This story is narrated by a fifth grader named Nora who just wants to be treated like a regular kid, despite the fact that she is way beyond average. She decides to challenge her school's focus on grading and testing because she's concnerned about her best friend who is made to feel like he doesn't measure up.

I was not very into this. The audio book reader had a really high-pitched voice and I often felt like it wasn't going anywhere interesting. The subject of testing has been beaten to death from every possible angle, so at this point I'm only interested in hearing creative alternatives to grading and testing...and this book offers none. As with many of Clements' books, the emphasis is on questioning authority in a mature and responsible way. I would recommend it, even though it didn't do much for me.

Oh, and the adult hero of the book is the school librarian, which was cool. ( )

Independent Reading Level: Grades 3-7
Awards: William Allen White Children's Book

6 copies

A cute book about one girl's fight against school testing and the long promoted 'grades equal intelligence' myth. ( )

This is a more simple chapter book great for 4th - middle school age students. It follows a girl who is a genius that can remember everything but chooses to hide it so she doesn't come off as the weird girl. It is a great book that supports students loving themselves and reminding them that a test score or grade does not define who they are as a person or even as a student.