Justine McKeen, Queen of Green
by Sigmund Brouwer
illustrated by Dave Whamond
View Excerpt
- Commended, Resource Links "The Year's Best"
Justine McKeen talks too much, bosses people around too much, and as everyone soon finds out, she tells the truth, but just not all at once. Justine's trying to save the planet, one person and one cause at a time. Best of all, when she decides to get something done, it involves a whole lot of laughter and fun for everyone.
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Jimmy Blatzo saw three large brownie squares in a Ziploc bag on the table. He grabbed the squares. "This is your punishment."
He pulled one out and crammed it into his mouth.
"May I have the bag back?" Justine asked. "Reduce. Reuse. Recycle."
"Not a chance," he said, chewing. He marched out of the cafeteria.
"That's too bad," Justine told Michael and Safdar.
"What?" Safdar asked. "That you just made enemies with the biggest bully in the school?"
"Or that he drank your juice, smashed your sandwiches and took your desert?" said Michael.
"No," said Justine. "That he took the Ziploc bag. I was hoping to use it for the whole school year. Plus, those brownies were part of my science project."
"Justine is feisty enough to add some flavor to the mix...Brisk, very brief chapters are accompanied by lively full-page black-and-white illustrations...[and] endnotes provide suggestions for environmental projects included in the story...Funnier and fresher than most."
"The characters are engaging and their dialogue is brief, humorous and 'kid-friendly.' Large black and white illustrations, comically drawn, enhance the action. This environmental topic is closely connected to the elementary curriculum and the text should prove useful to promote both discussion and ideas."
"Justine and her friends have so much enthusiasm for reusing and recycling...that readers of this book might find themselves looking for ways to recycle in their own lives. Illustrations by Dave Whamond convey the emotion and detail of the scene to help young readers to connect with what they are reading...Recommended."
