Parents' Guide to

Justin Case: Rules, Tools, and Maybe a Bully

By Mary Eisenhart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Giggles, wisdom as worrywart Justin starts fourth grade.

Book Rachel Vail Humor 2014
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There are plenty of moments in JUSTIN CASE: RULES, TOOLS, AND MAYBE A BULLY to make readers stand up and cheer -- and also, like the characters themselves, see things from a new perspective. Hence the moment at the little kids' soccer game when Justin's dad takes on an adult heckler who's sneering at the fact that everybody gets trophies. "'Nope,' Dad said, turning around again to face the big red-faced dad. 'Not buying it. They're still little kids, all these guys. There's plenty of time for them to learn they won't get trophies every time they show up; that lots of times they won't be the one to get the trophies and the awards. Let's get them to show up first, run around, try. And then we can clap for them. Give them a little shiny something to look at, on top of their dresser, next time they're in their room, thinking maybe it would be a lot easier not to show up, not to try. You know?'"

Justin's perennially worried narrative voice and his frequent leaps from utter confusion to brilliant insight and back again will keep young readers entertained -- and probably reflecting on a few of their own experiences. The book works as a read-alone or a fun read-aloud.

Book Details

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