The Flunking of Josh Bates

Joshua T. Bates

by Susan Richards Shreve

In this Knopf Paperback reissue, Joshua is devastated to learn that he must repeat third grade. But he manages to survive the taunts of former classmates, learn something important about himself, and make it through the year with the help of a sympathetic teacher in this "funny, touching, and realistic story."-- School Library Journal


From the Trade Paperback edition.

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Juvenile, Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade

96 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Also know as Susan Shreve. Received the following awards: Jenny Moore Award, George Washington University, 1978; Notable Book citation, American Library Association (ALA), 1979, for Family Secrets: Five Very Important Stories; Best Book for Young Adults citation, ALA, 1980, for The Masquerade; Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, National Council for Social Studies and the Children's Book Council joint committee, 1980, for Family Secrets: Five Very Important Stories; Guggenheim award in fiction, 1980; National Endowment for the Arts fiction award, 1982; Edgar Allan Poe Award, Mystery Writers of America, 1988, for Lucy Forever and Miss Rosetree, Shrinks; Woodrow Wilson fellowships, West Virginia Wesleyan, 1994, and Bates College, 1997; Lila Wallace Readers Digest Foundation grant.

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Engaging story about a boy and the bond he forms with his teacher when he is retained in third grade. The one thing I really disliked was that the teacher humiliates a boy who is mean to Joshua. A teacher as kind and good as Mrs. Goodwin would not have done that to any student.

[Emma-Kaye Dusenberry]

i loved this book it cool how it has so much detail the part i liked the most is when he was in the back of the car and his mom told him he has to go to 3 grade again. when he went through 3 grade again he was mad he would color on his desk be mean to his teacher and then he got suspended for punching some one in the face but then he took a test and Tommy brought his teacher treat and the teacher said how about you stay for a while and he was like why what did i do then the teacher said you need to take a 3 grade test he said it was to easy and then the teacher cheeked it and he did not do good so he stay in that class.After thanks giving they went to school and he went to 4th grade.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joshua is devastated to learn that when the new school year starts tomorrow, he must repeat third grade instead of moving on to fourth grade.
Luckily, he has a great teacher who is invested in his success and works with him on his reading so that he can get promoted. I am thinking that if Joshua had had Mrs. Goodwin to begin with, he never would have flunked the third grade.

[Pamela Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a terrific book! Joshua finds out the night before school starts that he's repeating 3rd grade. He is devastated and threatens to run away to East Africa but things have a way of turning around. Funny enough to keep students' attention.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was okay. It was short (less than 92 pages, 82 pages; 10 extra ones) and easy. I would reccomend it for a 1st and 2nd graders. It okay-intresting, but not the best. I feel the topic of flunking a grade is kind of clichéd. Okay...

[Angie Titus · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

A cute little story. Be aware that there are words we no longer use in this book, words that were not considered hurtful in the 80s but are now.

[Books Kids Like · Rating 4 out of 5]

The day before school starts, Joshua learns that he will repeat third grade. He knows Tommy Wilhelm and his cohorts will have a field day with Joshua's failure to pass. Joshua vows to move to East Africa. The first day of school, he tells everyone who'll listen that he is moving soon. The school kept him in third grade because there was no point in promoting someone who wasn't staying longer than a few days. Joshua's teacher, Mrs. Goodwin, puts Joshua in charge of helping the lowest readers with their phonics. She asks him to tell about things that he learned the previous year. He becomes her teaching assistant. She even tutors him in reading after school. Joshua decides to stay. He starts telling everyone who teases him that he'll be promoted soon. He works hard and tries to ignore the taunts. Joshua even helps Mrs. Goodwin who is going through a divorce. His first quarter grade report is excellent, even better than his "genius" sister Amanda's. Before Thanksgiving vacation, he takes standardized tests in math, reading, and spelling. He passes them with flying colors and in promoted to fourth grade after the break.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Realistic Fiction. This story is about a boy flunking 3rd grade because of his reading. He gets tutored by his teacher and eventually moves up to 4th grade, but not before he has to deal with his classmates at school. He has a very touching relationship with his teacher.

Children would like this book because they all seem to fear flunking a grade. I like the story because of how the character, Joshua, deals with this ordeal. Although it seems like nothing positive (to a child) can come out of flunking a grade, Joshua learns who his real friends are, gains confidence from being the "expert" in the class, and greatly matures during this period. I liked that the teacher was portrayed as "a real person" with adult problems that Joshua was mature enough to recognize and sympathize with by the end of the story. Since Joshua flunks third grade, third graders will enjoy reading this book. Some of the vocabulary would be difficult for a younger child.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't really know if this is something that the kids in my library would enjoy if they read independently. I could see this being an awesome book to read as a class and have lots of discussion about, but a lot of this is very outdated or just not applicable to my students.

But I sure do love Mrs. Goodwin.

-------------
"I suppose it's just as difficult to be a grown-up is it is to be a child," Joshua said.
"Sometimes it is. This year for example," Mrs. Goodwin said she settled down next to him.
"At least you don't flunk," Joshua said.
"That's not necessarily true. There're all kinds of flunking."

[Duane · Rating 1 out of 5]

Although I liked the theme of this book and the wonderful teacher who went out of her way to help this young boy who finds himself stuck in the third grade for the second time, it was the main character who I found to be unlikeable that kept me from enjoying it. Josh is rude, arrogant, and overall a brat which makes it very hard to really care about how he feels. The teacher in his life is a wonderful character though which saves this book from being a complete disaster. This is a small read so it won't take long to read.

[Grazzia]

It took me like half an hour to read it. It's a simple book about an elementary student who fails the grade. What made this book interesting was the discussion we had at our Master's Course. It was interesting to find out how people's opinion and perspectives differ about the same situation. Furthermore, I found how prejudiced humanity can be sometimes even when presented with innocent experiences.

[kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mrs. Goodwin is a great example of a teacher that goes out of the way to ensure that her students succeed. joshua's 1st third grade teacher shouldn't be teaching - she hated kids. Life is too short. It was a great read about the struggles a child can go through when they have to repeat a grade - and the difference one good teacher can make.

[Hristos · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the Flunking of Joshua T. Bates, Joshua has to redo third grade, at first Joshua is angry and gets in trouble and then he works hard and goes to fourth grade earlier.

The author's message was that you always have second chances.

I think this is a very interesting book because you always think "Whats going to happen next!"

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I read it with my son who has a learning disability. I thin he could relate to alot of Josh's feelings. I also loved the example his teach was to him. Just a great read. I am sure I will read this again with my other kids

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny! Ended a bit abruptly, but you're pretty sure everything will turn out okay. There are a few archaic cliches and idioms that you might have to explain to students b/c it wasn't written recently.

[Debbie Tanner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice enough book about a boy who fails 3rd grade. Josh has a great way of expressing himself and so it's easy to understand how he feels about all the things that are happening. This would be a good book to use to think about how characters change.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is really interesting is about a boy name Joshua who finds out ge needs another year to mature.wich means he has to go back to 3rd grade.

[Rondel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book is great Joshua got left back in the third grade can u believe it the third grade!! wow pathetic they cut on him oD i was dying.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

AR test completed.

[Abby Barkeim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first shared novel I will be reading with the two lower reading classes. Check it out so you can have a book discussion with them!

[Tiffany Smart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book! 😁 My 6 year old and 3 year old enjoyed reading it together while camping. It was a cute story but a little dated.

[Bruno · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is similar to my life.

[KellyKrazy101 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was my book for reading group in fourth grade, really inspirational

[Skyler · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was just ok.

[Mellanie C]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14543585