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Elsie Edwards #4
6th Grade Can Really Kill You
Helen fears that lack of improvement in her reading may leave her stuck in the sixth grade forever, until a good teacher recognizes her reading problem.
174 pages, Hardcover
First published September 4, 1985
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
June 16, 2010
Helen Nichols has a reputation for being one of the best pitchers, and worst readers, in the sixth grade. She's also known as one of the biggest troublemakers in school. At the start of the year, she's assigned to the classroom of Mrs.Lobb--"Blob" to those who know her--a teacher with very little tolerance and a lot of rules. Although Helen works for hours after school every day with her mother on her homework, she can't fake her way through reading assignments and tests all year, and soon she's in danger of failing the sixth grade. With the sympathetic guidance of some understanding adults (her father, uncle, and new teacher, Mr. Marshall), Helen makes the difficult decision to start taking special ed classes in reading--even if it means getting made fun of by her classmates.
Although many of the references in the book are more than a little out of date--the students talk about playing Van Halen albums and use Pee Chee notebooks--DeClements does an excellent job of creating a relatable pre-teen world. Her sixth graders talk like sixth graders, and act like sixth graders, without ever lapsing into the sort of self consciously good behavior that makes it obvious that they were written by an adult. This is important, not only because it makes the characters believable, but because it is an honest portrayal of the sort of power struggles that kids at this age have with the adults around them. They're not sure if they want to be treated like children or teenagers, and take a great deal of pride in pulling things over on adults (particularly their parents) when they can. Helen frequently does things at her friend's house that she knows her mother wouldn't allow--drive in her friend's brother's fiberglass car, go to a horror movie unchaperoned--and this seemed so wonderfully realistic to me.
DeClements also deals with Helen's bad behavior and reading difficulties with the same sort of empathy and realism. It's not difficult to see why she acts out so much, but the connection between her bad behavior and her disability is never belabored. Also, just because Helen decides to take special education classes doesn't mean that she suddenly loses all of her self-deprecating negativity. "Face it, Helen," she says in the next to last chapter. "You're dumb in reading."
Another facet of DeClement's realism is that the adults in the novel have their problems and short-comings, too. Mrs. Lobb is certainly a beleagured teacher, but she's also unable to find a way to connect with Helen and be a productive figure in her life. Helen's mother also means well with her refusal to let Helen take special education classes, but her actions are mostly motivated by her pride, and Helen's father even admits this to her. Adults aren't perfect either, and I think that demonstrating that shows a lot of respect for young readers.
The other standout aspect of this book is that it really underscores the importance of taking responsibility for oneself and one's actions. Helen not only decides of her own accord to pay back the school for her spray-painting vandalism, but also asks herself to be considered for special ed classes. Later in the book, she assures her mother that at twelve, she's old enough--and responsible enough--to stay at home without supervision after school. Learning to be responsible helps Helen begin to feel better about herself as a person, and I think this is an applicable message for any young reader.
Although many of the references in the book are more than a little out of date--the students talk about playing Van Halen albums and use Pee Chee notebooks--DeClements does an excellent job of creating a relatable pre-teen world. Her sixth graders talk like sixth graders, and act like sixth graders, without ever lapsing into the sort of self consciously good behavior that makes it obvious that they were written by an adult. This is important, not only because it makes the characters believable, but because it is an honest portrayal of the sort of power struggles that kids at this age have with the adults around them. They're not sure if they want to be treated like children or teenagers, and take a great deal of pride in pulling things over on adults (particularly their parents) when they can. Helen frequently does things at her friend's house that she knows her mother wouldn't allow--drive in her friend's brother's fiberglass car, go to a horror movie unchaperoned--and this seemed so wonderfully realistic to me.
DeClements also deals with Helen's bad behavior and reading difficulties with the same sort of empathy and realism. It's not difficult to see why she acts out so much, but the connection between her bad behavior and her disability is never belabored. Also, just because Helen decides to take special education classes doesn't mean that she suddenly loses all of her self-deprecating negativity. "Face it, Helen," she says in the next to last chapter. "You're dumb in reading."
Another facet of DeClement's realism is that the adults in the novel have their problems and short-comings, too. Mrs. Lobb is certainly a beleagured teacher, but she's also unable to find a way to connect with Helen and be a productive figure in her life. Helen's mother also means well with her refusal to let Helen take special education classes, but her actions are mostly motivated by her pride, and Helen's father even admits this to her. Adults aren't perfect either, and I think that demonstrating that shows a lot of respect for young readers.
The other standout aspect of this book is that it really underscores the importance of taking responsibility for oneself and one's actions. Helen not only decides of her own accord to pay back the school for her spray-painting vandalism, but also asks herself to be considered for special ed classes. Later in the book, she assures her mother that at twelve, she's old enough--and responsible enough--to stay at home without supervision after school. Learning to be responsible helps Helen begin to feel better about herself as a person, and I think this is an applicable message for any young reader.
January 30, 2019
I remember being so excited to read this, after I had read Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade a dozen times. I also remember checking that it was the same author after I read it! There's only a passing mention of one of the girls from the first book, and the rest focuses on Helen, who has a learning disability. But where Fifth Grade was so fun because it really felt like the kids were real, this book felt like an adult's attempt to show the kids she was still cool and hip. A lot of the things that Helen does to be bad are either so dumb no sixth grader would even think of it, or things only a much more hardened delinquent would do. Also, her struggles with reading and spelling are depicted as leaving a letter out of each word at random which is . . . not a thing, as far as I've ever heard. I remember thinking it was weird back in the day, but now as a mom of three who has helped in many classrooms, I really want to cry foul. She doesn't reverse any letters, she doesn't use K instead of C, she just . . . leaves the last letter off most words . . . ?
Also, and I know this is stupid, but the names in this book killed me, and they still do. Her name is Helen, her friends are named things like Louise and Leon. This book was written in the 1980's, when everyone was named Tiffany and Jennifer and Jessica! There were three Christophers in my class, and four Brandons in my grade! But LEON? LOUISE? These aren't even parents' names, they are grandparent names!
Also, and I know this is stupid, but the names in this book killed me, and they still do. Her name is Helen, her friends are named things like Louise and Leon. This book was written in the 1980's, when everyone was named Tiffany and Jennifer and Jessica! There were three Christophers in my class, and four Brandons in my grade! But LEON? LOUISE? These aren't even parents' names, they are grandparent names!
July 8, 2010
I tutor a 6th grader who had this book as part of her summer reading requirements. The story is about Helen, a lovable troublemaker who has a pretty bad reading problem. As an educator, I thought it was an interesting way to broach the subject of special education - especially in cases where the student isn't necessarily "retarded" but maybe dyslexic etc. However, like Helen's friends in the story, the gravity of her problem and what she was going through completely went over the head of my student. Once I talked her through it she started to get the point, but in her mind the book was about being a 6th grader with a mean teacher. For summer reading this is a nice light choice, but if you are looking to use this book to teach tolerance etc, it might be better suited for older students in teacher preparation programs.
July 29, 2008
the scene where the principal makes everyone write out "school makes me puke" is embedded in my memory.
December 7, 2019
this is just so sad. First you have a writer who doesn't explain WHAT she is talking about. especially now forty years later she's talking about pee chees [folders] == why not just mention folders? She seemed to not realize that books travel out of their author's states.
THEN you have people within the book [particularly TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS] who don't understand that if you have a problem within reading, other subjects involving reading WILL SUFFER. the reading difficulty only hinders understanding if you rely solely on reading for those other subjects.
THIRD: all writers are taught this one thing: WRITE ABOUT WHAT YOU KNOW. You can tell that Ms DeClements had NO idea about 'dyslexia [???]'. its the reversing of a b/d/q/p but also 6/9. The eyes see a 6 but brain switches it to a 9... Helen doing her 'dum' is not dyslexia or ANY DISABILITY. its lack of remedial reading to begin with. That's not discovered in 6th grade, try second or first!
FOURTH: You have the criminal aspect of this. This weird uncle who takes her to get fire crackers without telling her that she should only light these with an adult... whatever. She sneaks it into school with matches and she lights one WITHIN THE BUILDING!!!! ridiculous! even back then that would have been a criminal offense -- regardless of the legality of the firework status.
All her 'bad' behavior was not accidental or opportunity arose, this was premeditated. this had nothing to do with her reading troubles.
the only thing I was OK with in the book was the RETARD thing [hear me out]. back then this was the 'reality' of the stigma of being put into special ed. in fact, back then, the only special ed was: mainstreaming or BOCES Boards of Cooperative Educational Services -- which is an on site facility where severely special needs children go to get schooled. so the fact that people didn't want to get tested because they will be labeled retarded IS a reality back then and WAS a stigma that people really did fear.
THEN you have people within the book [particularly TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS] who don't understand that if you have a problem within reading, other subjects involving reading WILL SUFFER. the reading difficulty only hinders understanding if you rely solely on reading for those other subjects.
THIRD: all writers are taught this one thing: WRITE ABOUT WHAT YOU KNOW. You can tell that Ms DeClements had NO idea about 'dyslexia [???]'. its the reversing of a b/d/q/p but also 6/9. The eyes see a 6 but brain switches it to a 9... Helen doing her 'dum' is not dyslexia or ANY DISABILITY. its lack of remedial reading to begin with. That's not discovered in 6th grade, try second or first!
FOURTH: You have the criminal aspect of this. This weird uncle who takes her to get fire crackers without telling her that she should only light these with an adult... whatever. She sneaks it into school with matches and she lights one WITHIN THE BUILDING!!!! ridiculous! even back then that would have been a criminal offense -- regardless of the legality of the firework status.
All her 'bad' behavior was not accidental or opportunity arose, this was premeditated. this had nothing to do with her reading troubles.
the only thing I was OK with in the book was the RETARD thing [hear me out]. back then this was the 'reality' of the stigma of being put into special ed. in fact, back then, the only special ed was: mainstreaming or BOCES Boards of Cooperative Educational Services -- which is an on site facility where severely special needs children go to get schooled. so the fact that people didn't want to get tested because they will be labeled retarded IS a reality back then and WAS a stigma that people really did fear.
February 21, 2013
1) Helen Nichols is a textbook “learning-disabled kid who acts out” archetype, but she’s done really well. For one thing, she doesn’t take it out on her classmates, but rather plays pranks on the teachers and faculty. Second, she’s…okay, I try not to use the “relatable” card, I like characters whether or not I can see myself in them. But her feelings about reading are pretty much the same as mine on algebra. D: So I can appreciate her moaning and groaning and GRAR over the whole thing.
2) Sharon Hinkler is a little shit and I don’t know how the girls can still hang out with her. Seriously, in every book she’s bratting it up and annoying everyone and going “MY MOM SAYS THIS”. I get that most groups have the friend that no one likes, but you’d think she’d try a little harder not to be such an ass. She’s still like this even in the later books, IIRC.
Still, I’m glad Helen didn’t punch her lights out at the end. She aint worth it. :P
3) When did this take place? Five bucks can’t buy a whole lot these days unless you’re shopping from the Sathers display at the five-and-ten. :P But the kids said they could get a load of tickets at a carnival for that much.
4) Helen’s mother kind of annoyed me most of the time, especially when she refused to let the school take care of Helen’s reading issues. If her constant tutoring isn’t helping her daughter, maybe that’s a sign it’s time to step down and let someone else deal with it. I wonder if Helen’s acting out also has to do with her mom being such a fussbudget. Still, I was glad to see the woman get a new “project” in the end. We all like to feel useful.
5) I liked the continuity nod to Elsie’s former weight problem. It’s too bad this book is kinda the gaiden of the whole canon, Helen only gets one more mention in the last Elsie book. And I don’t think Louise ever shows up again, which is a shame. She was pretty cool.
Overall this was a great read. I quite enjoy this entire series.
2) Sharon Hinkler is a little shit and I don’t know how the girls can still hang out with her. Seriously, in every book she’s bratting it up and annoying everyone and going “MY MOM SAYS THIS”. I get that most groups have the friend that no one likes, but you’d think she’d try a little harder not to be such an ass. She’s still like this even in the later books, IIRC.
Still, I’m glad Helen didn’t punch her lights out at the end. She aint worth it. :P
3) When did this take place? Five bucks can’t buy a whole lot these days unless you’re shopping from the Sathers display at the five-and-ten. :P But the kids said they could get a load of tickets at a carnival for that much.
4) Helen’s mother kind of annoyed me most of the time, especially when she refused to let the school take care of Helen’s reading issues. If her constant tutoring isn’t helping her daughter, maybe that’s a sign it’s time to step down and let someone else deal with it. I wonder if Helen’s acting out also has to do with her mom being such a fussbudget. Still, I was glad to see the woman get a new “project” in the end. We all like to feel useful.
5) I liked the continuity nod to Elsie’s former weight problem. It’s too bad this book is kinda the gaiden of the whole canon, Helen only gets one more mention in the last Elsie book. And I don’t think Louise ever shows up again, which is a shame. She was pretty cool.
Overall this was a great read. I quite enjoy this entire series.
December 21, 2017
Read the series other than this book so many years ago, that I had to finish the one I didn't. :) It was cute for its age limit and, even as an adult, had me laughing.
May 22, 2013
I thought that this book was great. It teaches people that you're gonna make it in life no matter what kind of education you get. You're going to be ok, whatever you are good or bad at. The best thing you can do is just sit back and watch your life take its toll and remember to control those big decisions in life. We even have to have a little fun in our lives just like "Bad Helen". I liked the characters that was her dad and Mr. Marshall. I liked her dad because he was easy-going about Helen's education. Mr. Marshall I liked because he was so nice to Helen at the book. I recommend this book to anyone because of the lesson in it. Even though this book was copyrighted in 1985, I think it should be read throughout eons to come.
November 27, 2018
This book is... well, how do I describe it? It isn't really a book that I recommend. The whole story is just one confusing mess. Helen is a sixth grader who isn't good at reading because she mixes up words.
The story makes some confusing decisions when it comes to chapters, instead of doing traditional numbers, it uses words which is harder for me. If I want a specific chapter, I just need to count the chapters, which I find harder to do. I would prefer numbers with the chapters (unless it's something odd with the version I have.) but I can't complain more than I have, now can I?
I don't feel sympathy for any of the characters. They just feel like plastic shells. All in all, this book really isn't one you should reread again and again unless your a fan of the author.
The story makes some confusing decisions when it comes to chapters, instead of doing traditional numbers, it uses words which is harder for me. If I want a specific chapter, I just need to count the chapters, which I find harder to do. I would prefer numbers with the chapters (unless it's something odd with the version I have.) but I can't complain more than I have, now can I?
I don't feel sympathy for any of the characters. They just feel like plastic shells. All in all, this book really isn't one you should reread again and again unless your a fan of the author.
March 21, 2016
This book was good. It is about a girl named Helen that is now in 6th grade and she is really naughty. She gets lots and lots of discipline slips until something changes a little. She becomes good for awhile she is now in the special education group because Helen has all F's in social studies reading and spelling. And she needs help BIG time.
April 16, 2019
My eight year old daughter liked this, but I found it very juvenile- this is not literature to be enjoyed by adults with their kids. Neither has it aged well (I believe it was written in the early 80’s)- use of the word “retarded,” for example, or the very dismissive way both kids and adults handled a child with a learning disability.
January 5, 2008
6th grade approved reading list. DID NOT LIKE. This book pissed me off, particularly with its portrayal of those with learning disabilities. Even though the main character is the one with the LD, it seems like she's a caricature.
January 6, 2022
For such a short book, this was stupid and incredibly annoying. I am not noting that to take a crack against people with dyslexia. The attitude towards dyslexia was shockingly insensitive in this book, and I have no idea whether or not that was common in the mid-80s, which is when this book was written. I've only ever heard people with dyslexia refer to it as, "It means you can't read," said curtly and they don't discuss it further. I asked a person, ignorantly and meaning well, if red cellophane might help. She shook her head and didn't look at me. "What does it do?" someone else asks. "Well, it slows you down," she mumbled. She said increased font sizes and time to read through things in advance helped her. I felt awful; I'd handed her a project with a ton of big, strange words that -everyone- had to ask me about. It wasn't my intent. I make sure now to ask people what accommodations they need, while still realizing I won't get it. So that's a blatant "look at me, I'm one of the good ones!'" and it -still- is less offensive than this book.
The MC, Helen, is hard to relate to. She likes baseball. I couldn't care less. This takes place in a small town maybe half an hour driving outside of Seattle, which the book mentions at least twice per page. It also repeatedly mentions other places in Washington State that would ordinarily have me, as someone who lived in Seattle during the 90s and has been there my whole life, going, "Yes! Woohoo! My state!" Instead, it had me going, "Yeah, I've been there. Move on, please." Helen mentions baseball often, but never mentions the Mariners, who had been around for nine seasons by that time. Okay then. In an effort to hide that she's dyslexic, she pulls mean-spirited pranks that increasingly had me wondering if she was a sociopath.
In the opening chapter, she's a mean-spirited girl who uses string to trip the teacher. By the end of the book, she's lighting off firecrackers. She cannot shut up about the fact that she wears a bra and is able to hide stuff in it. Ew. Also, she's eleven, so please be quiet. She is quite proud of her jewelry that is made of precious gemstones and ugh, I do not care. What she's describing sounds so tacky, not like the fine jewelry the author was probably aiming for. I like fine jewelry and precious gemstones, so that was a letdown. The mean pranks are sometimes to get out of reading out loud, but they--keep going.
I don't know about school in Washington State in the mid-80s, when this took place. However, I do know about school in the 90s and 2000s. Her school had a definite overreaction to her not being able to read, and was giving out discipline slips (ugh, that brought back memories) for her academic shortfalls. They were gonna have all her teachers in one room and discuss right in front of her...whether to hold her back a grade. HAVING ALL THE TEACHERS IN ONE ROOM IS DECIDIING WHETHER TO EXPEL A STUDENT. WHAT THE FUCK. If you're getting held back, they send a bunch of letters to your parents, and you meet with the principal, and beforehand, you have to get your teachers to fill out multiple progress reports and sign and comment on them for -months-. It takes a long time, NOT LIKE THIS BOOK. Was--was this a scare tactic the author was using towards dyslexics? And in the acknowledgments section, she thanks real-life teachers for their expertise! AAAAGH!
But that's -nothing- compared to the firecrackers. An eleven-year-old student tags the school with black spray paint and the principal intimidates her about it. I just--ugh. We did that in middle school, too, and they just gave kids in-school suspension or detention if they got caught. In -high school-, the teachers laughed and secretly hoped you'd tag a specific wall with nasty remarks about them. Sure, they gave you detention, but I asked a teacher about it later and honestly, tagging was a joke. Being nasty -to their faces-, however, had real consequences and was an entirely different situation. So, this same eleven-year-old, in this book for children, escalates from tripping her teacher with string, to tagging walls at school, to throwing an alarm clock in a wastebasket to simulate a fire alarm, to -lighting off firecrackers.-
She has a lot of behavioral and emotional issues. They have nothing to do with her dyslexia. She -chooses- to light off firecrackers, trip her teacher, and try to simulate a fire alarm. And yet, she was examined by shrinks repeatedly and they found nothing wrong with her. YOU ARE BAD AT YOUR JOBS, unless she's a good liar. That would explain a lot. An eleven-year-old lights off firecrackers. The school is not evacuated. They don't go into lockdown. Lockdown, in the 90s and 2000s, was a proto-school shooter drill. They shut the lights off, you huddled in a corner for fifteen minutes, and were absolutely still...until you started giggling and whispering. Nothing like today. At all. So, this was not done in the book. No, the principal runs around and a teacher in the opposite direction and they flap their jaws. Then they just...scold Helen. In the 90s and 2000s, this could and would land you in juvenile hall. The principal and teachers had a severe underreaction and I was appalled. Helen is quite proud of herself and thinks it's funny.
She's even saving a firecracker for her first year of middle school, which is next year.
Author, WHY. WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? BAD AUTHOR! BAD!
The MC, Helen, is hard to relate to. She likes baseball. I couldn't care less. This takes place in a small town maybe half an hour driving outside of Seattle, which the book mentions at least twice per page. It also repeatedly mentions other places in Washington State that would ordinarily have me, as someone who lived in Seattle during the 90s and has been there my whole life, going, "Yes! Woohoo! My state!" Instead, it had me going, "Yeah, I've been there. Move on, please." Helen mentions baseball often, but never mentions the Mariners, who had been around for nine seasons by that time. Okay then. In an effort to hide that she's dyslexic, she pulls mean-spirited pranks that increasingly had me wondering if she was a sociopath.
In the opening chapter, she's a mean-spirited girl who uses string to trip the teacher. By the end of the book, she's lighting off firecrackers. She cannot shut up about the fact that she wears a bra and is able to hide stuff in it. Ew. Also, she's eleven, so please be quiet. She is quite proud of her jewelry that is made of precious gemstones and ugh, I do not care. What she's describing sounds so tacky, not like the fine jewelry the author was probably aiming for. I like fine jewelry and precious gemstones, so that was a letdown. The mean pranks are sometimes to get out of reading out loud, but they--keep going.
I don't know about school in Washington State in the mid-80s, when this took place. However, I do know about school in the 90s and 2000s. Her school had a definite overreaction to her not being able to read, and was giving out discipline slips (ugh, that brought back memories) for her academic shortfalls. They were gonna have all her teachers in one room and discuss right in front of her...whether to hold her back a grade. HAVING ALL THE TEACHERS IN ONE ROOM IS DECIDIING WHETHER TO EXPEL A STUDENT. WHAT THE FUCK. If you're getting held back, they send a bunch of letters to your parents, and you meet with the principal, and beforehand, you have to get your teachers to fill out multiple progress reports and sign and comment on them for -months-. It takes a long time, NOT LIKE THIS BOOK. Was--was this a scare tactic the author was using towards dyslexics? And in the acknowledgments section, she thanks real-life teachers for their expertise! AAAAGH!
But that's -nothing- compared to the firecrackers. An eleven-year-old student tags the school with black spray paint and the principal intimidates her about it. I just--ugh. We did that in middle school, too, and they just gave kids in-school suspension or detention if they got caught. In -high school-, the teachers laughed and secretly hoped you'd tag a specific wall with nasty remarks about them. Sure, they gave you detention, but I asked a teacher about it later and honestly, tagging was a joke. Being nasty -to their faces-, however, had real consequences and was an entirely different situation. So, this same eleven-year-old, in this book for children, escalates from tripping her teacher with string, to tagging walls at school, to throwing an alarm clock in a wastebasket to simulate a fire alarm, to -lighting off firecrackers.-
She has a lot of behavioral and emotional issues. They have nothing to do with her dyslexia. She -chooses- to light off firecrackers, trip her teacher, and try to simulate a fire alarm. And yet, she was examined by shrinks repeatedly and they found nothing wrong with her. YOU ARE BAD AT YOUR JOBS, unless she's a good liar. That would explain a lot. An eleven-year-old lights off firecrackers. The school is not evacuated. They don't go into lockdown. Lockdown, in the 90s and 2000s, was a proto-school shooter drill. They shut the lights off, you huddled in a corner for fifteen minutes, and were absolutely still...until you started giggling and whispering. Nothing like today. At all. So, this was not done in the book. No, the principal runs around and a teacher in the opposite direction and they flap their jaws. Then they just...scold Helen. In the 90s and 2000s, this could and would land you in juvenile hall. The principal and teachers had a severe underreaction and I was appalled. Helen is quite proud of herself and thinks it's funny.
She's even saving a firecracker for her first year of middle school, which is next year.
Author, WHY. WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? BAD AUTHOR! BAD!
January 13, 2018
Recently my daughter and I read "Fish in a Tree," about a girl who is dyslexic and how she deals with that challenge both in the classroom and socially. It reminded me so much of this 80s book that was a favorite of mine when I was just my daughter's age. Cultural references are dated but it's still a great story! Read it in 90 minutes.
September 1, 2021
i got this book for $1 as a joke but it was kinda funnn
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January 11, 2026Review to come. This one was rough at points.
April 22, 2019
Sixth Grade Can Really Kill You by Barthe DeClements is a controversial book mainly for the use of the word retarded. This word is frowned upon by almost everyone, with good reason. The book uses this word to talk about people who use resources from the special education room.
This word is definitely not one of my favorite words, and it hurts to read, but I believe that this word in this book can be used to teach students that the words we chose to use are not okay sometimes, and can hurt feelings. A use of this book would be to teach students exactly this. The use of words in this book can be hard to read, but this lesson is very important to teach students. I can understand why this book is so controversial.
This book would be something that I would only use in 5th grade or 6th grade. That book is made for students who are around the same age as the main character of the book, so it makes sense to use it for those students. It can also be good knowing the lesson of using our words carefully around the transition from elementary school to middle school. That can be a very hard transition for students, and I was one of those students who struggled, so it would be ice to be able to relate my personal stories to this book as well. I appreciated when teachers could relate to the content that they are teaching, and that is something that I could do for this book.
This word is definitely not one of my favorite words, and it hurts to read, but I believe that this word in this book can be used to teach students that the words we chose to use are not okay sometimes, and can hurt feelings. A use of this book would be to teach students exactly this. The use of words in this book can be hard to read, but this lesson is very important to teach students. I can understand why this book is so controversial.
This book would be something that I would only use in 5th grade or 6th grade. That book is made for students who are around the same age as the main character of the book, so it makes sense to use it for those students. It can also be good knowing the lesson of using our words carefully around the transition from elementary school to middle school. That can be a very hard transition for students, and I was one of those students who struggled, so it would be ice to be able to relate my personal stories to this book as well. I appreciated when teachers could relate to the content that they are teaching, and that is something that I could do for this book.
July 24, 2020
While definitely better than "fifth grade," this book has some problems that didn't age well. Helen is clearly learning disabled and the school fails to help her. Granted, most of this is due to her mom's stubbornness.
Unlike "fifth grade" it is nice to see a father who takes interest and doesn't just bowl and wait for dinner to be served.
The book promises that Helen acts like "bad Helen" because school is difficult but that's not really explored, we just see her setting off fireworks, tripping the teacher and putting toothpaste on the teacher's chair.
Unlike "fifth grade" it is nice to see a father who takes interest and doesn't just bowl and wait for dinner to be served.
The book promises that Helen acts like "bad Helen" because school is difficult but that's not really explored, we just see her setting off fireworks, tripping the teacher and putting toothpaste on the teacher's chair.
June 13, 2010
this was a good book. I liked it because it was very realistic. I tend to like books that are very realistic.
February 18, 2011
Even though I wasn't in sixth grade when I read this, I love this book. However now that I am...
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October 12, 2012sixth grade kill a person
November 25, 2013
Painfully realistic depiction of a talented, athletic girl who also has learning disabilities and behavior problems.
April 9, 2015
Sixth Grade Can Really Kill You
Boring and a waste of my time
Boring and a waste of my time
March 9, 2015
good kids book. Weird for me to see teachers from a "bad" kid's perspective.
April 9, 2018
I give this book two stars because it is not as funny as I thought it would be. If you are looking for a easy book, this is the indicate. There is too much dialog.
April 21, 2019
Sixth Grade Can Really Kill You, by Barthe DeClements has been challenged due to the use of the word ‘retarded’ in the story. The word is used in a negative way towards students who use the resources offered by the Special Education room. The main character, Helen has a multitude of other skills, however the one she lacks is reading. I believe the author purposefully included this language that is hurtful in order to shed light on the dangers of letting these little words slide by in our own classrooms and life.
Representation is very important in literature, and that, in my opinion should include things like differing abilities. This book is written, most likely to students of a similar age to the main character in the story. Sixth grade and early Middle School is a time of change for many students, with grades beginning to matter a little more, content becoming more difficult and puberty hitting. With all of this going on behind the scenes, if students only read about books that have ‘perfect’ main characters, they won’t recognize that it is okay to struggle, and that they will be able to succeed. This book offers hope in that, as well as addresses other issues.
I would use this book in an upper grade level, perhaps fifth or sixth grade to teach students about the damage their words can cause. By having hurtful words in this book, students can see the ramifications these words would have if they chose to use them, and through a careful conversation as a class, we would be able to decide why we would not use these words, creating a more inclusive and safe environment for all students, no matter their learning abilities.
Representation is very important in literature, and that, in my opinion should include things like differing abilities. This book is written, most likely to students of a similar age to the main character in the story. Sixth grade and early Middle School is a time of change for many students, with grades beginning to matter a little more, content becoming more difficult and puberty hitting. With all of this going on behind the scenes, if students only read about books that have ‘perfect’ main characters, they won’t recognize that it is okay to struggle, and that they will be able to succeed. This book offers hope in that, as well as addresses other issues.
I would use this book in an upper grade level, perhaps fifth or sixth grade to teach students about the damage their words can cause. By having hurtful words in this book, students can see the ramifications these words would have if they chose to use them, and through a careful conversation as a class, we would be able to decide why we would not use these words, creating a more inclusive and safe environment for all students, no matter their learning abilities.
September 7, 2017
The main character in this book is different from most of the books I've read in the children and young adult categories. Unlike most book protagonists, Helen has a reading disability. She's had it all her life, and her mother tries her best to help, with little success for either. Add to that Helen's propensity for trouble-making, and we have a sixth grader who really doesn't get along well at school.
The story follows Helen through her sixth grade year as her feelings about school worsen along with her grades. Along with a new teacher who has no idea how to teach in a way that includes someone in Helen's situation (an all too common problem even in today's public schools), this causes Helen to withdraw and act out more and more.
I feel like this is an important book for children, both those dealing with a particular learning disability and those without, as it helps them relate to those who might. I dislike the use of the word "retard" so much, but as it comes from the students who don't know any better, I suppose it's understandable. I just wish the author had the forethought to have one teacher put a stop to it by correcting the students. Still, adding this one to my Little Free Library in the hopes that it will help some child in the neighborhood either gain empathy for a fellow student or realize that things are not so bad and any problem can be overcome.
The story follows Helen through her sixth grade year as her feelings about school worsen along with her grades. Along with a new teacher who has no idea how to teach in a way that includes someone in Helen's situation (an all too common problem even in today's public schools), this causes Helen to withdraw and act out more and more.
I feel like this is an important book for children, both those dealing with a particular learning disability and those without, as it helps them relate to those who might. I dislike the use of the word "retard" so much, but as it comes from the students who don't know any better, I suppose it's understandable. I just wish the author had the forethought to have one teacher put a stop to it by correcting the students. Still, adding this one to my Little Free Library in the hopes that it will help some child in the neighborhood either gain empathy for a fellow student or realize that things are not so bad and any problem can be overcome.
March 1, 2018
The book is about Helen who is a baseball pitcher who is struggling to read. And when she acts out in class, it is revealed that she has not only reading problems, but also behavior problems. She is switched over to the other sixth grade classroom and eventually chooses a special education class. And with help from her friends, parents, teachers, and the school, Helen’s reading improves. Though, I will not be giving out the ending, sorry. The author is telling from perspectives of a child with a learning disability. This will leave the readers ambitious on wondering on what the author is trying to do here. Plus, the conversations sound real and funny at the same time.
The book is heartful from start to finish and does not disappoint me or anybody. Though I did not give it a full review, but I still liked the book. And no, I'm not going to give out the ending, so please don’t ask. And not to mention, the book did not let me down.
Is this the book I recommend? Yes, because it is a very good book, so please read it.
The book is heartful from start to finish and does not disappoint me or anybody. Though I did not give it a full review, but I still liked the book. And no, I'm not going to give out the ending, so please don’t ask. And not to mention, the book did not let me down.
Is this the book I recommend? Yes, because it is a very good book, so please read it.
April 10, 2019
The main character and protagonist is Helen. Helen is in the sixth grader who has a reading problem, this problem stems from her being a special education student. Helen does enroll in special education classes during the school year because she is in trouble of failing the sixth grade. At first, her mother was not willing to let her daughter take special education classes. It seemed to me, that it was not in any harmful intentions but she just did want to accept it. Helen does spend a good amount of time outside of school to work on her school work with her mother. I’ll leave the rest for you to read!
DeClement’s does a really good job at show casing Helen’s everyday struggles, and how she tries to deal with her reading problem. She also does. Great job at realism with the students acting and talking like regular sixth graders in todays day (because the book was published in ’95).
I think this story line is a good one if you wanted to teach eight grade and up, about learning disabilities, responsibilities, good manors, etc.
DeClement’s does a really good job at show casing Helen’s everyday struggles, and how she tries to deal with her reading problem. She also does. Great job at realism with the students acting and talking like regular sixth graders in todays day (because the book was published in ’95).
I think this story line is a good one if you wanted to teach eight grade and up, about learning disabilities, responsibilities, good manors, etc.
June 14, 2019
This book addresses special education, specifically dyslexia. The protagonist, Helen, can't read. How did she get to sixth grade without something being done about it? Her mother would not recognize that there was a problem with her daughter that she could not solve. I believe the author does a good job of showing the frustration Helen feels. She worries about failing sixth grade and not being able to go to junior high with her friends. Bear in mind that the book was written in 1985 so Helen calls herself "dumb" and the special education class at Helen's school is called the "retard" class by some of the students.
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