Parents' Guide to

Sahara Special

By Matt Berman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

A lovely, moving book about a student and teacher.

Book Esme Raji Codell School 2003
Sahara Special Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 11+

Based on 7 parent reviews

R. L.
R. L. Parent of 11-year-old
January 8, 2023
age 14+

Pass

Swearing and card reading. Lots of disappoint issues.

This title has:

Too much swearing
Sarshine
Sarshine Adult
March 6, 2020
age 9+

Engaging and Meaningful!

This book gets my kids so involved in the story, and they are incredibly reflective of Sahara's character development. It's written with a great wit, and a heartfelt story line. Plus, it's set in Chicago which my kids adore! Yes, there are a few swears. No, I don't think that takes away from the quality of this book, especially considering the setting and what the characters are dealing with. The language includes damn, hell, jackass, and bitch, only one to two instances of each. For my fourth graders, I opted not to say bitch, but read the others. We had a conversation about how just because these words are used in the book, doesn't mean we are allowed to use them in our real life. We emphasize that these are the character's words and they are right for them in the moment that they are in. This book is well worth reading, especially as a read aloud!

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
See all 7 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Sahara loves to read and is a gifted writer. But after her father leaves, her letters to him end up in the school counselor's file, and she is placed in Special Needs. Sahara stops doing schoolwork (\"I was through giving them evidence. They wouldn't get anything more out of me.\"). When she continues to do no work, and her mother pulls her out of the Special Needs program, she has to repeat fifth grade.

There she meets the new teacher, Madame Poitier, called Miss Pointy, who's not like any teacher she's ever met. She behaves outrageously, is contemptuous of school rules and bureaucracy, and teaches subjects such as Puzzling and Time Travel. And when she finds out that Sahara wants to be a writer, she has only one thing to say: \"A writer writes.\"

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (7):
Kids say (7):

Esmé 'aji Codell's first novel for children is not a new story, but Codell's lyrical take on it is sharply observed and poignantly funny. This is a lovely, moving book.

Miss Pointy is front and center here, but Sahara's sharp voice crackles across the page as compellingly as Miss Pointy's antics. Sahara is one of those children who doesn't say much but who thinks a lot, and who notices everything. Her sometimes caustic observations are penetrating, and her writing talent is powerful, as revealed in a climax as satisfying as the end of one of Andrew Clements' books. Codell knows children and teachers, and the little graces of writing -- the rhythms, metaphors, insights, and turns of phrase that turn a story into a song.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Miss Pointy's unconventional style, Sahara's way of dealing with her problems, the rather negative view of school counselors and special education teachers, and lots more. Because there's so much to talk about, this would be a great book for school and parent/child literature groups.

Book Details

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