Billy Miller is nervous about going back to school. After suffering a concussion over summer
vacation, he’s worried that he may not be smart enough for the second grade! On top of the stress that comes from meeting
a new teacher, Billy’s struggling to get along with his little sister, his
parents, and his friends. It seems like
there’s always something going on at the Miller household, and Billy’s usually right
in the middle of the action!
One thing I liked about this chapter book was how the reader
gets the chance to follow Billy through the entire school year. It’s not a minute-by-minute, day-by-day
account, but rather an in-depth look at some of the more memorable events as Billy
sees them. Mr. Henkes gives a lot of
attention to the simple things, like Billy’s diorama project and his class’ poetry
recital. These might not be major societal
issues that we’re talking about, but they’re certainly huge milestones for a second
grade student!
This one is a little bit longer than the traditional chapter
book, but it’s nicely broken down into shorter sections so that even the most methodical
reader will be able to make steady progress.
Not only is this book a great story about a very cool kid, but it’s a
strong choice to prepare young men for the longer novels that they’ll see in
upper grades. Keep a copy of this book
on hand and I guarantee, it won’t be long until all the pages start looking
dog-eared and worn!
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