[The Kid Who Ran For President (1996):
From Publishers Weekly
It doesn't take much for sixth-grader Judd Moon's best friend, Lane, to convince him that a kid rather than a grownup should lead the U.S. into the new millennium-and that Judd is just the boy for the job. Fast-talking Lane grabs the reigns as his pal's campaign manager and the intrepid duo quickly obtains the necessary signatures to get Judd on the ballot for the Presidential election of 2000 (the novel opens in 1999). Lining up a blue-eyed, blond classmate as his "First Babe" and a wise if cynical elderly African American woman as his running mate, Judd establishes the Lemonade Party (named for the commodity sold at his first fund-raiser) and promises to abolish all homework if his peers can convince their parents to vote for him. As the rookie politician's campaign takes off at a rollicking clip, readers will be caught up in the inventive absurdity of Gutman's (Taking Flight) plot. Despite the preposterous premise and the characters' endless stream of unrealistically clever quips and wisecracks, the author pulls off a feat as impressive as Judd's victory: he actually makes his hero a credible 12-year-old. This snappy, lighthearted farce will win kids' votes. Ages 9-13.
The Kid Who Became President (1999):
Book Description
Judson Moon won the presidential election of 2000 at age 12. Now, a year later, he's dodging assassination attempts and facing off with a crazed South American dictator! Sometimes, Judson wishes he was just a regular kid back in Madison, Wisconsin.]
The Kid Who Probably Never Should Have Become President:
"Mr. President, we need you to look over these new health care proposals," said John Saunders, the President's top advisor. The President took the papers from John.
"What does all this mean?" asked the President. "Health care should be something simple, that Americans should be able to understand."
"But Mr. President," Mr. Saunders began.
"Don't 'Mr. President' me! I may not be a career politician like you, but that's why I'm such a great President. I understand things about regular people that politicians don't get. Politics is boring, don't you think?"
"Well, Mr. President, I--"
"You're fired, John. Get your shit out of your office and get the hell out of my face. I never want to see you again." President Judd Moon kept walking down the hall, not even turning around to look at the advisor he had just fired. He strode into the former ballroom in the White House that he had recently converted into an arcade, hoping to have a little fun so he wouldn't be so distracted for his boring press conference later that afternoon.
"SURPRISE!" It was a birthday party! His family and all his friends from back home popped out from behind his arcade games, waving their hands, wearing party hats, and blowing on noisemakers. His loyal chef Francois wheeled a huge cake shaped like a baseball mitt into the room.
"Happy thirteenth birthday!" his mother yelled, running up to the President Moon and giving him a big kiss on the cheek.
"Mom," Judd groaned, "don't embarrass me in front of Congress!" Judd could see that the leaders of both the Republicans and the Democrats had set aside their differences for the day to enjoy the President's birthday party.
"I'm just so proud of you honey," she said. "My little boy. The President!" She started to cry and Judd rolled his eyes.
"Pinata!" shouted Lane, his best friend. A couple of Senators brought out a huge pinata in the shape of the White House and gave Judd the bat to take the first swing.
"Let's see if I can still hit it!" Judd said as Lane lowered the blindfold over his face. He knocked it open on his first try and everyone there, even Judd's parents and the Congressmen, jumped into the pile to grab all the candy they could. It was full of all Judd's favorites--Airheads and Nerds and chocolate bars with peanuts. "This is the best birthday ever!" Judd screamed as he jumped on top of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, grabbing for all the candy he could fit in his jacket pocket. And it really was the best birthday any kid could imagine.
The date was September 10, 2001.
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