 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Report Card
- By Andrew Clements
- Genre: School
Common Sense Media says
Nora uses her genius to protest testing, grades.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the author is straightforwardly raising an issue of great importance to children: the use and misuse of grades and testing in school. But the way the main character goes about it is questionable at best, raising even more issues -- giftedness, protest, rebellion, and achievement.
What's the story?
Nora is a genius, but since early childhood she has hidden that fact from both teachers and family. She doesn't like to be different, to perform, to have people stare at her, to be expected to achieve according to someone else's rules. So she goes underground, keeps her giftedness to herself, and tries to fit in. But in fifth grade everything changes.
When she sees her best friend feel stupid because he did poorly on the standardized achievement tests, she decides to protest grades by getting low ones. But the attention this draws from her parents and the school leads to her secret being revealed, and her worst fears being realized: her school wants her in the gifted program, her parents want her in an exclusive academy, and everyone starts treating her differently. Perhaps a school-wide testing protest is the answer.
Is it any good?
No one does school stories better than former teacher Andrew Clements. He knows the inner workings of schools, he writes for middle schoolers better than almost anyone, and his stories are usually effervescent delights that flow seamlessly along from start to perfect finish: not the way things do work, but the way they should. Here he has decided to go for more realism -- Nora's protest doesn't sweep the school, make the national news, or start a revolution. Rather than an unabashed triumph over the system of testing and grades, Nora accomplishes little besides being allowed to have some say in the direction of her life.
Since Clements has so clearly stated the problems with this system, some readers may find the ending disappointing, a rarity in his novels. But it may get both kids and adults thinking about the subject and, since he has provided no template for real change, wondering for themselves how things could be made different.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about grades and testing. Do you think grading and testing are good ways to assess achievement?
Is one a better tool than the other? Why or why not?
How could teachers
and students measure progress if testing was abandoned?Families can
also talk about protest. Do you think Nora's approach was justified?Would you have done things differently?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
Think About It
This book is an ok book. I think the whole elaboration on Noras thoughts was very cheesy and how she kept her genius a secret. If she really wanted to be a genuis she would have told her parents alot sooner and actually tried harder. I aslo didnt really like how andrew clements left her thought proscess the same throughtout the book. she uses the same figuring in kindergarten as she does in fifth grade if you read it carefully. I do like how nora really shows how grades are just stupid assesments for the school to find out how the teachers are teaching and kids get ideas about how stupid/smart that they are. This is not Clements best book, but it is still a good book for those interested in school stories.
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AGE
Being normal is unique
I love this book! Andrew Clements is a great author. So is Brian Selznick (the illustrator). Nora wanted to be normal, she doesn't even want to be in the gifted program. I think everyone should look up to her.
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AGE
a blessing
A blessing to children's literature. An amazing book for all.
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Kid, 11 years old
August 28, 2011
AGE
GREAT BOOKS
it shows very great role models and i think it's a keeper
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AGE
Ok...........
Kinda weird story about a girl who changes her grades so she could make a point about grades. It is pretty much a waste of time.
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| Author: | Andrew Clements |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | School |
| Publisher: | Simon & Schuster |
| Publication date: | September 6, 2004 |
| Number of pages: | 173 |
| Hardcover price: | $15.95 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 8 - 12 |
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