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Justine Fontes

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Benito Runs (Surviving Southside) Kindle Edition

by Justine Fontes (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

5.0 6 ratings

Part of: Surviving Southside (8 books)

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Running away is the only option.

Benito's father, Xavier, had been in Iraq for more than a year. When he returns, Benito's family life is not the same. Xavier suffers from PTSD—post-traumatic stress disorder—and yells constantly. He causes such a scene at a school function that Benny is embarrassed to go to back to Southside High. Benny can't handle seeing his dad so crazy, so he decides to run away. Will Benny find a new life? Or will he learn how to deal with his dad—through good times and bad?

Editorial Reviews

Review

"These well-written stories reinforce the importance of family, friends, values, and thoughtful decision-making. Characters that readers will identify with and care about are combined with realistic plots that reflect society today. Excellent purchases, these books will attract and engage reluctant readers." --School Library Journal

"The topics are interesting and relevant, and present characters readers can empathize with. With each novel being around 100 pages, students who struggle with reading or finding interesting material to read should pick one up. Recommended." --Library Media Connection

"Solid, simple stories. For reluctant readers and fans of the Bluford High series." --Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Justine Fontes was born in New York City. She grew up on Long Island and later graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in English Liternature from New York University. Justine found her first job in publishing while she was a Freshman. She worked at various publishing houses before becoming a freelance writer. At Little Golden Books, Justine met her future husband, Ron Fontes. They started writing together and have written over 500 children's books. Justine and Ron moved to Maine in 1988.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B007TXDHBK
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Darby Creek (August 1, 2013)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 1, 2013
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 4243 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 108 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0761361650

Customer Reviews:
5.0 6 ratings

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Justine Fontes

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Justine Korman Fontes is the author of over 600 children's books, including mega-selling adaptations of Disney hits like THE LION KING, plus her original popular GRUMPY BUNNY series for Scholastic.

Justine has been writing all her life. She worked part-time in publishing while earning her B.A. in English Literature, Phi Beta Kappa from New York University. While an editorial assistant at Golden Books, she met her future husband and partner, Ron Fontes, an artist in the Whitman Comics department, who moved on to mighty Marvel Comics.

When Justine started getting freelance writing assignments, Ron pitched in and a children's book writing team was born! Ron brought visual storytelling, theatre, and history; Justine enthusiasm, humor, and a straight-A attitude.

In 1988, the couple moved to Maine, where they have written everything from beginning readers and novelty books to historical fiction and graphic novels.

Justine's hobbies include fitness, juggling, gardening, cooking, and playing the ukulele. She also enjoys making movies with Ron.

The prolific couple's goal is to write 1001 children's books.

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Karen

he said it was a good book and he enjoyed reading it

Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2016

Verified Purchase

Book was purchased for my son, he said it was a good book and he enjoyed reading it.

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D. Fowler

This is a powerful, poignant story of Benny, a teenager who has difficulty coping with his father's PTSD ...

Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2011

Benito loved to play soccer with his father because it gave him a sense of closeness, but after his father, Xavier, was deployed to Iraq he practiced with his friend, Dustin. Benito "Benny" was now the "man of the house," but he wasn't very strict with his younger sister, Armida. Things got done when they got done and it was no big deal. His Mom wanted him to write letters to his Dad and they often sent packages. Things weren't the same without him and Benny often worried that he would die in combat, but when they received notice he was coming home it was better than Christmas. Not. Soon his best friend Steve Jones would be telling him to quit stressing. Things would change and the holiday atmosphere changed the moment his Dad walked through the door. He was very distant and his smile was gone. Something was wrong, terribly wrong.

The screams began the first night he was home, shattering the peace of the house. Benny and Armi heard their mother try to waken their father gently by talking to him and telling him "It's just a dream." Xavi was a man who had changed and brought fear and anger into a once joyful household when he began to rage and turned the house into "Platoon Rodriguez." No doubt the neighbors could hear the tumult through the walls. He had been a model father Benny enjoyed being around and wanted to emulate, but now he just wanted to get away from him.

Benny began to sell tickets for the Bowling Night fund-raiser as a way to disassociate from his home life. His mother struggled to put food on the table while his father stayed home to talk army and run the platoon. There was little for Benny and Armi to do, but steer clear of him. Bowling Night arrived and the entire Platoon Rodriguez, along with half of Southside High, crowded into the alley. His father quickly grew sullen and nervous, complaining about the expense of the "zapatos feos." A few dollars was nothing for bowling shoes, but the best show of the night was yet to come when his crazy father began to shout, "Camel spiders! They get in your boots at night. They get as big as your fist." Would Benny ever be able to live with the embarrassment of having a crazy for a father? Was running away the only way to escape this madness?

This is a powerful, poignant story of Benny, a teenager who has difficulty coping with his father's PTSD. This short volume deals quite well with the stressful problems created when Xavier, a returning soldier affected with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, returns to his family. It is quite clear there is no parade held for this troubled man, nor anyone rushing to the aid of the children. Benny, a boy who dearly loved his father, like many teens, does not know where to turn when his father "disappears" when he relives the horror of his experiences in Iraq. I gained a better understanding of the problem, especially when Benny was teased and claims, "I wanted to be Benito, not Camel Spider." This is a somewhat heartrending look PTSD and the effect it has on a family, but is one you should consider!

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Benito Runs (Surviving Southside) Kindle Edition

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