The Boy Who Failed Show and Tell

December 1, 2020
Tales of a fourth grade ne'er-do-well. It seems that young Jordan is stuck in a never-ending string of bad luck. Sure, no one's perfect (except maybe goody-two-shoes William Feranek), but Jordan can't seem to keep his attention focused on the task at hand. Try as he may, things always go a bit sideways, much to his educators' chagrin. But Jordan promises himself that fourth grade will be different. As the year unfolds, it does prove to be different, but in a way Jordan couldn't possibly have predicted. This humorous memoir perfectly captures the square-peg-in-a-round-hole feeling many kids feel and effectively heightens that feeling with comic situations and a splendid villain. Jordan's teacher, Mrs. Fisher, makes an excellent foil, and the book's 1970s setting allows for her cruelty to go beyond anything most contemporary readers could expect. Unfortunately, the story begins to run out of steam once Mrs. Fisher exits. Recollections spiral, losing their focus and leading to a more "then this happened" and less cause-and-effect structure. The anecdotes are all amusing and Jordan is an endearing protagonist, but the book comes dangerously close to wearing out its welcome with sheer repetitiveness. Thankfully, it ends on a high note, one pleasant and hopeful enough that readers will overlook some of the shabbier qualities. Jordan is White and Jewish while there is some diversity among his classmates; Mrs. Fisher is White. Though a bit loose around the edges, a charmer nevertheless. (Memoir. 8-12)

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January 1, 2021
Grades 3-6 Most fourth-graders start the school year with a combination of hope and trepidation. But for Jordan, whose asthma medication makes it hard to sit still (let alone concentrate), hope plummets on the first morning, when he's unable to parrot back his spiteful teacher's "Third Rule for Successful and Mature Fourth Graders." Some memoirs record parts of the author's childhood, but few offer such a vivid portrayal of a single year, from the scent of new crayons melting on the classroom radiator to the shock of being slapped by his teacher. Written in present tense and illustrated with amusing line drawings at intervals, the first-person narrative features episodes told in detail, often with wry wit. These include nine-year-old Jordan bringing his pet snake for show-and-tell, taking his first drum lessons, and changing schools midway through the year. With new classmates, new challenges, and a wonderful teacher, the story's tone gradually shifts as the boy finds his way. A welcome choice for kids with memoir assignments and a pleasure for fans of Sonnenblick's chapter books.

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March 19, 2021

Gr 3-7-In this middle grade novel inspired by true experiences, Sonnenblick recalls a year dealing with asthma, anxiety, pets, sports, and friends. The author examines everything that happened in his life during fourth grade, and how those events led him to want to be a writer. Short in stature and struggling with both breathing problems and hair-ripping anxiety, Sonnenblick is a white Jewish boy who is trying hard to be cool but also true to himself. The narrative form, along with hilarious recollections of having a pet snake, learning to play the drums, not being good at baseball, the difficulty of paying attention in school when your teacher hates you, moving to a new school, and standing up to bullies, will make readers empathize with Sonnenblick's struggles. Hand this book to youth who like humorous, fast-paced, relatable tales. It's hard being a child who is not in control, and Sonnenblick makes a great case for truly listening when kids speak. They are often asking for help and adults don't always know it. VERDICT A solid purchase for upper elementary school and middle school collections.-Carol Youssif, Taipei American Sch., Taiwan

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