[.ca] A Week in the Woods (ISBN 078625016X)

From Amazon.com:
Rich kids are snobs and slackers. They think they're too good for anyone else, and that they don't have to work hard at anything. That, at least, is the opinion of fifth-grade science teacher Mr. Maxwell, and the super-rich new kid, Mark Chelmsley, is showing no signs of transcending the stereotype. Or is Mr. Maxwell just too anti-elitist or ego-driven to notice? Once again, the talented Andrew Clements (Frindle, The Janitor's Boy) allows adult characters to "come of age" right along with his adolescent characters in the most refreshing and insightful of ways. Mark has low expectations of his new school in rural New Hampshire, and he'll be there for less than four months anyway, so he can't let himself get attached. It's the glory of the countryside around him that shakes him awake--and the urban boy's first trek on snowshoes, discovery of an old barn, and rediscovery of Jack London are exciting to behold. For the first time in his busy, absentee parent-controlled life, Mark discovers "his own sense of time--time present--and he had discovered how much this time was worth." As the reader starts to like this curious, resourceful, clearly not lazy kid, Mr. Maxwell's preconceptions start to seem all the worse. It all comes to a head at the school's annual camp out (called A Week in the Woods), where Mr. Maxwell accuses Mark of breaking a rule--without getting all the facts that would have proven his innocence. Mark escapes into the woods before he can be driven home: "If Mr. Maxwell wants to get rid of me so bad, then he's gonna have to find me first!" Will Mark survive on his own in the woods overnight? What will Mr. Maxwell do when he learns his own prejudices have colored his judgment? What starts out as a school camp out turns into a terrifically suspenseful survival story of a man and boy who come head-to-head, and learn a few lessons while they're at it. Readers will be on the edges of their seats! (Ages 9 to 13) --Karin Snelson

It felt like a month in the woods!:
This drawn out tale has only one or two interesting chapters, and they are near the end. I can hardly believe I stayed with it that long. We get way too much background on the major characters, especially the teacher. (...)

Everyday a Clean Slate:
I have to say that every single book I have read by Andrew Clements has been a winner! This author really knows what makes middle school kids tick... let alone his understanding of what makes adults kids! Andrew Clements is a true student of human nature. The theme I find most encouraging in this particular book is that no matter what a jerk we may be or no matter what mistakes we make or no matter what terrible choices we make, every day is a new and fresh one! Mark is a young man who has extremely rich parents, who barely pay any attention to him and ship him all over the place from home to home and school to school. This experience has left the 5th grader cynical and jaded. Who could blame him? When Mark gets to yet another new home and school in New Hampshire he decides he is going to tune out everyone and everything at his new school. He decides he will not interact with them because he won't be there long enough to get to know anyone anyway. Mark's science teacher, Mr. Maxwell is an innovative, environmentally concious educator. He seems like a typical liberal gentleman who is open to all ideas and all people. But he immediately labels Mark as a "Spoiled Rich Kid" and decides to shut him out too. The great thing that happens in this book is that Mark and his teacher both change. They aren't trapped by the choices they made and they both evolve into better people in the end! Every day we start with a clean slate and it's all about what we decide to do with that day, that makes us who we are. This is a very encouraging book... well written and as always perceptive! Yet again, another winner from Andrew Clements!

A great story for the whole family:
Our family listened to this book on tape in the car. Our 6- and 9-year-olds were entertained for hours in the car, as the whole family listened to the story. We thought the characters were interesting, and the last couple of chapters really held everyone's attention. I know my children were especially intrigued by how the main character dealt with his fears. It was a terrific way to pass the time on a long car trip.

A good adventure book:
Do you like the feeling of being one with the woods; do you know what it feels like to be lost in the woods at night, to be running from a crime that you didn't commit? A Week in the Woods written by Andrew Clements is a good book that takes place in New Hampshire during the early summer. The protagonist's name is Mark Chemsly, Mark is a boy that is in the fifth grade with an attitude towards his new school in the country. He was mostly used to the private schools that his parents had sent him to. Mark had a bad attitude the first few weeks and when he finally adjusts to his new school something goes wrong. The fifth grade always goes on a camping trip at the end of the year, but Mark gets blamed for breaking the rules. The one part of this novel I did not like was the beginning. I thought that it was too slow going because, it was mostly about Mark just being a spoiled kid not wanting to go to school or even leave the house. The only thing he did in school was sit and daydream. The middle and end of the book were better because, Mark decides to be a part of school and to go on the school camping trip, and when he goes camping he gets lost in the woods of New Hampshire.

A Week in the Woods:
A week in the Woods is a great book. It is about a 11 year old boy who has everything in the world. Rich parents, a cool house, great friends, and a great life. Then they have to move. This is common for them becasue his parents find better buisness elswhere. This time they move, Mark is really crushed. This was the first place he really loved and now they have to move to a small town in New Hampshire. The first week he gets there he goes to a small public school. He never pays attention in class and is always melancholy and grumpy. Then one day the science teacher, Mr. Maxwell hands out the information packet for a week long, camping trip in the woods. The whole 5th grade is going, but Mark doesnt want to go at all. Then one night he slept outside in his barn. He loved it so he wanted to try sleeping outside in the woods. His parent wouldnt let him so he had to sleep outside with his nanny. Leo, (nanny), also taught him how to snowshoe. Mark loved this. After about a week Mark loved the woods. So Mark gave his teacher his packet and got everything he needed. Finally it was the day. On the first day Mark's friend Jason got out his knife he had brought. He let Mark hold it and the next thing he knew Mark was in the back of Mr.Maxwell's truck about to be driven home! While Mr. Maxwell was talking to the ranger Mark jumped out of the truck and ran into the woods. For all day and all night Mr. Maxwell looked for Mark who was doing great with his food and he had also built a fire. They found each other in the middle of the night. Mr. Maxwell was in a lot of pain. When he was looking for Mark, a bolder had fallen on his leg and he was stuck. By the end Mark and Mr. Maxwell had become great friends and Mark had become much happier. If you want to read about a great adventure, some laughs, and a great story you should read this book.