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backonthealex's review
4.0
Christmas is coming and third-grader Ellray Jakes is pretty excited about that. In fact, that is almost all he can think about. But when his teacher, Ms. Sanchez, decides it is time to tidy up their cubbies and classroom, she lets Cynthia sort the class into working pairs, and that’s when the trouble for Ellray begins. He says he wants to work with Corey, that way they can continue the game they invented when Corey slept over Ellray’s house the previous Saturday night. But Cynthia pairs Ellray with Kevin, because they “go together” - Ellray and Kevin are the only two African American boys in the class. Now, Kevin’s feelings are hurt. The next week, each class is told to prepare something for the Winter Wonderland assembly, and that’s when Kevin decides that Ellray owes him for no wanting to work with him - and he sets three challenges for Ellray to do. But then Kevin throws in a fourth challenge that is guaranteed to embarrass Ellray in front of everyone at the Winter Wonderland assembly and get him in trouble at school and home. Will Ellray take up the challenge or stand up to Kevin? Although on the surface, this is a fun book, it also deals with some serious issues about bullying, friendship and race.
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