Oggie Cooder

Weeks, S. (2008). Oggie Cooder. Scholastic Press. 176 pages. ISBN 0439927919

Primary genre: realistic fiction

Other elements: family, friendship, humor

Intended reader age: 7 and up

Synopsis:

Oggie has always been classified as unique and he has a talent that falls right in line with his unique personality, he can ‘charve’ slices of cheese into the shape of any state. When the hit television show Hidden Talent begins searching for new contestants Oggie’s classmate Donnica Perfecto knows this is the type of talent that gets you places. Donnica tricks Oggie into teaching her how to charve and plans to present ‘her’ talent to the judges. Unfortunately for Donnica her plan does not work the way she hopes it will and Oggie ends up winning the spot on the show. Oggie is now placed in the limelight and learns that popularity is not at all what he hoped it would be.

Review:

This book was just okay to me; there were not really any aspects that struck me as absolutely great. I do not feel that this is not the type of book to appeal to older tweens. The main character is only in fourth grade and he does read as that age.

Oggie is a very affable character, he makes every effort to make friends while staying true to himself. When these two issues collided he decided that it was more important to remain who you are than to change because other people want you to. This is a topic that appeals to many of the young tweens because they are just coming into themselves and leaning who they are. They are also faced with the beginnings of peer pressure. In reading this story they get to see both sides of the issue, the kid who is odd but himself and that same kid who tried changing to make everyone else happy.

It is not until page 40 that readers finally learn what ‘charving’ is. Considering the importance of this act in the story and the reading age I did find it interesting that the author waited that long to explain the term. I did like that Weeks first described the action then gave the definition and the origin of how Oggie combined the terms. He also remained true to his character by not being the one who identified this ability as a talent. For Oggie it was always more of a way of expelling nervous energy than a way of showing off or making money.

There is a second story for Oggie Cooder, Oggie Cooder, Party Animal. This sequel takes place not too far after the first book and it continues the interactions between Donnica and Oggie. Giving readers a beginning look at the interactions that occur between the ‘cool’ and ‘geeky’ kids.