Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

Personalized picks at your fingertips

Get the mobile app on iOS and Android

Parents' Guide to

The Report Card

By Matt Berman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Nora uses her genius to protest testing, grades.

The Report Card Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

age 9+

Based on 4 parent reviews

age 10+

NICEEE BOOK

I have not read a better book in years. The thinking that went into the book was marvelous. BEST BOOK( next to harry potter) A+++
age 9+
i thought it was a good book

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4 ):
Kids say (11 ):

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.

Book Details

  • Author: Andrew Clements
  • Genre: School
  • Book type: Fiction
  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster
  • Publication date: September 6, 2004
  • Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
  • Number of pages: 173
  • Last updated: July 12, 2017

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate