners in a random drawing and 4,500 winners chosen at the front door the morning of the competition. It's the last one Gil is shooting for, as he lives mere blocks from the stadium where stage one of the competition is being held. He loads a backpack and grabs a sleeping bag, ready to camp out in order to be first in line. Unfortunately, unplanned events get in his way. But, of course, Gil gets into the competition. The first round of games in the stadium will whittle down the contestants from 25,000 to 10. These finalists are instructed to arrive at the Golly Toy & Game Company building the next morning for the big fun to start. And what an amazing, incredible, adventurous day they have in front of them --- mind-boggling puzzles and physically demanding stunts hosted in a colorfully enchanted, dream-like warehouse, all in a race against time and each other to capture the huge prize. Win or lose, Gil is going to have the time of his life. Jody Feldman's first book for kids is so much fun! The high energy level spans the entire book, from the introduction of lovable and relatable Gil, through the clever puzzles and amazing tasks, all the way to the all-to-soon ending. Feldman reveals her colorful imagination, intricate smarts and writing talents on every page. It's almost like the magical WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY meets the brain-tickling reality show "The Mole." Readers can have even more fun by trying to figure out the puzzles on their own before learning what the characters do. I highly recommend THE GOLLYWHOPPER GAMES, which will leave fans waiting impatiently for Feldman's next book. --- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman, author of FI

I read this novel out loud to my sons, ages 8 and 11, and we all loved it. My 8-year-old is a bookworm, but my 11-year-old is a very reluctant reader. So I was thrilled that they were so eager to listen to me read. In fact, my older son got impatient halfway through the book and read the rest on his own. Terrific! This novel is about a boy whose father is falsely accused of embezzling money from the Gollywhopper Toy Company. To avenge his father's name and to win money for his family, the boy enters the toy company's giant contest. He must work with teammates and solve puzzles to win the grand prize. My sons and I enjoyed trying to solve the puzzles together and guessing which player would be eliminated each time. Great fun!

I have been a longtime fan of children's literature and continue to read juvenile fiction on a regular basis. I have no doubt that this is on its way to becoming a contemporary hit and a long-term favorite. Comparison's can be made with Roald Dahl but the difference is that The Gollywhopper Games provides an opportunity for its protagonist, Gil, to actively prove his value and--more importantly--his self-worth. Charlie (of the famous chocolate factory) wins more by passivity than by anything he actually does; in essence, he is the least repellant of that motley crew. Here, Feldman shows a range of real young people and adults who are wonderful shades of gray. No one is perfect but no one is wholly bad. With an incredible amount of detail in both atmosphere and character, this is a tale of learning, forgiveness, teamwork, and self-fulfillment. Feldman has created a fantastic world grounded in reality and populated it with real people and tantalizing puzzles. This is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a great book.

The Gollywhopper Games is a cross between Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Balliett's The Wright Three. It has all the humor of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory without the bleakness, and it has all the brain-teasers of The Wright Three without any of the characters seeming stuffy. Jody Feldman has written a fun, fast-paced novel that gives kids credit for the brains in their heads and the kindness in their hearts. For the rest of this review and others, see my site.