Molly McGinty Has a Really Good Day (by Gary Paulsen)

Unbelievably prolific, Newbery-honored author Gary Paulsen can toss off a slight little thing like this with one hand tied behind his back, and probably did. It's mildly amusing, not very believable, and drills home his debatable, rather stereotypical Message -- that being organized and enjoying life are incompatible. This has been done many times before, and better.

The book's size and cover art make it look like a transitional story for second- or third-graders, but its tale of middle school crushes, delinquents, rebellion against authority, poetry slams, and The Message is aimed at older kids. Perhaps it would work for the high-interest, low-vocabulary crowd, but it doesn't seem powerful enough to grab the interest of a reluctant reader. Gary Paulsen is one of our greatest authors, but this is not one of his greatest books.