I Was a Third Grade Spy
Author: Mary Jane Auch
Lexile Score: 510
Genre: Fantasy/ Science Fiction
Maturity level: 1st grade+
Pages: 86 Chapters: 17 Average Chapter Length: 4-5/ with pictures
Theme: Keeping secrets, Communicating with animals, Caring for animals
Project ideas: Teach your pet a new trick
First Line: Today was my first day of school and could have been my last. (says the talking dog, Arful)
Main Character: Arful the dog and his owner, Josh
Review in 25 words or less: Solid cheap paperback, no downsides but also no real upsides. Bread and butter of the 3rd grade book club shelf, but definately not the beef Wellington
Grade: C (as in, average)
Not every book choice in the book club shelf can be a literary masterpiece. Or can it? This book (and it's prequel -I Was a Third Grade Science Project) are definately on the list of books to be preened when better choices are available. I'm not saying it is a bad book, but it just doesn't have easy discussion material the way a Despereaux or a Frindle does. I asked the students what lessons were learned and how the characters changed from the beginning, and they responded: "They learned to never teach your dog to talk." Well, great, but applicable to real life? Several students mentioned that they enjoyed the book because it was "easy and fun to read." I can't argue with that logic, but I am not so sure it's the food growing readers thrive on.
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