Benched

by Cristy Watson

Overview

When Cody and his friends accept a challenge from a local gang to steal a park bench, their main concern is keeping themselves on the gang's good side.

Cody learns that the stolen bench had been dedicated to the father of the English teacher who sponsors the school newspaper—the paper that Cody has just started writing for—and he's worried about the consequences. As the gang applies pressure for more from Cody and his friends, he realizes they've crossed a line, and now he has to figure out how to make it right.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781554699629
Publisher:	Orca Book Publishers
Publication date:	03/01/2011
Series:	Orca Currents Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	136
File size:	905 KB
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Cristy Watson is an award-winning writer and retired elementary-middle school teacher. She is the author of several books for young readers including On Cue, Room 555, Living Rough and Benched in the Orca Currents line. Cristy’s poetry has appeared in CV2 Magazine, The Poetry Marathon Anthology and the Worth More Standing Anthology. She loves volunteering at the Surrey International Writer’s Conference and the Beach House Theatre, as well as offering her time judging Creative Writing Contests for writers of all ages.

Read an Excerpt

At first I wasn't sure I wanted to go through with this. But now that we were out of danger, I liked the adrenaline.

Editorial Reviews

"Packs in a lot of issues for one small paperback, but reluctant readers, especially, will be hooked as the tension builds, and the realistic story, which avoids a slick resolution, will spark discussion."

Booklist

"Cody's trials demonstrate how hard it is to be a freshman. The story resolves itself in a satisfying way...The characters are likable...and their prank and its consequences are very believable."

Library Media Connection

"Watson delivers a fast-paced, quick and easy read...A fun sneak peek into someone else's life...[and] a good addition to the Orca Currents series."

Resource Links

"Packs in a lot of issues for one small paperback, but reluctant readers, especially, will be hooked as the tension builds, and the realistic story, which avoids a slick resolution, will spark discussion."

Booklist

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The Horn Book Guide

Gr 7 Up—Cody and his friends are coerced by members of his brother's gang to perform what seems like a harmless prank: steal a bench from the local park. After the boys pull off the feat, Cody realizes that the bench was a memorial to his favorite teacher's father. To make matters worse, he is asked to cover the story for his school newspaper. When the gang members approach Cody and his friends again, they begin to understand that they are headed down a one-way street toward trouble. Tension mounts when Cody decides to confess the crime to his teacher and the newspaper editor. He must then find a way to make amends with his teacher, report the story fairly, and withdraw from the gang's violent pressure. Though reluctant readers may find themselves caught up in a situation beyond Cody's control, they may be disappointed in the ending as the boy's troubles neatly resolve themselves. Stilted dialogue and regional colloquialisms will turn off others. Inner city readers with their own gang experiences may cry, "Foul!" since Cody's encounters don't seem authentic. The overt moral will finish off the rest. Benched needs to remain benched, er, shelved.—H. H. Henderson, Heritage Middle School, Deltona, FL

School Library Journal