Kelsey Green, Reading Queen

Franklin School Friends #1

by Claudia Mills, Rob Shepperson (Illustrator)

Kelsey Green is the best reader in the third grade--well, maybe tied for best with know-it-all Simon Ellis. When the principal Mr. Boone announces a school-wide reading contest, complete with a pizza party for the winning class and a special certificate for the top readers in each grade, she knows she's just the person to lead Mrs. Molina's third graders to victory. But how can they win when her classmate Cody Harmon doesn't want to read anything, and even Kelsey's best friends Annika and Izzy don't live up to her expectations? And could Simon possibly be reading all of those books that he claims he is, or is he lying to steal Kelsey's rightful spot at the top?
Kelsey Green, Reading Queen is the first book in Claudia Mills's Franklin School Friends series.

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Chapter Books, Childrens, Books About Books, School, Middle Grade

144 pages, Paperback

First published October 16, 2012

About the author

Claudia Mills is the author of Nixie Ness, Cooking Star, 7 x 9 = Trouble!, Zero Tolerance, Write This Down, and many other books for children. She was born in New York City in 1954. She received her bachelor's degree from Wellesley College, her master's degree from Princeton University, and a Ph.D. in philosophy from Princeton University. She also received an M.L.S. degree from the University of Maryland, with a concentration in children's literature. She had a second career as a professor of philosophy at the Colorado at Boulder, until leaving that career in 2014 to write full time. She now teaches in the graduate program in children's literature at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. All of her books have been written between 5 and 7 in the morning while drinking Swiss Miss hot chocolate.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/claudi...

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rounded up from 4.5 stars. Kelsey Kline is determined to be the best reader in her 3rd grade class, but she has some fierce competition from classmate Simon Ellis. How does Simon read more books than she does? Is he cheating? She and her friends hatch a plan to catch Simon. How can Kelsey achieve her goal and help her class beat the other classes in the school reading contest? Inspired by an Aesop fable, Kelsey comes alongside reluctant reader Cody Harmon and makes a friend. Love the lessons this book teaches about persistence, priorities and patience.

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm pretty sure Kelsey and I are doing the same GoodReads book challenge--and Kelsey is winning.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it wrong to love a story so much just because the main character is an enormously obsessive reader? I’m not sure, and I’m also not sure that anyone other than enormously obsessive readers would love this book quite as much as those of us who are such do and will. Nevertheless, even if you are not, I would hope that you would admire the character growth of little Kelsey, who sets aside her own personal goals to help her class achieve its goal.

It’s a marvelous tale, I think. I love it.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kelsey reminds me of myself. We have the same passion for reading.

It's a hilarious story. The principal says he will shave his bushy beard if the school can read 2000 books in a month. Kelsey is very excited. He competes with Super Simon to see who reads the most. She even helps Cody to make him read. I like Cody btw. He's not good with everything but his entusiasm makes up for what he lacks of.

The results are great and there's a surprise in the end.

[Keilah T · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not my favorite it was kinda boring and nothing it really placed in the story. You can read it but I would not recommend it sorry it’s just not my fav book. Nothing really takes place or stands out in this story.

[Rachel's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book! Probably no official review, there's nothing to really discuss about it.

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kelsey Green, Reading Queen by Claudia Mills, pictures by Rob Shepperson – part of the Franklin School Friends series. -Realistic Fiction, 2nd grade and up – Interesting book. I never really got into reading contests but have coordinated them in the past. I preferred my former school’s routine of keeping track of student’s reading hours for numerous years until they reach their own reading success hours. I used to have a thousands plaque for students accomplishing 5,000 and 10,000 hours of reading outside of my school library. I always enjoy books by Claudia Mills. She quickly creates characters you can identify with and care about… I also loved how sprinkled through this book were some fantastic book titles mentioned… I also found it interesting how seriously Kelsey takes a school reading contest from worrying whether a classmate was cheating about how many books he was reading to helping another classmate who was a struggling reader… The one bonus I found in this book was how Kelsey was compelled to help others. The struggles that Kelsey went through with book selection were exactly the reasons I didn’t like reading contests… Kelsey struggles to find good books that are shorter to help herself and her classmates with the reading contest… I feel the same about Accelerated Reader for this reason. Glad to read another Claudia Mills book, never tire of them!

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this sweet book. It made references to many other kids books that readers might recognize and enjoy. (Junie B. Jones, Sarah Plain and Tall). Kelsey developed an understanding with Simon - the best reader and her rival, and also Cody - the farm boy who doesn't read. Through those relationships Kelsey showed shifting values in regards to quantity and length of books she chose to read to finding the joy in stories and inspiring others to read. I especially related to Kelsey's aversion to math, fractions and the desire to stay in a book throughout her less-interesting classes. The "worms" they filled out and kept in their reading folders were cute. A great book to read with your class if you're about to set a reading goal with them. This will get them going in the right direction.

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great beginning/early chapter series that is perfect for fans of Marty McGuire and Clementine books. Kelsey, a strong reader, is obsessed with winning recognition in a school-wide reading competition. Her antics get a little crazy but she learns a lot along the way about trusting other classmates, both the strong readers and the struggling readers.

[itskaileysworld · Rating 4 out of 5]

" There is no frigate like a book.
To take us lands away, Nor any coursers
like a page of prancing poetry."

Such a sweet book.

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This book had the potential to be one of my favorites ever. This book is about Franklin Elementary School and a reading contest that is going on. If the school reads 2,000 books in a month, the principal agrees to shave his beard. Furthermore, each class will be in competition with the others to read the most and within each class, the one kid who reads the most will get their name on a plaque. Kelsey Green LOVES to read so she is taking this competition very seriously, however there is another big reader in her class named Simon. Throughout the book she is constantly trying to get ahead of him, but she also does take a little break to help another kid in her class named Cody who is a struggling reader. Kelsey is strong, determined, but also kind. She has 2 best friends named Annika and Izzy who love math and running, respectively, and I like that she tried to push them into reading, but quickly accepted it when they said it wasn't their thing. The only reason this wasn't a 5 star is because there was one comment fat shaming and quite a few uses of "stupid" and words that just don't add much except words I'd rather not have in my kids vocabulary. Can't wait to continue with the series!

[Holly Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in a cute young chapter books series about third graders at Franklin School. I could totally relate to reader Kelsey and really loved the references to other popular children's books. Kelsey's school is participating in a reading challenge and obviously she should win because she's the biggest bookworm, right? There is some interesting commentary on different student's reading levels and I am curious about how they would land with kids. I also didn't love the one-dimensional way some of the kids are presented - one is the math whiz, one is the fastest runner, etc. But I guess if you read the rest of the series, it will demonstrate how different people have different strengths.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kelsey Green might just be my younger self! Kelsey is a bookworm! But when a school-wide reading challenge is announced, she is determined to read more than any other kid in her class.

This book is full of book references to other great books for 1st-3rd graders, as well as some real world math, friendships, and even a good dose of helping others! I’d recommend this book to any young kid that likes reading, and any adult who wants a delightfully quick read to remind them of their childhood reading!

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read exactly the same number of books for a contest in elementary school. Our teacher did not make public each student's score, though; she just wanted us each to do the best we can and we all got a little prize. But I also loved math, and I hope Kelsey learns to appreciate it enough to at least realize how important it is in real life to have at least a 7th grade understanding of fractions, statistics, probability, and ratios.

Because I'm not keen on reading the rest of the set, I can't quite round this up to four stars, sorry.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading this hardcover chapter book. Kelsey is a third-grade girl who helps her class win the school contest for the most books read. She helps others read and contribute to the totals and checks on her main competitor's books to see that he is being honest. Her two friends Izzy and Anika have their own talents and stick by Kelsey when she needs friends and someone to help her with math. Nice friendship story between 8-year-old girls which is rare.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good early chapter book about school life and friendships. I do like that each kid character seems to be appreciated for their own talents and there is recognition that everyone has their own strengths. The reading contest keeps the story moving along and brings it all together. Solid series.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute story about a reading contest. I could really relate to the main character except that she didn't like math. Through out the book, other books are mentioned briefly as Kelsey reads them, which is part of what kept it entertaining.

[Robert]

A fun little chapter book read with my inquisitive kindergartner!

I think what I like most about the author's style is how her protagonist seems like a real kid with real moments of pettiness or diffidence but comes to make good decisions in her own way.

[Kristen G. Follis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a amazing book! READ IT!!!

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice and easy children’s book that encourages independent reading and being a moral person even during a competition.

[Summer Punia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it in one sitting. So good.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable early chapter book, shares a positive message about reading. Kelsey's relationship with her classmates was realistic and, in the case of Cody, heartening.

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

maybe 3.5 stars?

[Stacey Mulholland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it because it was an MCBA nominee. Good book for 2-4th grade leveled readers, based in 3rd.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boy do I love Claudia Mills' books. Hooray for Kelsey Green!

[Wina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet beginning to a 5 book series for younger elementary. Books are short and uplifting in Claudia's signature style.

[Brooke Waterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

My students loved this book!

[Hector Navarro · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first English book read. I love it

[Melissa (hereforthebooklove) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read aloud with my students

[Bookworm4Life · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy to read children's book that features a young reader determined to win it all in a school reading contest.