The Cruisers

by Walter Dean Myers Narrated by Kevin R. Free

Overview

School is hard enough, but when you're misfits on a mission, you're really put to the test. The re-launch of a popular middle-grade series by Walter Dean Myers.

Zander and his crew are underdogs at DaVinci Academy, one of the best Gifted and Talented schools in Harlem. But even these kids who are known as losers can win by speaking up. When they start their own school newspaper, stuff happens. Big stuff. Loud stuff. Stuff nobody expects. Mr. Culpepper, the Assistant Principal and Chief Executioner, is ready to be rid of Zander, Kambui, LaShonda, and Bobbi-until they prove that their writing packs enough power to keep the peace and show what it means to stand up for a cause.

Editorial Reviews

School Library Journal

Gr 6–9—The Cruisers attend the DaVinci Academy for the Gifted and Talented in Harlem, but Zander and his crew—Kambui, LaShonda, and Bobbi—don't fit in. Although they are academically talented, their grades are poor, and they are given one last shot to redeem themselves. While the school participates in a Civil War recreation, the Cruisers are given the job of peacekeepers and must arrange a peace between the sides—or be expelled from school. When a group starts to use historical documents to promote slavery in the Southern states, the school is thrown into an uproar. Zander and his friends create an alternative school newspaper, "The Cruiser," and learn about the power of words. Walter Dean Myers's short, yet powerful novel (Scholastic, 2010) is narrated by Kevin Free whose youthful tone and measured pace perfectly reflect Zander's voice. Amidst his narrative, Myers has included articles and editorials from the various newspapers at the DaVinci Academy, and Free does a good job of reading them. Content, performance, and length all make this audiobook a great choice for reluctant middle school readers, especially in urban areas.—Jessica Miller, New Britain Public Library, CT

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171642822
Publisher:	Brilliance Audio
Publication date:	08/01/2010
Series:	Cruisers Series , #1
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

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