The One and Only Stuey Lewis

May 30, 2011
Schoenberg's (The Baby Hustle) debut chapter book offers four stories about a likable and empathetic worrywart. On the third day of second grade, Stuey feigns a stomachache, hoping to stay home so his teacher and classmates won't discover his "awful" secretâ"I'm still wicked slow at reading." In subsequent stories, he delays signing up for soccer for fear he won't play as well as his older brother, Anthony ("How can you follow in someone's footsteps when their feet are way bigger than yours?") and contemplates skipping the last day of school because he doesn't want the year to end. Schoenberg demonstrates a knack for lively, humorous, and at times combative interpersonal dynamics through Stuey's interactions with Anthony, best friend Will, and class know-it-all Lilly. Another key supporting player is Stuey's teacher, Ms. Curtis, who finds crafty solutions to each of his dilemmas. Evans's (Bone Soup) halftone cartoons convey Stuey's changeable moods with exaggeration and amplify the book's humor. Readers will easily recognize analogues to Stuey and his crew in their own lives and welcome more of his adventures. Ages 6â9.

June 15, 2011

Stuey Lewis is filled with angst about reading, Halloween, soccer and one annoying classmate in this big-hearted tale of second grade.

Stuey is a regular second grader. That means he worries about everything. Stuey's dad no longer lives with them, brother Anthony is a soccer prodigy and a bossy classmate keeps him on edge. These anxieties formed the core of linked short stories, told by Stuey himself, which chronicle the changes his second-grade year brings. Stuey's best friend Will is a "reading monster," which makes Stuey feel bad that he is not yet ready to plow through a pile of chapter books. He keeps waiting for the reading light to turn on, but it isn't happening fast enough. How can Stuey possibly measure up to Anthony if he goes out for "bitty league soccer"? It's even worse when he realizes the awful Lilly is on his team! Natural dialogue and believable school situations capture the drama of second grade, gently showing readers that things will get better. Occasional black-and-white illustrations add another humorous touch that new readers will appreciate. By the time the year is over, Stuey is no longer feigning illness to get out of school and is even looking forward to another year with beloved teacher Ms. Curtis, who is moving up with this winning class.

Stuey's fans will be crossing their fingers for a sequel. (Fiction. 6-9)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

August 1, 2011

Gr 2-3-In four short stories, Stuey conquers second grade. With a sweet supporting cast of family, friends, and a teacher, Ms. Curtis, whom everyone wishes they had, he goes through the ups and downs of early elementary school. He overcomes his fears of reading, hatches a brilliant Halloween trick-or-treating scheme, learns to love soccer despite not being the star of the team, and finds a surprise friend in the most obnoxious girl in class. Each story neatly encapsulates a dilemma to which most young readers will be able to relate. There are enough laughs to keep them engaged, and pen-and-ink illustrations bring the colorful characters to life.-Sarah Townsend, Norfolk Public Library, VA

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.