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juller's review against another edition
4.0
David's 7th grade year is turning out to be super busy. He is studying for his bar mitzvah, practicing for and competing in a trivia contest, and trying to keep the peace between his Chinese grandma and Jewish grandma. And on top of that he is also preparing for the end of the world.
This humorous tale should be a great addition great to middle school libraries
This humorous tale should be a great addition great to middle school libraries
moh's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this middle-grade book. It's set in suburban Virginia in the early eighties, and the main character is a 12-year-old Chinese, Jewish boy who is preparing for his bar mitzvah, starting junior high, and navigating the recent addition of his Chinese grandmother to his household and his Jewish grandmother to his neighborhood. The title comes from the old emergency broadcast system test announcements and the main character's struggle to make sense of the threat of nuclear war (triggered by his viewing of The Day After), but it's also a reference to the ways our friendships and ethics are tested as we grow up. Much of the charm of This Is Just a Test is in the funny, likable narrative voice. The MC is realistically fallible, but he's a mensch.
macksbookstack's review against another edition
4.0
My first middle grade book (since, ya know…probably being in middle school…)! Super adorable!
bickie's review
3.0
1983-1984 7th graders. Duelling grandmas (NYC Jewish, Chinese). David is nervous about nuclear war and about his Bar Mitzvah speech. He is drawn toward Scott, who believes that being a "lone wolf" (i.e., no relationships) is what is important to survival, because he seems so easy-going around everyone, particularly girls. David's best friend since 2nd grade, Hector, is sometimes a bit socially embarrassing while being a thoughtful, loyal friend. David makes some choices he regrets, mostly by not really making a choice, and learns to speak up.
kristenremenar's review against another edition
5.0
David is half-Chinese and half-Jewish and wholly anxious about his upcoming bar mitzvah. It's set in 1983 when everyone is anxious about the threat of nuclear war. Good friendship story and great story about the loving-but-overbearing pull of family on kids as they start to figure out who they are. Great for Battle of the Books.
brinysea's review against another edition
4.0
Can be challenging to find YA/MG fiction with a Jewish main character that isn’t centered on the Holocaust. This book fit the bill and included great opportunities to wrestle with cross-cultural questions. Considering it as a real aloud for my classes next year.
saidtheraina's review against another edition
4.0
Realistic historical fiction about a middle school kid growing up in the early 1980s.
David's family is half-Jewish and half-Chinese - both of his grandmothers live nearby, and they constantly clash about their cultural differences. Meanwhile, he's experiencing middle school friend-drama. He joins a school trivia team! Also, it's the cold war, and one of his new friends wants to dig a fallout shelter, but leave his other friend out of both the process of digging the shelter, and the safety of the shelter when it's time to go under.
This has been on my list for a few years (it came out in 2017), and I found it very engaging.
David is relatable, and I learned some interesting trivia! (Did you know banana peels can help with headaches?)
David's family is half-Jewish and half-Chinese - both of his grandmothers live nearby, and they constantly clash about their cultural differences. Meanwhile, he's experiencing middle school friend-drama. He joins a school trivia team! Also, it's the cold war, and one of his new friends wants to dig a fallout shelter, but leave his other friend out of both the process of digging the shelter, and the safety of the shelter when it's time to go under.
This has been on my list for a few years (it came out in 2017), and I found it very engaging.
David is relatable, and I learned some interesting trivia! (Did you know banana peels can help with headaches?)
dogtrax's review
4.0
Solid story of family, cultural clashes, growing up, and fear of someone in power hitting the button (which makes it relevant even today, unfortunately)
molly_dettmann's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a cute read! David Da-Wei Horowitz has a lot of things on his plate as an almost 13-year-old. He's preparing for his bar mitzvah, dealing with his two grandmothers, studying for a trivia competition, and digging a fallout shelter with his new friend Scott (who isn't very nice to David's oldest friend Hector). Set in the 80s when The Day After premiered, this story takes a look at when cultures, friends, and adolescence collide, all told with a sweet and humorous tone. I would definitely recommend for 5/6th-8th graders.
biblioemily's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this one. It has a lot of heart & humor. I'd give it to fans of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series because of its themes of friendship and navigating adolescence. Since the 80s are popular again & US relations with Russia are as confusing as ever, this is a very timely book, too!