What do you think?
Rate this book
Jackson Friends
Stinky Stern Forever: A Jackson Friends Book – A Moving Chapter Book for Children (Ages 6-9) About Facing Classmate Death
Pa Lia has never liked Stinky Stern, the enemy of the second grade. He makes fun of other kids, he says mean things, and he's always causing trouble. But when Stinky is suddenly hit by a car and killed, Pa Lia and the rest of the students in Mrs. Fennessey's class face a difficult How do you deal with the death of someone nobody really liked?
This moving story is certain to resonate with anyone who has ever experienced--or even just thought about--the loss of a classmate or friend.
This moving story is certain to resonate with anyone who has ever experienced--or even just thought about--the loss of a classmate or friend.
49 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
21 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 21, 2017
If you are looking for a book to explain death and the feelings associated with it to older children then this is your book. Stinky Stern "the enemy of the second grade" decides that he wants to ruin the snowflake that Pa Lia worked so hard on. As she was walking home with her brother Pa Lia witnesses Stinky Stern getting hit by a van while crossing the street. Pa Lia learns later that evening that Stinky Stern had died. The next day at school the entire class took the time to recall their fondest memory of Stinky Stern, whether it be good or bad. After the entire class has gone, it is Pa Lia's turn. She reveals to her classmates that she saw Stinky Stern get hit and that seeing Stinky in that position hurt worse "than anything Stinky ever said or did to her." All of the students took their handcrafted snowflakes off of the wall and laid them on Stinky Stern's desk in his memory. This is a very tough and heart-warming story. The illustrations are black and white sketches that correspond to the chapter that is being read. My favorite picture is at the end of the book, it is a snowflake that has Stinky Stern's face drawn onto it.
January 23, 2020
Jeeeez. Cat is weeding beginning readers and came across this absolute dud. It's 2020 and there are MANY more books about grief that are better written, less abrupt, and more current. Also the illustrations are disgusting. Even though it was published in 2005, it looks like it's from the 80s. Woof.
Update: After reading another Jackson Friends book, I think the author really did Stinky dirty. He and the reader deserve better!
Update: After reading another Jackson Friends book, I think the author really did Stinky dirty. He and the reader deserve better!
February 20, 2020
The narrator off this story, a kid in elementary school, witnesses the death of the least popular kid in the class in a pedestrian accident in front of the school. The story describes how the kids and adults handles this death. Though an older book, it would still be an excellent resource for a school or classroom that suffers a death by trauma.
February 11, 2019
February parent child book club
March 6, 2020
This story moved me more than I expected it to.
December 14, 2007
The early reader must be the most difficult book of all to write. To create something new, something real from so few words of such limited complexity is a challenge not every writer can meet. Sure, there are masters of the genre. Cynthia Rylant comes immediately to mind. But, it is unusual to come across a new(ish) author writing for the newly reading who writes with as much honesty and emotional depth as does Michelle Edwards.
Stinky Stern Forever is the fourth volume of The Jackson Friends series--a series of short chapter books designed for school-aged children working on reading fluently on their own. Jackson Magnet is a school populated by children of many different backgrounds and family situations. Our narrator, Pa Lia Vang, decorates her snowflake with Hmong patterns, for example. A boy named Vladmir Solbokin returns from ESL to Mrs. Fennessey's classroom. Another child, Bridgett, doesn't have a mother living at home. Mrs. Fennessey's class also has a resident bully, a boy named Matthew--or Stinky--Stern.
Stinky likes to tease the other kids in the class and make a scene. On the day Stinky Stern Forever begins, Stinky Stern ruins Pa Lia's snowflake with a glob of glue. Then, after school, Stinky Stern is hit by a van when he runs into the street without looking. Pa Lia witnesses the accident and wonders, "Will Stinky be okay? He is so quiet. So still."
Stinky isn't okay. Stinky dies. When Pa Lia returns to school the next day, Mrs. Fennessey tells her class the news and asks the children to share their stories about Matthew Stern. Pa Lia, a quiet, observant child, finds she can't speak right away. She feels confused because she didn't like Stinky Stern. She listens to her classmates' stories--some good, some bad, some funny--and draws, creating pictures of what Stinky loved in life. Finally, after listening to all the children in her class, Pa Lia admits, "'I was so mad at Stinky yesterday. He tried to ruin my snowflake. I was still mad at him when I saw the accident.'" Speaking the truth out loud, Pa Lia realizes, "a heavy bird had just flown from its nesting spot on her heart." Pa Lia is finally able to say what hurts her so much: "'Stinky, get up. This is not funny, I thought. But I knew he couldn't get up. And that was sadder and hurt more than anything Stinky ever said or did to me.'"
Wow. Consider the words Edwards uses here--short words most first graders can read on their own. Despite this limitation, she manages to create a story that is interesting, important, and relevant to children. And, because Stinky Stern Forever is for children, it ends on a positive and hopeful note. The children of Mrs. Fennessey's classroom celebrate their unique, multi-faceted classmate through story and conclude by showering his desk with their beautiful snowflakes.
Stinky Stern Forever is a book you can share with any child experiencing a loss. However, I also think it will be appreciated by children who haven't experienced directly the death of a friend or classmate. We adults, more experienced in loss and death, are easily traumatized by the death of a child, even if that death is fictional. Children, on the other hand, may appreciate Edwards' message here--that everyone has value, everyone has a story and a talent, everyone is loved by someone. Even Stinky Stern.
Review reprinted from my blog, Big A little a
Stinky Stern Forever is the fourth volume of The Jackson Friends series--a series of short chapter books designed for school-aged children working on reading fluently on their own. Jackson Magnet is a school populated by children of many different backgrounds and family situations. Our narrator, Pa Lia Vang, decorates her snowflake with Hmong patterns, for example. A boy named Vladmir Solbokin returns from ESL to Mrs. Fennessey's classroom. Another child, Bridgett, doesn't have a mother living at home. Mrs. Fennessey's class also has a resident bully, a boy named Matthew--or Stinky--Stern.
Stinky likes to tease the other kids in the class and make a scene. On the day Stinky Stern Forever begins, Stinky Stern ruins Pa Lia's snowflake with a glob of glue. Then, after school, Stinky Stern is hit by a van when he runs into the street without looking. Pa Lia witnesses the accident and wonders, "Will Stinky be okay? He is so quiet. So still."
Stinky isn't okay. Stinky dies. When Pa Lia returns to school the next day, Mrs. Fennessey tells her class the news and asks the children to share their stories about Matthew Stern. Pa Lia, a quiet, observant child, finds she can't speak right away. She feels confused because she didn't like Stinky Stern. She listens to her classmates' stories--some good, some bad, some funny--and draws, creating pictures of what Stinky loved in life. Finally, after listening to all the children in her class, Pa Lia admits, "'I was so mad at Stinky yesterday. He tried to ruin my snowflake. I was still mad at him when I saw the accident.'" Speaking the truth out loud, Pa Lia realizes, "a heavy bird had just flown from its nesting spot on her heart." Pa Lia is finally able to say what hurts her so much: "'Stinky, get up. This is not funny, I thought. But I knew he couldn't get up. And that was sadder and hurt more than anything Stinky ever said or did to me.'"
Wow. Consider the words Edwards uses here--short words most first graders can read on their own. Despite this limitation, she manages to create a story that is interesting, important, and relevant to children. And, because Stinky Stern Forever is for children, it ends on a positive and hopeful note. The children of Mrs. Fennessey's classroom celebrate their unique, multi-faceted classmate through story and conclude by showering his desk with their beautiful snowflakes.
Stinky Stern Forever is a book you can share with any child experiencing a loss. However, I also think it will be appreciated by children who haven't experienced directly the death of a friend or classmate. We adults, more experienced in loss and death, are easily traumatized by the death of a child, even if that death is fictional. Children, on the other hand, may appreciate Edwards' message here--that everyone has value, everyone has a story and a talent, everyone is loved by someone. Even Stinky Stern.
Review reprinted from my blog, Big A little a
April 14, 2013
As you grow older, you learn that death is a natural part of life that is inevitable. No matter your age, though, you will never be prepared to go through the loss of a child. The cover art intrigued me because you have the young boy making a face and portraying a person of aggravation, but in the background, you have these color penciled drawings of a bird singing and a groundhog. Michelle Edwards did a great job of creating a simple yet effective cover to drawn in the curiosity of the audience.
In "Stinky Stern Forever", written and illustrated by Michelle Edwards, Pa Lia Vang is one of many students that have been the target of Stinky Stern's bullying and teasing. For a lack of better words, the students despised him. Until one day, Stinky is struck by a vehicle while running across the road and dies. The emotional struggle the school, specifically Room 201, is addressed with the students remembering both the good and bad memories Stinky gave them. Pa Lia is especially troubled because she witnessed the accident, but she has this deep feeling of guilt because of the anger she had towards him from an earlier experience. From the playing of the bagpipes in the talent show to his groundhog Harold, the students are depicted as having maturity and wisdom well beyond their years.
Edwards does an amazing job of balancing out the illustrations and the text in this novel. The people and setting are drawn to be reminiscent of a elementary students artwork; I believe this amplifies the link between the content and the artwork. This powerful mixture allows the audience to see the children react to the death in the real world, and also, it shows how the cope with the loss with their imagination. For example, as each student speaks about the memories they have of stinky, Pa draws a picture of what they have shared. This method allows her to funnel her sadness and anger in the way that best suites her. The drawings she is shown doing may seem simple, but that is what, I feel, the author wanted and what is needed for this type of story.
I couldn't find a reason not to give this book 5 stars. The topic of death is superbly handled in this novel, and it is told in a way that any student would comprehend it. This can be a touchy subject for a teacher and students to handle, but I feel that it brings it down to a level that can be understood. Even in its simplistic grammar and vocabulary, I still found myself getting chills as the students recounted their memories of Stinky.
Death needs to be handled with care in a school setting. It is something that can frighten even the most mature of individuals, but with guidance, a teacher can properly introduce how to handle a loss such as this by introducing students to this book. I find it too emotionally deep to be analyzed on a worksheet. It is something that should be left to open discussion and personal writings.
In "Stinky Stern Forever", written and illustrated by Michelle Edwards, Pa Lia Vang is one of many students that have been the target of Stinky Stern's bullying and teasing. For a lack of better words, the students despised him. Until one day, Stinky is struck by a vehicle while running across the road and dies. The emotional struggle the school, specifically Room 201, is addressed with the students remembering both the good and bad memories Stinky gave them. Pa Lia is especially troubled because she witnessed the accident, but she has this deep feeling of guilt because of the anger she had towards him from an earlier experience. From the playing of the bagpipes in the talent show to his groundhog Harold, the students are depicted as having maturity and wisdom well beyond their years.
Edwards does an amazing job of balancing out the illustrations and the text in this novel. The people and setting are drawn to be reminiscent of a elementary students artwork; I believe this amplifies the link between the content and the artwork. This powerful mixture allows the audience to see the children react to the death in the real world, and also, it shows how the cope with the loss with their imagination. For example, as each student speaks about the memories they have of stinky, Pa draws a picture of what they have shared. This method allows her to funnel her sadness and anger in the way that best suites her. The drawings she is shown doing may seem simple, but that is what, I feel, the author wanted and what is needed for this type of story.
I couldn't find a reason not to give this book 5 stars. The topic of death is superbly handled in this novel, and it is told in a way that any student would comprehend it. This can be a touchy subject for a teacher and students to handle, but I feel that it brings it down to a level that can be understood. Even in its simplistic grammar and vocabulary, I still found myself getting chills as the students recounted their memories of Stinky.
Death needs to be handled with care in a school setting. It is something that can frighten even the most mature of individuals, but with guidance, a teacher can properly introduce how to handle a loss such as this by introducing students to this book. I find it too emotionally deep to be analyzed on a worksheet. It is something that should be left to open discussion and personal writings.
November 7, 2009
Stinky Stern Forever
3rd grade
Gryphon Award
The illustrations in this book are all black and white and the illustrator captures a lot of emotions in the facial expressions of the characters’ faces. The text is fairly large. Small to large illustrations depicting the various scenes and characters are included throughout. Even though it is a first chapter book, the author, Edwards, uses uncommon names for the characters, such as “Pa Lia,” her brother “Tou Gher,” as well as her classmates “Calliope” and “Vladmir Solbokin,” to name a few. Even though the reading level is appropriate for early elementary, I think students would have a hard time reading this book on their own because of the characters’ names coupled with cultural references and certain vocabulary words that children in the first or second grade will not be familiar with. For example, the class is making snowflakes and Pa Lia, is reminded of how well she cuts and sewed shapes with her grandma to make Paj ntaub, which apparently means “story clothes.” The second grade school bully, Stinky Stern, tries to ruin Pa Lia’s snowflake by putting a glob of glue on it, but Pa Lia fixes this by cutting spirals and triangles and an eight-pointed star to make a “Hmong pattern” to cover the glue.
Tragically, Stinky Stern is hit by a car. His classmates recall the mean things he did, but they also share things they miss about him such as how well Stinky Stern and his mom played the bagpipes in the talent show.
I think this book includes both sad and humorous moments, but I don’t think students will enjoy it that much even though it attempts to appeal to emotion. The cultural references interrupt the story, but this might be a good book to use to teach children about various cultures. The message of the story makes it worthwhile. The story can be used to teach children the importance of being kind to others, and to remember that everyone has positive attributes whether they are a likeable person or not. Also, a good lesson to remind students to look both ways before crossing the street!
Language arts/ art/music/social studies
3rd grade
Students can draw their classmates’ names out of a hat and make a friendship card for their classmate that includes at least three positive things written about that classmate.
For social studies, students can pick out the various ethnic character names and cultural references mentioned in the book, such as “Paj ntaub” and “bagpipes,” to learn more about different countries and cultural customs. For example, a social studies and music lesson can be combined to learn more about the bagpipes and the traditions of Scotland. It would be great to bring in guest musicians to play the bagpipes. If weather permits, this is probably best done outdoors.
3rd grade
Gryphon Award
The illustrations in this book are all black and white and the illustrator captures a lot of emotions in the facial expressions of the characters’ faces. The text is fairly large. Small to large illustrations depicting the various scenes and characters are included throughout. Even though it is a first chapter book, the author, Edwards, uses uncommon names for the characters, such as “Pa Lia,” her brother “Tou Gher,” as well as her classmates “Calliope” and “Vladmir Solbokin,” to name a few. Even though the reading level is appropriate for early elementary, I think students would have a hard time reading this book on their own because of the characters’ names coupled with cultural references and certain vocabulary words that children in the first or second grade will not be familiar with. For example, the class is making snowflakes and Pa Lia, is reminded of how well she cuts and sewed shapes with her grandma to make Paj ntaub, which apparently means “story clothes.” The second grade school bully, Stinky Stern, tries to ruin Pa Lia’s snowflake by putting a glob of glue on it, but Pa Lia fixes this by cutting spirals and triangles and an eight-pointed star to make a “Hmong pattern” to cover the glue.
Tragically, Stinky Stern is hit by a car. His classmates recall the mean things he did, but they also share things they miss about him such as how well Stinky Stern and his mom played the bagpipes in the talent show.
I think this book includes both sad and humorous moments, but I don’t think students will enjoy it that much even though it attempts to appeal to emotion. The cultural references interrupt the story, but this might be a good book to use to teach children about various cultures. The message of the story makes it worthwhile. The story can be used to teach children the importance of being kind to others, and to remember that everyone has positive attributes whether they are a likeable person or not. Also, a good lesson to remind students to look both ways before crossing the street!
Language arts/ art/music/social studies
3rd grade
Students can draw their classmates’ names out of a hat and make a friendship card for their classmate that includes at least three positive things written about that classmate.
For social studies, students can pick out the various ethnic character names and cultural references mentioned in the book, such as “Paj ntaub” and “bagpipes,” to learn more about different countries and cultural customs. For example, a social studies and music lesson can be combined to learn more about the bagpipes and the traditions of Scotland. It would be great to bring in guest musicians to play the bagpipes. If weather permits, this is probably best done outdoors.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
November 29, 2016Book Title: Stinky Stern Forever
Author/Illustrator: Michelle Edwards
Reading Level: 3.0
Book level: k-3
Book Summary: This is a sad book about a boy Mathew Stern who was a bully in the class getting killed by a car after school. The thing I liked about this book was it talked about dealing with death. This could be a good mentor text to use when a death happens or even before so that the students know how to deal with death and how to talk about it. The writing trait is definitely voice. The book is written in the voice of Pa Lia a second grade Hmong girl who was just bullies by Mathew Stern and then watched him die.
Author/Illustrator: Michelle Edwards
Reading Level: 3.0
Book level: k-3
Book Summary: This is a sad book about a boy Mathew Stern who was a bully in the class getting killed by a car after school. The thing I liked about this book was it talked about dealing with death. This could be a good mentor text to use when a death happens or even before so that the students know how to deal with death and how to talk about it. The writing trait is definitely voice. The book is written in the voice of Pa Lia a second grade Hmong girl who was just bullies by Mathew Stern and then watched him die.
Read
October 25, 2013Pa Lia was so excited when the teacher announced that the class would be making snowflakes for their art project. She loved to do paper cutting. While she helped her friends with their snowflakes, Stinky Stern, the class meanie, put a big blob of glue on hers. Hmph!
As Pa Lia walked home with her brother after school, she watched Stinky run across the street without looking. Then she heard some brakes screech. What happens to Stinky Stern? How do his classmates deal with their feelings about him after the accident? Read this book to find out.
As Pa Lia walked home with her brother after school, she watched Stinky run across the street without looking. Then she heard some brakes screech. What happens to Stinky Stern? How do his classmates deal with their feelings about him after the accident? Read this book to find out.
May 10, 2009
Better than the first book in the series, but I still don't know that I'd say I liked it. Pa Ling and her classmates learn to sort through their feelings when Stinky Stern, the class bully is hit by a car and dies. The treatment of the kids emotions is quite nice, but the illustrations are lacking, as is credit to LeUyen Pham for the cover art. It must be her and not the illustrator of the text.
April 11, 2013
This is a heartfelt book about a class that us processing the death of the class bully. The main character sees the boy dies and finds it hard to speak up in class. As her classmates go up to speak she is searching for the words to say about the bully stinky stern. In the end she finds the courage to get up and speak. This is a sweet book. Good to introduce to second grade and up. I would use it as a read aloud so I can discuss the tough topic with my students.
July 14, 2013
Pa Lia is shocked to see her classmate get by a van in front of the school. The next morning, the class shares memories of him - both good and bad.
It is never easy to deal with death, but I think Edwards has done a marvellous job. Pa Lia is unsure of what to think or do and how to feel - after all, Stinky Stern was not a nice kid and had tried to wreck Pa Lia's pretty snowflake the same day he died.
It is never easy to deal with death, but I think Edwards has done a marvellous job. Pa Lia is unsure of what to think or do and how to feel - after all, Stinky Stern was not a nice kid and had tried to wreck Pa Lia's pretty snowflake the same day he died.
January 30, 2008
Was caught off guard by this book, I had no idea it was going to be a book about dealing with a classmates death. It made me cry.
February 7, 2008
A very nicely done story for kids about death and the complicated feelings that come with it.
January 5, 2009
Superb, delicate story about the death of a classmate (Grade 2). Touching and frank.
Want to read
January 24, 2010Gryphon Award Winner, 2006.
August 10, 2012
This was a good book about a difficult subject. It is a good transition book to chapter books for my daughter.
December 17, 2012
This book is about a second grade classroom and a littlw boy dies. It is a good book to have a child rean to help with the concept of death.
March 28, 2013
This was a great book about bullies and coming to terms with feelings.
January 18, 2016
Beautiful handling of a tough subject. You can feel the honesty of this class community when they lose their classmate to a terrible accident.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews