Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Wacky, heart-filled tale of 8th graders in summer school.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
SLUGFEST -- the remedial physical education class known as PEE -- is the last place Arnie "Yash" Yashenko wants to be. Cleo Marchand feels exactly the same. But due to cruel fate, inflexible rules, and self-serving bureaucrats, they won't be able to graduate from middle school unless they get that credit -- even though they're both star athletes. Their classmates, aka The Slugs, include two feuding twins, a couple of bullied, physically awkward geniuses, a budding investigative journalist, and the class prankster -- all of them hopeless at sports. The coach, Mrs. Finnerty, is an elderly lady who soon has them playing musical chairs and Duck, Duck, Goose, much to Yash and Cleo's embarrassment. However, she also makes baked goods whose deliciousness cannot be explained by science, and they really need that credit if they don't want to spend the rest of their lives in middle school.
Is It Any Good?
Star athletes forced to take remedial PE or be stuck in 8th grade forever make surprising discoveries and discover new forms of creative teamwork in Gordon Korman's wacky middle school misadventure. Slugfest is packed with laughs and relatable moments, along with positive messages about personal integrity, doing the right thing, being willing to admit you're wrong when you've messed up -- and finding the right way to deal with it when life hands you a lot of bad stuff you don't deserve. The characters make unexpected discoveries about each other and form unlikely bonds, thanks to their improbable coach, an elderly retired teacher who makes chocolate chip cookies good enough to stop a riot -- and a lucky thing too.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about stories like Slugfest, in which unlikely characters learn to work together to solve problems and right wrongs. Why do you think this is such a popular theme in storytelling?
Have you ever been in a situation -- like the one several characters here find themselves facing -- where something really unfair happens to you, and you just have to deal with it? What happened? What did you do?
Do you think it's important to tell the truth as you see it, no matter what? Have you ever had the experience of doing that -- and then finding there were other facts that changed everything? What did you do?
Talk about how Yash grows as a person and shows integrity in this story. What are some ways you've had integrity and why was it important to you?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Friendship
- Topics : Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Character Strengths : Empathy , Humility , Integrity , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Balzer + Bray
- Publication date : January 9, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 304
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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