Fourth-Grade Disasters

March 1, 2012

Gr 3-5-Mason Dixon is now starting fourth grade-the grade everyone looks forward to because it means joining the Plainfield Platters chorus. Mason, haunted by a kindergarten assembly embarrassment, does everything in his power to avoid participating. He and his parents strike a just-try-it-out deal, and he comes up with the idea of serving as the one-man stage crew. Surprisingly, the plan flies, but Mason finds himself in the spotlight-singing-in the end, coming to his best friend's rescue when Brody freezes up during a solo. Hilarious yet believable twists (Mason's dog eats the school mascot, a plush dragon) and deadpan humor make this glimpse into fourth-grade life a treat.-Amanda Moss Struckmeyer, Middleton Public Library, WI -

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