Lowji Discovers America

by Candace Fleming

Book Overview

Dear Jamshed, American is not so different from what we thought. I told you I wouldn't see a single cowboy riding across the plain, and I haven't. I have not even seen a plain. Still there are some silver linings. They are: 1. Trapper and King, the cat and dog who live in the apartment building. They are cuddly and waggy. I am not allowed to play with them, though, because they are supposed to catch mice and keep burglars away. 2. Ironman. He owns...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416958320
• ISBN13: 9781416958321
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.3" x 7.6"
• Age Range: 7 to 11 years
• Grade Range: Grades 2 to 6

Customer Reviews

Great Fun for Kids!

LOWJI DISCOVERS AMERICA is a fun book with a great message. It's also one of 2008's Children's Sequoyah Masterlist reads. Author Candace Fleming tells Lowji's story in a great first-person voice that will doubtless have young readers rolling in the aisles as the hero tries to figure out how things are done in his new country, and tries to figure out a way to get a pet. The author captures a lot of the accent Lowji would have in his speech after so recently coming from Bombay, India, and she gives him great parents. Ma is very strict and loving, but Bape seems to have an incurable love of puns that is just painful to read. My son loved them! I loved how Lowji had a notion of what America would be like after living in crowded Bombay all his life, then was heartened and disappointed at the same time. He thought things would be vastly different, but they really aren't at first. The disappointment over not getting to have a pet quickly shifts gears to Lowji trying to figure out a way to get one anyhow. The author's digs at the common backdrop of American culture, especially in the giant store ALL-MART, was terrific. There are a lot of episodes that continually build Lowji's story. I felt his sadness when the bird, Tippy, deserted him for the other kids in the store. But I was laughing aloud with my son when the pig, Blossom, nearly has a heat stroke and Lowji saves her by bringing her into the store. This is exactly the kind of thing my kid would do, and it just proves that kids speak the same language more than adults do. I also loved how Lowji constantly talked Landlady Crisp into getting animals to do her work for her. The cat is brought in to handle the mice. The dog is brought in to handle security. And the goats are brought in to handle the lawn care. This is all very Tom Sawyerish and works well. However, parents might not find the burping contest and squirting milk out of one nostril quite so funny. My son, of course, thought they were tremendous. LOWJI DISCOVERS AMERICA delivers a familiar and humorous story in an accent that will probably be new to most young readers. There's also a lot of information regarding Indian culture. If you're working on the Sequoyah list with your child, this novel should definitely be one of those you pick up - especially if your child is a boy!

The kids laughed and laughed

My kids (girl 10, boy 8) love this book. Lowji comes to America, from India, and innocently manages to make everything more fun. It is a cultural fish out of water story, and invokes the fun parts of the experience of immersion in a new culture. The kids loved extending the metaphor of the bus descending the himalayas without brakes. They added a passenger and a drunken driver to their imagery. We read a lot, but reading this book with them has been more fun than any other book in my recent memory.

pce student review

Lowji Discovers America is a great book. It's written by Candace, Fleming. She is a really good writer. She has fun with her writing, and makes it exciting! I think it is the best fiction book ever. My favorite scene is when all of the animals make a mess in the neighbor's lawn. My favorite character is Lowji because he is fun to listen to. Lowji Discovers America is for people who like any kind of funny book. Anyone can read this amazing book, all ages. You will love it just like I do! In this book I learned that there is always an animal that you can get and depend on to do a job that you don't have time to do. I love the book Lowji Discovers America because it's great for kids and it has a lot of funny parts and it's not serious. Also it is the best book you could ever read!!!

Lowji Discovers America

Lowji is so clueless in the beginning. Even though this is a quick read, there is so much excitement in this book.Lowji lives in an apartment with mice and rude neighbors. To solve many problems, Lowji suggests different animals to take the place of the broken tools, but then the animals make a bigger problem. Even so the owner of the apartment complex keeps the animals. In the end Lowji meets a girl and they become great friends. I'd tell you more, but I don't want to ruin the adventure. 'Lowji Discovers America' is definitly a book I suggest you to read. I hope you enjoy this story as I did.

America

Candace Fleming goes out on a limb to tell the story of Lowji a young boy who moved with his mother and father from India to a small midwestern town in the United States of America. This story is charming, light-hearted, and well written. Lowji is an endearing character that comes to understand his new home. He is challenged by cultural misunderstandings and learning the funny expressions that English speakers of the United States often take for granted. In a very innocent way Lowji makes the adjustments to life in the USA. He makes new friends and settles into a new home. The acculturation experience is one that many new Americans may endure. Fleming handles the situation with clever conscience without vilifying either Lowji's family or the townspeople.