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Dodger and Me #1
Dodger and Me
What would you do if your best friend was:
1. Imaginary?
2. An oversize blue chimp in surfer shorts? (Potentially embarrassing, but hey, no one else can see him . . . right?)
3. Proposing a plan to help you improve your life?
4. Did we say imaginary?
5. Driving you crazy?!?!
Now you have an idea of what Willie Ryan’s life is like when he meets Dodger. It’s the beginning of a lot of trouble—and a friendship you’ll never forget!
1. Imaginary?
2. An oversize blue chimp in surfer shorts? (Potentially embarrassing, but hey, no one else can see him . . . right?)
3. Proposing a plan to help you improve your life?
4. Did we say imaginary?
5. Driving you crazy?!?!
Now you have an idea of what Willie Ryan’s life is like when he meets Dodger. It’s the beginning of a lot of trouble—and a friendship you’ll never forget!
176 pages, Hardcover
First published April 29, 2008
About the author
Jordan Sonnenblick
26 books917 followersI am the author of seven books for children and young adults, including Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie. So if youʼre looking for info about some other guy named Jordan Sonnenblick, youʼve got the wrong website.
Anyway, I know a lot of people are looking for stuff they can use in reports for school, so Iʼll just get this out of the way right up front:
My favorite color is blue.
I have a wife and two kids.
The best pet I ever had was a garter snake I caught when I was eight by a lake in Pennsylvania. I named the snake Hector. Then it gave birth to 20 baby snakes, so I changed its name to Hectoria.
My all-time favorite band is the Beatles, although I like a ton of different music.
My hobbies are playing the drums, guitar, and bass; riding my bicycle at least 50 miles a week; hanging out with my wife and kids; and reading.
Speaking of reading, I read a lot of different genres. As a kid, though, I mostly read fantasy, science fiction, and comic books. When I was in fourth grade, a fantasy novel called The Dark is Rising inspired me to become a novelist someday.
My favorite baseball team is the New York Yankees. When I was a kid, my best friend and I used to go to Yankees games and throw open ketchup packets off the upper deck. Donʼt try that at home, kids!
Anyway, I know a lot of people are looking for stuff they can use in reports for school, so Iʼll just get this out of the way right up front:
My favorite color is blue.
I have a wife and two kids.
The best pet I ever had was a garter snake I caught when I was eight by a lake in Pennsylvania. I named the snake Hector. Then it gave birth to 20 baby snakes, so I changed its name to Hectoria.
My all-time favorite band is the Beatles, although I like a ton of different music.
My hobbies are playing the drums, guitar, and bass; riding my bicycle at least 50 miles a week; hanging out with my wife and kids; and reading.
Speaking of reading, I read a lot of different genres. As a kid, though, I mostly read fantasy, science fiction, and comic books. When I was in fourth grade, a fantasy novel called The Dark is Rising inspired me to become a novelist someday.
My favorite baseball team is the New York Yankees. When I was a kid, my best friend and I used to go to Yankees games and throw open ketchup packets off the upper deck. Donʼt try that at home, kids!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
March 16, 2012
Dodger and Me was an exceptional book with an unrealistic plot!?!? The main character is a boy named Willie Ryan. He finds a blue Chimpanzee in a McDonald’s bag disguised as garbage in the woods so that he would pick it up. Out of the bag, came a blue genie like Chimpanzee named Dodger. He appears to know Willie and the trouble he is having in his life. However, Dodger’s help makes everything worse for Willie at first. Dodger comes up with a three part plan to help Willie with his problems. Willie has three main problems: He is a horrible baseball player and always lets his team down, he has an overprotective mother, and a girl named Lizzie who won’t leave him alone. How cool would it be to have a genie in your life to help make things better? I thought that some parts of the book moved along rather quickly and not so much in other spots. Most the book is funny but I found one part to be disappointing. The part where there are two strikes on Willie and two outs in the bottom of the sixth, the tying run is in scoring position….. And Willie strikes out. They lose the game, the crowd boos him, and they cannot play in the championship game. It was a bummer because I thought this was Willie’s chance to be the hero of the team and he lets them down again. Although the book is full of funny situations, it has an unrealistic plot. Who really has an invisible genie follow him around all day?
The only character that I could relate to was Willie because I was and still am a baseball player. The author did a great job developing the character of Willie because the readers are always learning new things about him. The character, Lizzie, on the other hand, had that bubbly, enthusiastic personality that annoys the heck out of people… yeah that was her and there was no way I could relate or connect to her. (Opinion) The author really didn’t develop the characters of Willie’s parents.
The author, Jordon Sonnenblick, has successfully created a story that kids grades four through seven would enjoy. He incorporates a lot of humor in situations that most kids can relate to at some point in their lives. I especially enjoyed the dialogue between Dodger and Willie. Who wouldn’t want an imaginary friend to make life better? If you like baseball, I recommend you read the book Dodger and Me. I give it four out of five stars.
The only character that I could relate to was Willie because I was and still am a baseball player. The author did a great job developing the character of Willie because the readers are always learning new things about him. The character, Lizzie, on the other hand, had that bubbly, enthusiastic personality that annoys the heck out of people… yeah that was her and there was no way I could relate or connect to her. (Opinion) The author really didn’t develop the characters of Willie’s parents.
The author, Jordon Sonnenblick, has successfully created a story that kids grades four through seven would enjoy. He incorporates a lot of humor in situations that most kids can relate to at some point in their lives. I especially enjoyed the dialogue between Dodger and Willie. Who wouldn’t want an imaginary friend to make life better? If you like baseball, I recommend you read the book Dodger and Me. I give it four out of five stars.
April 10, 2017
I loved this book. Basic plot: loser kid (Willie) is bad at baseball, has an overprotective mother, tries to avoid an annoying girl (Lizzie), and is lonely after his best friend moves away. Enter a possibly imaginary blue chimp named Dodger wearing surfer shorts and an eye patch, who may or may not be a genie, and who may or may not help him overcome his problems. Along the way, and under Dodger's watch, things get way worse for Willie before they can get better.
Will Willie improve his baseball skills and help his team win the championship? Will his mother stop fussing over him so much? Will Lizzie ever leave him alone? Will he survive Dodger's plans to improve his life? And more importantly—what will his three wishes be?
The thing that really makes this YA novel pop is the writing. Just before reading Dodger and Me , I read another YA book from the same publisher. Good plot, likable lead characters, but the writing was just awful. But I finished it, and moved on to Dodger. What a breath of fresh air! The writing is engaging, funny, and just plain readable. As a writer myself, I think the best compliment I can give this book is that it is one of those books you come across that you wish you had written first. You don't have to be a young adult to enjoy Dodger and Me . Go get it!
Will Willie improve his baseball skills and help his team win the championship? Will his mother stop fussing over him so much? Will Lizzie ever leave him alone? Will he survive Dodger's plans to improve his life? And more importantly—what will his three wishes be?
The thing that really makes this YA novel pop is the writing. Just before reading Dodger and Me , I read another YA book from the same publisher. Good plot, likable lead characters, but the writing was just awful. But I finished it, and moved on to Dodger. What a breath of fresh air! The writing is engaging, funny, and just plain readable. As a writer myself, I think the best compliment I can give this book is that it is one of those books you come across that you wish you had written first. You don't have to be a young adult to enjoy Dodger and Me . Go get it!
February 19, 2011
Willie Ryan is a fifth grader with a few problems – he has a stalker named Lizzie, his mom is super-overprotective, and he has no baseball skills. While wallowing in his sorrow of losing a game for his team, “Wimpy,” as his teammates refer to him, wanders off into the woods and finds a blue chimpanzee. This chimp becomes his personal genie, granting him three wishes (or a “Three-Part Plan”), and ultimately becomes a genuine friend to him, but not without some mishaps along the way. The language is student-friendly, offering humor that they can connect to. I began to read this story to my third graders and they literally laugh out loud (especially the boys). The only illustration given is on the cover, which offers humor and provides a basis for understanding the characters, but it also allows the students to visualize the comical scenes throughout the plot. I would recommend this book for students in grades 3-6. There are some great lessons about hard work and the importance of friendship. The story leaves the reader yearning for more, so it would be great to share the next two books in the series with students – Dodger for President (2010) and Dodger for Sale (2010).
September 19, 2009
Reviewed by Theresa L. Stowell for TeensReadToo.com
DODGER AND ME is the first book in a new series by Jordan Sonnenblick .
In this book we meet Willie Ryan, self-proclaimed wimp. The fact that Willie is definitely a wimp is immediately evident when he becomes the reason his baseball team loses the first game in the championship series. One might think it is bad enough that Willie can neither catch nor hit a ball, but Willie has more wrong with his life.
To start, his mother is so overprotective that a simple nosebleed becomes an emergency of epic proportions. If that is not bad enough, his best friend has moved away and asked Lizzie, a British student at his school, to keep an eye on him. Lizzie takes this request very seriously and follows him everywhere, even to the big game where she embarrasses him by cheering him on despite his horrendous playing ability.
Tired of always following the rules and getting nowhere, Willie takes a shortcut home. Though he imagines his mother's warnings to stay on the beaten path, Willie cuts through the woods. He comes to a meadow where everything is blue, everything but the McDonald's bag that someone left lying in a stream. Always conscientious, Willie picks up the bag to dispose of it. To his shock, Dodger, a huge blue chimpanzee, appears in front of him.
Dodger sets on a course that is supposed to make Willie's life better. Dodger is going to make Willie's mother less domineering, he is going to make Lizzie go away, and he is going to make Willie a baseball star. Unfortunately for Willie, Dodger's version of wish granting is a little more hands-on than the traditional genie's. Thus follows a series of delightful antics that will make readers of all ages laugh.
The story shows a clear difference between what we think we want and the reality of that desire in a lighthearted way. Though the plotline is a bit predictable, readers will enjoy seeing how Dodger twists Willie's simple wishes into slapstick solutions. Sonnenblick uses laughter to show original ways to overcome or accept issues that many middle schoolers struggle to overcome on a daily basis: loneliness, athletic prowess, bullying, and the true meaning of friendship.
DODGER AND ME is such an enjoyable trip that readers will look forward to reading the next installment in this delightful series.
DODGER AND ME is the first book in a new series by Jordan Sonnenblick .
In this book we meet Willie Ryan, self-proclaimed wimp. The fact that Willie is definitely a wimp is immediately evident when he becomes the reason his baseball team loses the first game in the championship series. One might think it is bad enough that Willie can neither catch nor hit a ball, but Willie has more wrong with his life.
To start, his mother is so overprotective that a simple nosebleed becomes an emergency of epic proportions. If that is not bad enough, his best friend has moved away and asked Lizzie, a British student at his school, to keep an eye on him. Lizzie takes this request very seriously and follows him everywhere, even to the big game where she embarrasses him by cheering him on despite his horrendous playing ability.
Tired of always following the rules and getting nowhere, Willie takes a shortcut home. Though he imagines his mother's warnings to stay on the beaten path, Willie cuts through the woods. He comes to a meadow where everything is blue, everything but the McDonald's bag that someone left lying in a stream. Always conscientious, Willie picks up the bag to dispose of it. To his shock, Dodger, a huge blue chimpanzee, appears in front of him.
Dodger sets on a course that is supposed to make Willie's life better. Dodger is going to make Willie's mother less domineering, he is going to make Lizzie go away, and he is going to make Willie a baseball star. Unfortunately for Willie, Dodger's version of wish granting is a little more hands-on than the traditional genie's. Thus follows a series of delightful antics that will make readers of all ages laugh.
The story shows a clear difference between what we think we want and the reality of that desire in a lighthearted way. Though the plotline is a bit predictable, readers will enjoy seeing how Dodger twists Willie's simple wishes into slapstick solutions. Sonnenblick uses laughter to show original ways to overcome or accept issues that many middle schoolers struggle to overcome on a daily basis: loneliness, athletic prowess, bullying, and the true meaning of friendship.
DODGER AND ME is such an enjoyable trip that readers will look forward to reading the next installment in this delightful series.
September 2, 2008
Sonnenblick, Jordan. 2008. Dodger and Me.
Dodger and Me is a gem of a book and the beginning of a new series by Jordan Sonnenblick. The book stars Willie Ryan and his mostly-always best friend, Dodger. Here's how the flap reads, "What would you do if your best friend was: 1) imaginary, 2) an oversize blue chimp in surfer shorts (Potentially embarrassiiing, but, hey, no one else can see him, right?, 3) Proposing a plan to help you improve your life, 4) Did we say imaginary?, 5) Driving you crazy?!?!" And the back reads, "Okay, I was unpopular. But was I so amazingly unpopular that I needed a magical blue chimp for a best friend? Quite possibly."
Here's how the book itself begins, "Look, if I'm going to tell you everything that happened between me and Dodger, you have to promise you won't tell. And you won't laugh. And you won't mention any of this to dumb old Lizzie from England. I have a weird feeling she wouldn't appreciate it. Not that I care what she thinks. Anyway, I guess I'll have to trust you on this, right? Plus, I'm busting to tell somebody about it. So here goes."
Willie Ryan is a baseball loving kid. Of course it's a slight problem that baseball doesn't quite love him as much as he loves it. He's not all that great a player. He wants to be, no doubt about it, he wants it more than anything. But he has a tendency to goof up when he's up to bat. And this is how we first meet him. And how Willie first meets Dodger.
After losing the game, Willie is off on his own. Ignoring his mom's warnings, he is daring enough to take a shortcut through the woods. While there, he picks up a piece of litter. Not something you'd think was life-changing, right? But this piece of trash isn't ordinary. For out springs Dodger--the blue chimp that isn't quite a genie, but passes for one in an emergency. And the powers that be have deemed Willie an emergency. His friendless condition that is. That and the fact that his mom is the most overprotective mom on the planet--or so Willie thinks.
Once Dodger makes his appearance, there is no doubt about it...Willie's life will change. But will it be for better or for worse?
The book is enjoyable. And it's funny. It's the right blend of what a book is supposed to be.
© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
Dodger and Me is a gem of a book and the beginning of a new series by Jordan Sonnenblick. The book stars Willie Ryan and his mostly-always best friend, Dodger. Here's how the flap reads, "What would you do if your best friend was: 1) imaginary, 2) an oversize blue chimp in surfer shorts (Potentially embarrassiiing, but, hey, no one else can see him, right?, 3) Proposing a plan to help you improve your life, 4) Did we say imaginary?, 5) Driving you crazy?!?!" And the back reads, "Okay, I was unpopular. But was I so amazingly unpopular that I needed a magical blue chimp for a best friend? Quite possibly."
Here's how the book itself begins, "Look, if I'm going to tell you everything that happened between me and Dodger, you have to promise you won't tell. And you won't laugh. And you won't mention any of this to dumb old Lizzie from England. I have a weird feeling she wouldn't appreciate it. Not that I care what she thinks. Anyway, I guess I'll have to trust you on this, right? Plus, I'm busting to tell somebody about it. So here goes."
Willie Ryan is a baseball loving kid. Of course it's a slight problem that baseball doesn't quite love him as much as he loves it. He's not all that great a player. He wants to be, no doubt about it, he wants it more than anything. But he has a tendency to goof up when he's up to bat. And this is how we first meet him. And how Willie first meets Dodger.
After losing the game, Willie is off on his own. Ignoring his mom's warnings, he is daring enough to take a shortcut through the woods. While there, he picks up a piece of litter. Not something you'd think was life-changing, right? But this piece of trash isn't ordinary. For out springs Dodger--the blue chimp that isn't quite a genie, but passes for one in an emergency. And the powers that be have deemed Willie an emergency. His friendless condition that is. That and the fact that his mom is the most overprotective mom on the planet--or so Willie thinks.
Once Dodger makes his appearance, there is no doubt about it...Willie's life will change. But will it be for better or for worse?
The book is enjoyable. And it's funny. It's the right blend of what a book is supposed to be.
© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
February 11, 2017
The story was quite entertaining and for the age bracket it is geared to, it is sure to keep their attention so I have to give it 5 stars. The story itself is humorous, adventurous and sad but it is the life of Willie Ryan and we, the reader can only image what we would do in the same situation. Willie is the son of an overprotective mother who plays baseball (overprotective mom + baseball = doesn’t make a good combination). If that wasn’t enough, this 5th grader’s best friend just moved away and now he has a girl in the stand cheering him on but she hasn’t the foggiest idea what she is saying. Besides being the worse player, Willie is embarrassed at the comments coming from this girl’s lips and why is she even here encouraging him in the first place? When Willie lets his team down in the final minutes of the game, he takes a shortcut home and finds himself in a forest clearing. Picking up trash, as that is the proper thing to do, he unexpectedly finds himself face-to-face with a blue chimpanzee named Dodger. Believing Dodger is a genie, since he came from a teapot, Willie starts thinking three wishes but Dodger has other plans first. Accompanying Willie home, Dodger explains to Willie his Three-Part Plan and the adventure and friendship between the two takes off.
There are many great relationships in this book and Willie has to figure out what is important to him at the end of the book. Nothing is never easy and Willie has a few choices to make. He makes some easy choices and he sees what the consequences are – which is another good selling point for this story. I would have liked to see at the beginning of the story, Willie save the game but you can’t have a bed of roses all the time. Since reading this book, I wonder what choices I would make and if they would be the same as Willie. It’s a question that after reading the book to our children, we could ask them.
There are many great relationships in this book and Willie has to figure out what is important to him at the end of the book. Nothing is never easy and Willie has a few choices to make. He makes some easy choices and he sees what the consequences are – which is another good selling point for this story. I would have liked to see at the beginning of the story, Willie save the game but you can’t have a bed of roses all the time. Since reading this book, I wonder what choices I would make and if they would be the same as Willie. It’s a question that after reading the book to our children, we could ask them.
January 11, 2009
I loved this book. Basic plot: loser kid (Willie) sucks at baseball, has an overprotective mother, tries to avoid an annoying girl (Lizzie), and is lonely after his best friend moves away. Enter a possibly imaginary blue chimp named Dodger wearing surfer shorts and an eye patch, who may or may not be a genie, and who may or may not help him overcome his problems. Along the way, and under Dodger's watch, things get way worse for Willie before they can get better.
Will Willie improve his baseball skills and help his team win the championship? Will his mother stop fussing over him so much? Will Lizzie ever leave him alone? Will he survive Dodger's plans to improve his life? And more importantly—what will his three wishes be?
The thing that really makes this YA novel pop is the writing. Just before reading Dodger and Me , I read another YA book from the same publisher. Good plot, likable lead characters, but the writing was just awful. But I finished it, and moved on to Dodger. What a breath of fresh air! The writing is engaging, funny, and just plain readable. As a writer myself, I think the best compliment I can give this book is that it is one of those books you come across that you wish you had written first. You don't have to be a young adult to enjoy Dodger and Me . Go get it!
Will Willie improve his baseball skills and help his team win the championship? Will his mother stop fussing over him so much? Will Lizzie ever leave him alone? Will he survive Dodger's plans to improve his life? And more importantly—what will his three wishes be?
The thing that really makes this YA novel pop is the writing. Just before reading Dodger and Me , I read another YA book from the same publisher. Good plot, likable lead characters, but the writing was just awful. But I finished it, and moved on to Dodger. What a breath of fresh air! The writing is engaging, funny, and just plain readable. As a writer myself, I think the best compliment I can give this book is that it is one of those books you come across that you wish you had written first. You don't have to be a young adult to enjoy Dodger and Me . Go get it!
August 7, 2008
Willy knows he's pathetic, but does he really need an imaginary friend who's a blue chimp following him around getting him into all sorts of trouble?
Being a huge fan of Jordan Sonnenblick I've made it my goal to read every book he publishes, so when I found out that there was a book of his that I had not read yet, I immediately put it on hold at the library. Dodger and Me was a delightful book that had me smiling throughout the whole story. I love Jordan's sense of humor, he never ceases to amaze me with how funny he can make a situation, even when you thought that the main character was already going to die of embarrassment. I also enjoyed how you were reading and everything was going along fine, then there was an plot twist that you never would have expected and suddenly things are a lot hairier. I'm a little older then the intended reading age for this book, but I found myself entertained and would definitely recommend Dodger and Me to juvenile readers.
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2008...
Being a huge fan of Jordan Sonnenblick I've made it my goal to read every book he publishes, so when I found out that there was a book of his that I had not read yet, I immediately put it on hold at the library. Dodger and Me was a delightful book that had me smiling throughout the whole story. I love Jordan's sense of humor, he never ceases to amaze me with how funny he can make a situation, even when you thought that the main character was already going to die of embarrassment. I also enjoyed how you were reading and everything was going along fine, then there was an plot twist that you never would have expected and suddenly things are a lot hairier. I'm a little older then the intended reading age for this book, but I found myself entertained and would definitely recommend Dodger and Me to juvenile readers.
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2008...
August 13, 2010
Okay, so I had to read this book for work (children's librarian). It starts out entertaining and engaging and well written. I immediately liked the concept of the pseudo-genie, ridiculous, and trouble-making blue chimp. The only thing that really bugged me about this book was how much of a WEENY the main character was! No wonder he didn't have any friends! But with over-protective parents such as his, who wouldn't be!
This book really made me think about my own up-bringing, which makes me think that this book could have some interesting discussion questions beyond the obvious ones about "what would you do with three wishes?" I think it could start up conversations about responsibility (he wanted so badly to be good at baseball, yet didn't seem to work at it very much), character (he was quick to blame others for his problems), friendship (he wasn't a good friend to the people who were trying so hard to be his friend), etc.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit, eventhough the main character is a weeny, haha.
This book really made me think about my own up-bringing, which makes me think that this book could have some interesting discussion questions beyond the obvious ones about "what would you do with three wishes?" I think it could start up conversations about responsibility (he wanted so badly to be good at baseball, yet didn't seem to work at it very much), character (he was quick to blame others for his problems), friendship (he wasn't a good friend to the people who were trying so hard to be his friend), etc.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit, eventhough the main character is a weeny, haha.
January 13, 2010
Gosh, what would you do with three wishes? For Willie, when all his 5th grade classmates call him Wimpy, it should be pretty simple, right? Be popular, a sports-superstar, and have non-hovering parents. But when Dodger appears out of a crumpled up McDonald's bag, this 'Deputy-On-Call-Dispatch-Emergency-Reserve (Third Class)' appears impersonating a real life genie. Oh sure, he tries to grant Willie's three wishes, but they go horribly wrong. When the real genie shows up, Willie is dumb-struck with the truth about Dodger. Now, the real fun begins, and Willie is still able to make his three wishes...but, will they be the same as before once he has seen what granting three wishes will bring him?
Dodger and Me is hilarious, clever, and contains a whole lot of wisdom about 'be careful what you wish for, it just might come true'. Jordan Sonnenblick crafts a witty, kid-pleasing story about a boy, baseball, and big, blue chimpanzee-genie-in-reserve, friend.
Dodger and Me is hilarious, clever, and contains a whole lot of wisdom about 'be careful what you wish for, it just might come true'. Jordan Sonnenblick crafts a witty, kid-pleasing story about a boy, baseball, and big, blue chimpanzee-genie-in-reserve, friend.
February 19, 2010
This book was a really cute story about Willie and his imaginary friend, Dodger, who also happens to be an imaginary blue chimp. Willie is a 10 year old boy that does not have any friends and is not very good at baseball. Willie has one person, Lizzie, who follows him around constantly and wants to be his friend. However, Willie can't stand Lizzie and wants her to leave him alone. Willie also has a very over protective mother, which does not help with him making friends. One day, Willie meets Dodger and his whole life is turned upside down. Dodger is there to help Willie solve his life problems: bad baseball playing, Lizzie following him around and an overprotective mother. As Dodger tries to help Willie solve his problems a few more problems arise along the way...making this a funny and exciting book to read.
September 29, 2014
I think that Dodger and me was a great book! My favorite part was when Willie (the main character) was walking home from a baseball game and he cam along a McDonald's bag. It was dirty and just gross. So he picked it up and then all the sudden a big blue chimpanzee came out and his name is Dodger. He wore swim trunks and his sunglasses. Willie is now in a bad position, Well first of all he lost his baseball game. He was the last batter up with 2 out and he had 2 strikes on him and it was all up to him but he struck out and he lost the game for the team and the crowd booed him. Then his mom will be very mad at him if she finds out that he is taking home a big blue chimpanzee but he has to figure something out. So he brings Dodger home and hops that no one will find out. he also brings him to school.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2011
After causing his baseball team to lose a game, being embarrassed by his friend Lizzie, and losing his way while taking a shortcut after school Willie didn't think his life could get any worse. All that changes when he picks up some garbage and a fast-talking blue chimp named Dodger appears ready to be his best friend. Hilarity and chaos ensue as Dodger tries to help Willie fix his problems.
The audio book was narrated by William Dufris who also did The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg, and he does pretty well with all the different characters except Lizzie who could have used more of a British accent.
The audio book was narrated by William Dufris who also did The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg, and he does pretty well with all the different characters except Lizzie who could have used more of a British accent.
December 23, 2008
Willie isn't the most popular kid in school. As a matter of fact he isn't popular at all. One reason could be that he is a horrible baseball player. For it was Willie's fault that his team did not win the second to last game. The game that would have guaranteed his team the championship. But never fear Dodger is here. Dodger is a blue chimpanzee that only Willie can see. He is a friend that helps Willie play better baseball. And a friend that helps Willie learn some very valuable leasons. This is a humorous story that is a easy read.
November 10, 2011
Ages 7-10
I did it! I finally finished a book while working at my new job. That's not to say that I haven't been reading (I have) I just haven't been FINISHING.
This was just the cute, fluffy, one-hour read I was looking for. A dweeby, baseball inept, friendless kid (Willie) meets a blue chimp genie whose lamp looks like fast food trash. Dodger gets his new "master" into all sorts of trouble while building up Willie's self-esteem.
Fast, snappy, and good for the reluctant reader or busy librarian.
I did it! I finally finished a book while working at my new job. That's not to say that I haven't been reading (I have) I just haven't been FINISHING.
This was just the cute, fluffy, one-hour read I was looking for. A dweeby, baseball inept, friendless kid (Willie) meets a blue chimp genie whose lamp looks like fast food trash. Dodger gets his new "master" into all sorts of trouble while building up Willie's self-esteem.
Fast, snappy, and good for the reluctant reader or busy librarian.
July 13, 2008
I can see upper-elementary kids getting a kick out of this, but it just didn't do it for me. It's kinda funny in spots, but overall it's trying too hard to be hilarious. Fourth- or fifth-graders will probably enjoy it, though.
I'm mildly annoyed that I pulled something off my physical to-read shelf and it turns out to be something I never added to the GoodReads shelf, so I don't even get to delete it off that huge list. Sigh.
I'm mildly annoyed that I pulled something off my physical to-read shelf and it turns out to be something I never added to the GoodReads shelf, so I don't even get to delete it off that huge list. Sigh.
August 6, 2008
It's got baseball, it's got magic, it's got an enormous blue chlmp - Dodger and Me by Jordan Sonnenblick has it all! Willie Ryan struck out and lost the game for his team, his nickname is Wimpy, he's being followed by a kooky girl named Lizzie - the kid needs a break. Willie's break comes when he finds a strange teapot in the woods. He rubs it, and presto! Out comes a magical blue chimpanzee! Hard to believe? Definitely. The start of an outrageously funny story? You bet!
July 3, 2008
LOL is the only way to describe this book. Willie Ryan's life is turned upside down after he accidently kicks an old teapot in the woods and a large,blue chimp appears who claims he can help Willie succeed in baseball and in making fun. For a while, though, it looks like all Dodger can do is get Willie in more trouble than he thought was possible.
August 6, 2008
A take off on the genie in a bottle theme.... Dodger, a blue chimp, is not quite what he seems. He appears to Willie in the middle of the woods after Willie picks up a discarded fast food bag and dusts it off. He can't quite offer Willie the three wishes that he had hoped for, but he does offer friendship.
June 12, 2010
Did you ever want a genie to get three wishes? Well, be careful what you ask for. Willy, didn't even want a genie, but he got one anyway: in the form of a blue, sloppy chimpanzee names Dodger that only he can see. He tries to help Willy with his problems. One problem is having no friends since his best friend moved; but it doesn't always go the way Willy thinks it will.
July 24, 2010
Grades 4-6
Willie gets a very different kind of imaginary friend, a talking blue chimpanzee, who appears out of a fast food bag turned teapot. He seems to have the power to grant Willie wishes, and when that happens, well...things start to get interesting for Willie. A simple but fun story about friendship and with a be careful what you wish for message.
Willie gets a very different kind of imaginary friend, a talking blue chimpanzee, who appears out of a fast food bag turned teapot. He seems to have the power to grant Willie wishes, and when that happens, well...things start to get interesting for Willie. A simple but fun story about friendship and with a be careful what you wish for message.
July 21, 2017
This was decent. My boys were interested in it, though it dragged for me a bit in the middle. It had a great opening with a close baseball game that drew us all in to the story. The end of the book was left very open-ended, which some of my kids really disliked. I sometimes don't like that either, but I liked it in this case.
March 23, 2018
Do you think there's actually a blue chimp out there?
June 3, 2021
Dodger and Me is a book about a boy who finds a blue chimpanzee in a McDonalds bag. He is the only one who can see the chimp, and has to sneak him around his house and town. I did not really like this book, in fact my teacher had to pressure me into finishing it. It is unrealistic. It didn’t hold my attention and seemed to move so slow. Also, this book is about a kid who likes baseball and who’s best friend moved away. I don’t like baseball and all my friends live in the same town as me, so I can’t relate. If you like baseball, you might like this book, but I did not. This is why I gave it only two stars.
July 2, 2017
I was unable to connect with the characters or story in Dodger and Me. I did not finish listening to the audiobook.
July 8, 2022
This is a nice story for all kids, about friendship. Especially good for baseball fans!
December 3, 2023
Dodger and Me is an enjoyable read. Will aka Willie by his peers, is funny and self deprecating. At first I felt bad for Will as I learned about his horrible day, but then he changed into a character who tried to use his wishes to gain things from himself and I was a bit annoyed at him. Like many other stories that revolve around wishes and genies, Will grows more wary and realizes what's really important to him. Similarly to heroes who are granted wishes, he doesn't make good choices, but he finds a way to correct himself and becomes smarter because of it. He is a good narrator, who thankfully, doesn't have spell out the lessons that he learned along the way. At times though, the narration seems a bit unbalanced. There are quite a few complex words like "stupefied" and "rendezvous" used and I'm not entirely sure that a fifth grader knows what those words mean or would even use them.
I think kids will love the humor in this book, especially Dodger, who reminded me a lot of Genie from Disney's Aladdin (I just realized that both are blue!). A character who has good intentions and means well, but has poor execution on his promises. As a side note Dodger's surfer dialogue, which I'm sure will be a hit with kids, really irritated me mainly due to the overuse of the word "Dude". I hear "Dude" 40 hours a week at work while working with teens and it gets a bit irksome. It's hard enough to avoid using the word in my own vocabulary along with extraneous amount of "like". Overall, Dodger and Me is a cute, but predictable story.
I think kids will love the humor in this book, especially Dodger, who reminded me a lot of Genie from Disney's Aladdin (I just realized that both are blue!). A character who has good intentions and means well, but has poor execution on his promises. As a side note Dodger's surfer dialogue, which I'm sure will be a hit with kids, really irritated me mainly due to the overuse of the word "Dude". I hear "Dude" 40 hours a week at work while working with teens and it gets a bit irksome. It's hard enough to avoid using the word in my own vocabulary along with extraneous amount of "like". Overall, Dodger and Me is a cute, but predictable story.
September 8, 2011
Good audio!
Miserable because his only friend moved away and he has once again caused his baseball team to lose a game, fifth-grader Willy Ryan's life suddenly becomes a lot more interesting when he finds Dodger, a furry, blue chimpanzee that only he can see, and he has to decide what he really wishes for in life.
Reviews Detail:School Library Journal Reviews
Gr 4–7— In this sweet but predictable novel, Willie Ryan is a boy with three problems: he's terrible at baseball and keeps letting his team down, his mother is overprotective, and a girl named Lizzie won't leave him alone. A detour through the woods leads him to a genielike blue chimpanzee called Dodger, who is at first visible only to the fifth grader. Dodger's attempts to solve Willie's problems lead to disaster. Some of the situations are funny, as when the boy's love for banana yogurt leads to chaos in the cafeteria, and Dodger's surfer-inspired vocabulary and wild ideas for improving Willie's life make for some lighter moments. However, some of the humor seems strained, and most of the characters, especially Willie's parents, are not well developed. Lizzie is also a bit of a mystery, as is her matter-of-fact reaction when Dodger appears to her. It's no surprise when Willie realizes that he's grown attached to Dodger despite the chimp's ineptitude, that he doesn't really want his mother to become a different person, and that he likes Lizzie after all. Baseball fans will enjoy this novel, while other readers will likely find the story amusing but shallow.—Miranda Doyle, San Francisco Public Library
Miserable because his only friend moved away and he has once again caused his baseball team to lose a game, fifth-grader Willy Ryan's life suddenly becomes a lot more interesting when he finds Dodger, a furry, blue chimpanzee that only he can see, and he has to decide what he really wishes for in life.
Reviews Detail:School Library Journal Reviews
Gr 4–7— In this sweet but predictable novel, Willie Ryan is a boy with three problems: he's terrible at baseball and keeps letting his team down, his mother is overprotective, and a girl named Lizzie won't leave him alone. A detour through the woods leads him to a genielike blue chimpanzee called Dodger, who is at first visible only to the fifth grader. Dodger's attempts to solve Willie's problems lead to disaster. Some of the situations are funny, as when the boy's love for banana yogurt leads to chaos in the cafeteria, and Dodger's surfer-inspired vocabulary and wild ideas for improving Willie's life make for some lighter moments. However, some of the humor seems strained, and most of the characters, especially Willie's parents, are not well developed. Lizzie is also a bit of a mystery, as is her matter-of-fact reaction when Dodger appears to her. It's no surprise when Willie realizes that he's grown attached to Dodger despite the chimp's ineptitude, that he doesn't really want his mother to become a different person, and that he likes Lizzie after all. Baseball fans will enjoy this novel, while other readers will likely find the story amusing but shallow.—Miranda Doyle, San Francisco Public Library
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2009
Pretty good book. Light hearted fun story. Willy has three major problems in life. His mother is too overprotective of him and making him into a wimp, an English girl who won't leave him alone, and though he is on a baseball team he is a really bad player. Then he finds a magical blue chimp, named Dodger, who says he will help Willy solve all his problems. That is if Willy can survive the help.
The beginning and the middle of the book are quite good. Though some of Dodger efforts produce questionable results they are leading to an good ending. As people do learn to see things in different ways.
Spolier Alert
Unfortunetly at the end Lasorda shows up and in my opinion ruins the story. Everything ends up being fixed by magic rather than have people learn from Dodger crazy ideas. I was hoping that Willy's Mom would learn to lighten up rather than have her personality changed by magic. Even the baseball game which was set up as an important part of the story is unresloved.
Would have been three stars but, the author dropped the ball with the ending.
The beginning and the middle of the book are quite good. Though some of Dodger efforts produce questionable results they are leading to an good ending. As people do learn to see things in different ways.
Spolier Alert
Unfortunetly at the end Lasorda shows up and in my opinion ruins the story. Everything ends up being fixed by magic rather than have people learn from Dodger crazy ideas. I was hoping that Willy's Mom would learn to lighten up rather than have her personality changed by magic. Even the baseball game which was set up as an important part of the story is unresloved.
Would have been three stars but, the author dropped the ball with the ending.
December 8, 2018
Fifth-grader Willie Ryan has issues with friendships and finds help in an imaginary friend named Dodger, a blue chimpanzee. Willie can’t understand why Lizzie from England keeps following him around and his mother is always worried about his safety. Dodger and Me, the first in a series by Jordan Sonnenblick, is also his first book for young audiences. Other books is the series include Dodger for President and Dodger for Sale. Dodger and Me is a wonderful book for anyone who has ever discovered that friendship helps them find out they want most in life.
Reviewed by Liz Glazer, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library
Reviewed by Liz Glazer, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library
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