Rat Teeth (Casey, Tracy & Company)

Rating:
Summary: For any kid with problems you feel like running from
Review: I first read this at the age of 10 or 11 back when it first came out and i really enjoyed it. Poor Cliffie, his folks get divorced, his teeth start sticking out and his father is trying to save up money to get him in braces. My folks weren't divorced and my teeth didn't stick out but at 10 years old I felt like i still had so many problems! My nose was too big, I was a klutz, etc, and I admired Cliffie for acting tough and gutting it out. His tough front caused others, however, to think he was stuck up. Cliffie ends up losing all his friends because he shoots his mouth off while trying to act tough. He also hands in the wrong homework, and tries to hide from his teacher, who is an old bat! There were parts in this book, like all other of Giff's wonderful books, that sent me into a fit of giggles! When Cliffie rescues an abandoned, homeless starving orange cat, he reveals to the reader that he is truely a softhearted, kind and sensitive boy deep down. When he thinks he finds the owner of the cat, you learn that he is also an honest person inside. This book is a must-read! I did it for a book report speech when I was a junior in highschool. Everyone loved it.