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ki4eva's review against another edition
3.0
Cute book and a quick read. Perfect for elementary school kids.
smitty2567's review against another edition
4.0
Children’s Humorous Realistic Fiction
The story takes place in an contemporary elementary school and tells a realistic story about navigating friendship and school-yard drama.
Target Audience: 3rd-5th grade
Summary:
Main Characters: Bobby (A fourth grade boy); Holly (A fourth grade girl); Chess (Bobby's good friend); Jillian (Holly's good friend)
Setting: Southern California
Narrative: Even though Bobby and Holly have been best friends for years, they have had to hide their friendship from the boys and girls at school to escape teasing. When Bobby spends the summer before fourth grade with his grandparents, Holly replaces him with Jillian who doesn't like any boys at all, especially Bobby. Outrageous misunderstandings abound as Bobby tries to navigate the new school year without his best friend.
Strengths & Weaknesses:
Bobby is a very kind and sympathetic boy who faces situations that most elementary school students can relate to -- being excluded by friends, being forced to pick sides in school yard battles, and wanting to figure out where you best fit in with everyone else. Even the silliest situations he finds himself(like accidentally gluing himself to a very sticky tree because he thinks it's lonely) , feel believable and true to the story and the character.
The author name drops a lot of places in California, which a native would definitely know. However, children who aren't from California might wonder what some of them are.
Personal critique:
I read a lot of these school hi-jinx books when I was in elementary school and Lisa Yee still managed to find wacky scenarios I hadn't seen before. I would recommend this book to any students trying to navigate friend drama at school or just looking for a funny but truthful read.
Illustrations:
Black and White Illustrations
Notable awards:
None.
Lesson Planning:
This would be a good companion book when talking about gender roles, stereotypes, or identity for younger students.
The story takes place in an contemporary elementary school and tells a realistic story about navigating friendship and school-yard drama.
Target Audience: 3rd-5th grade
Summary:
Main Characters: Bobby (A fourth grade boy); Holly (A fourth grade girl); Chess (Bobby's good friend); Jillian (Holly's good friend)
Setting: Southern California
Narrative: Even though Bobby and Holly have been best friends for years, they have had to hide their friendship from the boys and girls at school to escape teasing. When Bobby spends the summer before fourth grade with his grandparents, Holly replaces him with Jillian who doesn't like any boys at all, especially Bobby. Outrageous misunderstandings abound as Bobby tries to navigate the new school year without his best friend.
Strengths & Weaknesses:
Bobby is a very kind and sympathetic boy who faces situations that most elementary school students can relate to -- being excluded by friends, being forced to pick sides in school yard battles, and wanting to figure out where you best fit in with everyone else. Even the silliest situations he finds himself
The author name drops a lot of places in California, which a native would definitely know. However, children who aren't from California might wonder what some of them are.
Personal critique:
I read a lot of these school hi-jinx books when I was in elementary school and Lisa Yee still managed to find wacky scenarios I hadn't seen before. I would recommend this book to any students trying to navigate friend drama at school or just looking for a funny but truthful read.
Illustrations:
Black and White Illustrations
Notable awards:
None.
Lesson Planning:
This would be a good companion book when talking about gender roles, stereotypes, or identity for younger students.
laura_sorensen's review against another edition
3.0
There is a part in this book (if you read it, you will know) where I totally sniffled.
dana_reads_books13's review against another edition
4.0
Very cute book for kids. On our sunshine list this year!
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