The election is the main event and external conflict of The Kid Who Ran for President. The book presents the election as it occurs every four years in America and parodies the process by having a 12-year-old kid enter the race. By telling the story from Judson’s <a data-internal-link data-link-type="Literary Device" href="https://www.supersummary.com/perspective/">perspective</a>, Gutman shows the election from the inside and outside. Judson’s campaign offers a glimpse at the media image candidates must uphold, as well as the many people and hours it takes to run a successful campaign. From the outside, Judson is new to campaigning and brings only a basic knowledge of the election process to the story. Placing someone who knows little of political workings into a presidential race is both <a data-internal-link data-link-type="Literary Device" href="https://www.supersummary.com/irony/">irony</a> and <a data-internal-link data-link-type="Literary Device" href="https://www.supersummary.com/satire/">satire</a>. Gutman pokes fun at the election process while also showing respect for it. Exploring the work that goes into a campaign makes it clear the election is not to be taken lightly, but the emphasis on image and entertainment shows how the election is not just about the important work of choosing a president. The election forces Judson to change. While he remains a joker throughout the book, he learns to take things seriously, evidenced by his decision to resign after being elected.

The Election

Interviews and Debates

The Lemonade Stand

Middle School

Action & Adventure Reads (Middle Grade)

Values & Ideas

Appearance Versus Reality

Genres

Juvenile Literature

Laugh-out-Loud Books

Government & Business

Politics & Government

Popular Study Guides

Satire

Truth & Lies

Dan Gutman

Middle grade

Novel

The Kid Who Ran for President

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

Book Brief

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About The Kid Who Ran for President

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The Kid Who Ran for President Summary and Study Guide

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue-Chapter 2

The Kid Who Ran for President Prologue-Chapter 2 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 3-6

The Kid Who Ran for President Chapters 3-6 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 7-10

The Kid Who Ran for President Chapters 7-10 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 11-12

The Kid Who Ran for President Chapters 11-12 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 13-14

The Kid Who Ran for President Chapters 13-14 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 15-16

The Kid Who Ran for President Chapters 15-16 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 17-18

The Kid Who Ran for President Chapters 17-18 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 19-22

The Kid Who Ran for President Chapters 19-22 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 23-24

The Kid Who Ran for President Chapters 23-24 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 25-26

The Kid Who Ran for President Chapters 25-26 Summary & Analysis

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The Kid Who Ran for President Character Analysis

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The Kid Who Ran for President Themes

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The Kid Who Ran for President Symbols & Motifs

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The Kid Who Ran for President Essay Topics

The Kid Who Ran for President

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