Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
So much I love about this book for middle grade readers.
Loved all the different characters and I wish their were more English teachers like this.
I don't run across a lot of books for school-age kids that reflect a modern school experience and classroom, but this one does. A boy book, a diverse book, a reluctant reader friendly book, a book against testing, a book for kindness. And, kids will actually like it. Hats off to Phil Bildner!
The plot wasn't especially interesting. Mr. Acevedo didn't always sound like a teacher sounds when they're talking to 5th graders. I really felt the authorial intrusion there.
Overall, I think kids who like basketball would enjoy reading it.
Overall, I think kids who like basketball would enjoy reading it.
These characters are in my heart forevermore. I can't wait to share them with my students.
Was not expecting to love this one. But I did. Looking forward to the sequel.
http://pussreboots.pair.com/blog/2016/comments_01/whole_new_ballgame.html
http://pussreboots.pair.com/blog/2016/comments_01/whole_new_ballgame.html
Rip and Red are long-time best friends. Both love basketball and video games and Rip is especially caring and protecting of his buddy who is clearly on the autism spectrum. They are entering 5th grade, where they discover that the teacher who's taught 5th grade at their elementary school forever is gone. Enter Mr. Acevedo, brand-new/first year hip teacher with a ponytail, tattoos, and multiple ear piercings. Mr. Acevedo is adamantly against the whole testing-to-get-ready-for-the-tests-that-prep-you-for-THE TESTS. Mr. Acevedo is also the new basketball coach and Rip and Red are so excited when they learn that they make the team, although Rip is decidedly less excited when Mr. Acevedo pairs him up with Avery Goodman, a classmate in a wheelchair with a bad attitude, to work on a group project.
I had a difficult time rating this book. I see that lots of other teachers loved it...but, to me, the whole thing just felt FORCED. It was OK. It just wasn't for me.
However, that being said, I DO NOT think it is a BAD book. I would never recommend a bad book to kids, but I feel like I could--and will--recommend this book to students. Even though *I* just thought it was an OK/2-star book, I think that KIDS will really enjoy it. In fact, a student of mine saw this book on my desk and exclaimed, "Hey, that kid looks like me!" I told him a little bit about it and asked him if he'd like to see this book in our library and he excitedly said "Yeah!" And this kid doesn't get all that excited about books, so if this book can bring that out in him, I'm all for it, even if it's not a book for ME.
I had a difficult time rating this book. I see that lots of other teachers loved it...but, to me, the whole thing just felt FORCED. It was OK. It just wasn't for me.
However, that being said, I DO NOT think it is a BAD book. I would never recommend a bad book to kids, but I feel like I could--and will--recommend this book to students. Even though *I* just thought it was an OK/2-star book, I think that KIDS will really enjoy it. In fact, a student of mine saw this book on my desk and exclaimed, "Hey, that kid looks like me!" I told him a little bit about it and asked him if he'd like to see this book in our library and he excitedly said "Yeah!" And this kid doesn't get all that excited about books, so if this book can bring that out in him, I'm all for it, even if it's not a book for ME.
I quite liked this start to a new series. Rip loves basketball and his best friend Red. Red has some quirks, but Rip rolls with them and helps Red adjust to changes in his life. There are a lot of them, too: a new 5th grader teacher is in town, with lots of different ideas including no test prep. 5th grade is also the year that you can play basketball on a team too. Very heartwarming--I might have teared up at the end.
Fun, heartwarming story of what it means to be a fifth grader in a diverse class with an awesome teacher and a best friend with special needs. I think many kids will really enjoy this story, especially if they like basketball. I could not follow all the basketball terminology during the games but it sounded great!