Scan barcode
rkiladitis's review against another edition
5.0
KA Holt is just amazing. Her approach to middle grade novels is creative and exciting, keeping readers engaged with verse, throwing scribbled notes and blackout poetry, drawings and doodles in to catch readers where they live. I loved Rhyme Schemer and ended up using blackout poetry in my library at the time to get kids looking at words differently. Now, Holt takes on "divergent" kids and uses Sandbox, a game similar to Minecraft, to reach readers. Four characters: BenBee, BenY, JordanJ, and Javier are four kids in summer school for failing a Florida state standardized test (not-so affectionately referred to as the FART). Their teacher is Ms. J, a librarian-turned-teacher who's got her own assessment she's sweating over; she has to turn these "divergent thinkers" into readers that can pass the FART. The book unfolds through each tween's narration, told in their very individual styles: free verse, stream of consciousness, and art. Ms J isn't your normal type of teacher, and these kids - "the kids under the stairs", as that's the area where their classroom is shoehorned - aren't your typical students. Each is grappling with bigger issues than the FART, and Ms. J eventually understands that she's got to meet these kids where they live: namely, Sandbox.
BenBee and the Teacher Griefer has it all: grief and loss, learning disabilities and overbearing parents, a teacher willing to do the unconventional work to reach her students, and... Spartacus. The characters are realistic and relatable, fully realized on the page; the frustration with standardized testing and the "one student size fits all" approach, and the pressure on teachers to cram students into that one-size-fits-all model. The book is voraciously readable and deserves a spot next to the most popular Minecraft adventures and the best new kidlit.
BenBee and the Teacher Griefer has it all: grief and loss, learning disabilities and overbearing parents, a teacher willing to do the unconventional work to reach her students, and... Spartacus. The characters are realistic and relatable, fully realized on the page; the frustration with standardized testing and the "one student size fits all" approach, and the pressure on teachers to cram students into that one-size-fits-all model. The book is voraciously readable and deserves a spot next to the most popular Minecraft adventures and the best new kidlit.
thenextgenlibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
This MG novel in verse is going to be recommended a lot in the fall. It’s perfect for the kid who: loves Minecraft, who might not do well on tests, has a possible learning disability, likes stories, but hates to read because it’s hard, deals with LGBTQ issues, or anyone who loves to read about friendship, learning to love yourself and videogames. Thank you Edelweiss for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. Buy it on September 22!
mrs_bookdragon's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you Chronicle Books and NetGalley for sharing an eARC with me in exchange for an honest review. I am a HUGE KA Holt fan and so I went into this book knowing it would be wonderful...and it was!
Here are the reasons why I found this book to be so wonderful:
-short chapters
-4 perspectives
-diverse backgrounds in characters
-each character had their own trauma
-"classroom under the stairs"
-Different styles of writing-verse, stream of consciousness, doodles
-gaming
-teamwork
-humor
Gosh, I did love this book and know you would too!
Here are the reasons why I found this book to be so wonderful:
-short chapters
-4 perspectives
-diverse backgrounds in characters
-each character had their own trauma
-"classroom under the stairs"
-Different styles of writing-verse, stream of consciousness, doodles
-gaming
-teamwork
-humor
Gosh, I did love this book and know you would too!
berkeleyfisher's review against another edition
5.0
Is it weird to hug a book? The kid I nanny was reading this. I have Autism, so it was so special to hear how much he was learning about neurodivergence through this book. I asked him if I could read it, and wow, what a sweet book. I wish I would have read this when I was a kid. Adult and kid approved!
vmckayn's review against another edition
5.0
Every every every teacher should read this book. Love its sweet heart so much.
thenextgenlib's review against another edition
5.0
This MG novel in verse is going to be recommended a lot in the fall. It’s perfect for the kid who: loves Minecraft, who might not do well on tests, has a possible learning disability, likes stories, but hates to read because it’s hard, deals with LGBTQ issues, or anyone who loves to read about friendship, learning to love yourself and videogames. Thank you Edelweiss for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. Buy it on September 22!
internationalkris's review against another edition
3.0
This will be a super one to recommend to reluctant readers and also fans of Wonder and other MG stories with divergent kids. It's a super fast read because of the varied text styles - poetry, texts, visuals and the kids in story are all characters to love.
embe94's review against another edition
3.0
Great message for everyone on how to look at learning in different ways- on how not everyone learns the same, and that’s okay. I loved how there were different mediums in the book- standard book format, poetry, drawings, chat messaging! There were several times I laughed out loud and nodded along and felt emotional. However, I thought the book went by slowly and I can see some of my students getting impatient with just how slowly things are happening.
library_kb's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I read this series out of order, reading the 2nd book first (I think they can stand alone for the most part, just a little harder to keep track of characters without the development of the first book). This is an amazing mixed media/novel-in-verse for middle schoolers, especially neurodiverse students who will see themselves in the pages. Each character has their own voice and throughout the book you see them develop in terms of understanding their disability and also the ways they are incredible. I especially liked Ms. J in this book--she is a flawed character, a teacher who definitely doesn't do everything right, but works to get it right nonetheless. Students will like the video game tie-in and the mixed media format that keeps you turning pages! Highly recommend to all teachers and middle schoolers--but especially those who have dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, a stutter, or another divergent learning ability!
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Gaslighting, and Death
msseviereads's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. Middle grade publishing is doing some great books right now and this is one of them! I loved all the different formats and how the story was told. I think this book will appeal to a lot of kids and I already have it in the hands of one of those readers. I will be purchasing several copies of this book for my classroom shelves.