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Lone Bean: A Spunky Third Grade Story for Kids (Ages 8-12) About What It Means to Be a Good Friend
I have a flower name . . . but it is long and hard to spell and terrible. I'll never tell anyone what it is. Mom and Dad sometimes call me by my real name when I'm in big trouble, but otherwise I'm just called Bean.
Bean Gibson is so excited about the first day of third grade, not even her m-e-a-n mean older sisters, Rose and Gardenia, can bring her down.
But Bean's year gets off to a bad start—her best friend, Carla, has made a new best friend, and Bean has to begin music lessons. Bean picks the violin (the cello is too big) and tries to find new friends, but music lessons are a lot of work, Goody Two-Shoes Gabrielle is prissy, and Terrible Tanisha is a bully. And Bean's mom is always at work. Bean h-a-t-e-s hates third grade!
Lone Bean is an entertaining read about spunky Bean Gibson and how she learns what it means to be a good friend. And that it's possible to have more than one.
Bean Gibson is so excited about the first day of third grade, not even her m-e-a-n mean older sisters, Rose and Gardenia, can bring her down.
But Bean's year gets off to a bad start—her best friend, Carla, has made a new best friend, and Bean has to begin music lessons. Bean picks the violin (the cello is too big) and tries to find new friends, but music lessons are a lot of work, Goody Two-Shoes Gabrielle is prissy, and Terrible Tanisha is a bully. And Bean's mom is always at work. Bean h-a-t-e-s hates third grade!
Lone Bean is an entertaining read about spunky Bean Gibson and how she learns what it means to be a good friend. And that it's possible to have more than one.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 26, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
February 9, 2013
This was just an okay book. Bean is a likable character, but there was nothing that really made the book stand out. More complete review to come.
Full review:
Over the years, I have read a great many books with my nine-year-old daughter. Sometimes, the books were solid books: well written, nice characters, good story, but they just lacked that special something that draws you into a story and makes it impossible to put down. This is one of those books.
As a character, I liked Bean. For the most part, she struck me as a pretty good interpretation of a third-grader dealing with the struggles of a third grader. The portrayal of her sibling rivalry with her two older sisters was well-done, and I thought her worries and fears were handled in a sensitive manner. Bean's worry about her upcoming recital is given a gravity appropriate to its importance for a child her age, and was written in a way I found easily identifiable. While she is, in general, a good girl, Bean does make mistakes, and I liked that she was reflective enough and had a good enough sense of right and wrong that she was able to work out for herself why she shouldn't do some of the things she did.
The strongest part of the book is the lesson Bean learns about friendship. She allows her hurt and resentment at her best friend to drive her to become friends with Tanisha, a troubled girl who is the school bully. While Bean does feel compassion for Tanisha, she also comes to her own realization that Tanisha's behavior is not the way true friends should act. While she sympathizes with Tanisha's misguided attempts to reignite their friendship, Bean acknowledges that her relationship with Tanisha is not good for her, and that it results in Bean behaving in a way she knows she shouldn't behave. Given how difficult it can be for kids to understand how much they are influenced by their peers, I was impressed by this part of the novel and liked how Bean handled it in a way that was convincingly age-appropriate. I also liked that Tanisha felt like a fully developed character rather than a cartoon bully.
I also liked Bean's growing friendship with Stanley. There was a good message in it about getting to know a person before judging them that fits in with one of the big, overall themes of the book: Bean's learning to understand that people all have their own hopes, desires, and hurts that drive them to behave as they do. Bean learns how to empathize with others.
Still, there were some things about this book that I found kind of jarring. The adults felt inconsistent to me at times, and I thought the book occasionally delved into territory that would be a little over the head of its target audience.
The book is perfectly likable, but it just lacked that certain something I find in really good children's literature. I liked Bean, but she wasn't as engaging of a character as someone like Grace, from the Just Grace series. Overall, this is a pretty solid first effort.
Full review:
Over the years, I have read a great many books with my nine-year-old daughter. Sometimes, the books were solid books: well written, nice characters, good story, but they just lacked that special something that draws you into a story and makes it impossible to put down. This is one of those books.
As a character, I liked Bean. For the most part, she struck me as a pretty good interpretation of a third-grader dealing with the struggles of a third grader. The portrayal of her sibling rivalry with her two older sisters was well-done, and I thought her worries and fears were handled in a sensitive manner. Bean's worry about her upcoming recital is given a gravity appropriate to its importance for a child her age, and was written in a way I found easily identifiable. While she is, in general, a good girl, Bean does make mistakes, and I liked that she was reflective enough and had a good enough sense of right and wrong that she was able to work out for herself why she shouldn't do some of the things she did.
The strongest part of the book is the lesson Bean learns about friendship. She allows her hurt and resentment at her best friend to drive her to become friends with Tanisha, a troubled girl who is the school bully. While Bean does feel compassion for Tanisha, she also comes to her own realization that Tanisha's behavior is not the way true friends should act. While she sympathizes with Tanisha's misguided attempts to reignite their friendship, Bean acknowledges that her relationship with Tanisha is not good for her, and that it results in Bean behaving in a way she knows she shouldn't behave. Given how difficult it can be for kids to understand how much they are influenced by their peers, I was impressed by this part of the novel and liked how Bean handled it in a way that was convincingly age-appropriate. I also liked that Tanisha felt like a fully developed character rather than a cartoon bully.
I also liked Bean's growing friendship with Stanley. There was a good message in it about getting to know a person before judging them that fits in with one of the big, overall themes of the book: Bean's learning to understand that people all have their own hopes, desires, and hurts that drive them to behave as they do. Bean learns how to empathize with others.
Still, there were some things about this book that I found kind of jarring. The adults felt inconsistent to me at times, and I thought the book occasionally delved into territory that would be a little over the head of its target audience.
The book is perfectly likable, but it just lacked that certain something I find in really good children's literature. I liked Bean, but she wasn't as engaging of a character as someone like Grace, from the Just Grace series. Overall, this is a pretty solid first effort.
July 2, 2012
I received this book in a Goodreads FirstReads giveaway.
My 10 year old daughter read it first. She gives it a 4 out of 5 stars. She feels the character is easy to relate to and the book was easy to follow and read. Bean apparently reminds her Alot of herself.
Now it's my turn to read.
I have to agree with my daughter. This is a really good book. I see why she could relate to Bean. Bean is a typical kid in what I call "middle" elementary school. She feels outshined by her older siblings and left out when her best friend starts to venture out and make other friends. The trouble of trying to find where she fits if something that all kids go through from time to time. I can't wait until my younger daughter is old enough to read this as well. It lets kids know that everybody goes through the same things.
My 10 year old daughter read it first. She gives it a 4 out of 5 stars. She feels the character is easy to relate to and the book was easy to follow and read. Bean apparently reminds her Alot of herself.
Now it's my turn to read.
I have to agree with my daughter. This is a really good book. I see why she could relate to Bean. Bean is a typical kid in what I call "middle" elementary school. She feels outshined by her older siblings and left out when her best friend starts to venture out and make other friends. The trouble of trying to find where she fits if something that all kids go through from time to time. I can't wait until my younger daughter is old enough to read this as well. It lets kids know that everybody goes through the same things.
July 23, 2017
This was cute. It's not something that I would read to a whole class, but I did enjoy it.
June 20, 2012
Chudney Ross has a charming debut in Lone Bean that is faintly reminiscent of the Ramona Quimby books. Lone Bean opens with main character, Chrysanthemum ‘Bean’ as she prefers to be called, bursting with excitement over starting third grade, but Bean discovers the year won’t quite be what she expects.
Read the rest of my review here
Read the rest of my review here
August 6, 2012
I won this free book on first reads giveaway. Thank you!
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Great story about friendships and the life of a third grader.
My 3rd grade granddaughter read the book and loved it.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Great story about friendships and the life of a third grader.
My 3rd grade granddaughter read the book and loved it.
December 27, 2019
Third grade isn't exactly what Bean was hoping for. A falling out with her best friend, a run-in with the school bully, and a shaky start with stringed instruments threaten to put a damper on her signature spunk, but nothing can stop Bean from trying.
I picked Lone Bean from the shelf in hopes of seeing some diversity applied to the realistic fiction genre. Unfortunately, the book didn't deliver much in the way of representation beyond seeing a black character on the cover.
Overall, this is okay, but there are portions that read extremely dated, even for the 2012 release date . I'd recommend looking at newer releases or classics like Ramona instead.
I picked Lone Bean from the shelf in hopes of seeing some diversity applied to the realistic fiction genre. Unfortunately, the book didn't deliver much in the way of representation beyond seeing a black character on the cover.
Overall, this is okay, but there are portions that read extremely dated, even for the 2012 release date . I'd recommend looking at newer releases or classics like Ramona instead.
January 29, 2018
This was a cute little stroll down memory lane for me. This reminded me of all the what seems now like trivial things of my junior teen days. I needed to read this book to help me out of longstanding reading slump. I'm going to pass this along to my niece who'll be close to reading age for this book.
July 24, 2019
It was an easy read and found myself chuckling or giggling on parts of the story. Overall, it was an okay read. 2.5 stars.
Leisure read and gave a honest opinion of the book.
Leisure read and gave a honest opinion of the book.
May 7, 2020
My daughter, age 8, read this book and LOVED it. It's the first book she's read that she couldn't put down. As a mom, it was so exciting to see her ravish a book!
September 24, 2025
I loved it. I wish there was another one about Bean!!
September 18, 2012
Bean (her real name is Chrysanthemum, but she refuses to use it) is a lovely story about an 8 year old girl who has a really rough first day at school. She is now in 3rd grade and she is looking forward to seeing her best friend, Carla, whom she has not seen all summer. Sadly, she discovers that her best friend is now the best friend of someone else and is ignoring her, there is a bully in class, Tanisha, who is tormenting her, and the teacher seems oblivious to her plight, she has to sit with “stinky” Stanley as a last resort, and she has no one to sit with at lunch anymore or play with at recess. She is sad and very lonely.
The reader will watch Bean as she learns how to cope with and solve her problems, makes new friends and renews old friendships, learns to respect the rights of others, and learns the value of understanding right from wrong. As she begins to understand that some kids seem different because they are sad or lonely or have health issues or a different home life than she has with her parents and sisters, she becomes kinder and more understanding and less angry. She understands that being mean is not the best way to behave and kindness is a better way to reach someone and make them your friend. No one wants to be with someone mean. She learns that sometimes acting out because you are unhappy and lonely can be fun, but it can also be dangerous and there are consequences.
Eventually, Bean learns that sometimes things don’t turn out the way you hoped they would, but with patience and kindness, problems do get resolved and you will feel better. However, you will have to make an effort also, to help yourself and work your problems out. You will have to learn from your mistakes and not repeat them and you will have to work harder to achieve what you want rather than sulk or misbehave.
This is a good book to discuss at home or in a classroom setting because the author has done a good job of presenting the issues and conflicts that face young children today as they go about their normal daily lives at home and at school. She clearly defines those, using specific examples of bullying, peer pressure, sibling rivalry, friendship issues, loneliness, teacher and parental discipline, disobedience and consequences. On the bright side, she also shows the benefits of good behavior, loyalty, forgiveness, true affection and concern for others, working together, and the experience of real happiness when we do the right thing and achieve our goals.
I didn’t like the way the Bean’s parents were developed in the story. They were too permissive and Bean seemed to lack a sense of limits on her behavior. Her two older siblings,Gardenia and Rose, the oldest of whom was in middle school, were largely responsible for her well being, and they were really not mature enough to handle the task. Bean’s dad was a music professor and her mom was a nurse. Gabrielle’s mom was over protective and Tanisha’s mom was largely absent. I thought that the teacher was not as engaged with her class and their well being as she should have been and was not aware of what went on with her students, to the point of negligence. Perhaps they were all made into caricatures of real life individuals, in order to better express the problems experienced in childhood.
The author speaks in a voice that sounds true to children and the book is probably best suited for 8-13 year olds.I believe children will readily identify with Bean (Chrysanthemum) and her sisters, Rose and Gardenia, and all the events they encounter day to day. My 13 year old grandchild read it and loved it.
The reader will watch Bean as she learns how to cope with and solve her problems, makes new friends and renews old friendships, learns to respect the rights of others, and learns the value of understanding right from wrong. As she begins to understand that some kids seem different because they are sad or lonely or have health issues or a different home life than she has with her parents and sisters, she becomes kinder and more understanding and less angry. She understands that being mean is not the best way to behave and kindness is a better way to reach someone and make them your friend. No one wants to be with someone mean. She learns that sometimes acting out because you are unhappy and lonely can be fun, but it can also be dangerous and there are consequences.
Eventually, Bean learns that sometimes things don’t turn out the way you hoped they would, but with patience and kindness, problems do get resolved and you will feel better. However, you will have to make an effort also, to help yourself and work your problems out. You will have to learn from your mistakes and not repeat them and you will have to work harder to achieve what you want rather than sulk or misbehave.
This is a good book to discuss at home or in a classroom setting because the author has done a good job of presenting the issues and conflicts that face young children today as they go about their normal daily lives at home and at school. She clearly defines those, using specific examples of bullying, peer pressure, sibling rivalry, friendship issues, loneliness, teacher and parental discipline, disobedience and consequences. On the bright side, she also shows the benefits of good behavior, loyalty, forgiveness, true affection and concern for others, working together, and the experience of real happiness when we do the right thing and achieve our goals.
I didn’t like the way the Bean’s parents were developed in the story. They were too permissive and Bean seemed to lack a sense of limits on her behavior. Her two older siblings,Gardenia and Rose, the oldest of whom was in middle school, were largely responsible for her well being, and they were really not mature enough to handle the task. Bean’s dad was a music professor and her mom was a nurse. Gabrielle’s mom was over protective and Tanisha’s mom was largely absent. I thought that the teacher was not as engaged with her class and their well being as she should have been and was not aware of what went on with her students, to the point of negligence. Perhaps they were all made into caricatures of real life individuals, in order to better express the problems experienced in childhood.
The author speaks in a voice that sounds true to children and the book is probably best suited for 8-13 year olds.I believe children will readily identify with Bean (Chrysanthemum) and her sisters, Rose and Gardenia, and all the events they encounter day to day. My 13 year old grandchild read it and loved it.
September 15, 2012
This book would be ideal for 2nd to 4th grade readers. An eight year old normal girl anticipates everything good imaginable about the upcoming school year. She was especially excited to reconnect with her best friend; they were inseparable last year but have had no summer contact. The book was enjoyable, some humor though more serious than say, the "Ellen Tebbits" series. Some of the problems were rather inhibiting for such a child to solve. She had to face a bully, losing her best friend, not having a best friend, befriending another mischievous girl . She generally was a nice, well-mannered "Goody Two Shoes" type child. Instead of following her own conscience, she was constantly following the inappropriate antics of a disruptive, uncontrollable new girl in class. This ended up getting Lone Bean in trouble at school not only with the very kids she'd hoped to impress but with the teacher, custodian,and principal which involved a bad report to her parents and grounding.
The students had to handle a bully which was presented usefully improving her image with the other students. She visited the trouble-maker's very disadvantaged, poor apartment discovering that this new friend had no dad. She never met the mother either since she had to work hours her child was at home, so the friend literally had to take are of herself. The main character used her common sense not returning to that apartment for play again; rather she invited the girl to her own home instead.
Quite a range of feelings were expressed in the story including disappointment,anger, loss,sadness and others.Sisterly love was present, tattling vs.not tattling, blaming others, importance of family and acceptance of differences of others, were all shown throughout the book. All the traits were presented in a positive light with
a possibility of using some of their remedies in real life. A young girl would most likely enjoy this read.
August 11, 2015
Bean seemed older than eight and a half; she writes emails and goes to 7-Eleven with her friends for Slurpees. Brand names are all over the place. I realize that children are typically picky eaters, but Bean's hatred of carrots and anything green or remotely healthy seems gratuitously emphasized. She is an absolute chatterbox of a narrator and can be tiring to keep up with. The pranks she gets into with Tanisha are rather appalling. Tanisha, Stanley, and Gabrielle are stereotypical school friends: the rough bully who is neglected at home and wants to be friends; the smelly social reject who turns out to be amazingly talented; and the poor little rich girl whose fashionable, fastidious, overprotective mother doesn't let her do anything, not play on the cafeteria or eat Jell-O.
Ramona Quimby is a much more reflective and endearing eight year old than Chrysanthemum Gibson. Yet there is a strain of the importance of family-- Bean's sisters are not quite as m-e-a-n mean as she complains-- and the lesson about forgiveness is well taught.
I picked up this book because Bean takes violin lessons and her father is a college music professor. The cover is cute, too, although it led me to expect interior illustrations, like the Ramona books have. The recital at the end of the book, however, feels tacked on, as if the book needed an American Girl movie ending. I'm not sure that learning to play the violin enriched Bean's experience, apart from giving her an occasion to wear a fancy dress.
2.5 stars rounded up.
Ramona Quimby is a much more reflective and endearing eight year old than Chrysanthemum Gibson. Yet there is a strain of the importance of family-- Bean's sisters are not quite as m-e-a-n mean as she complains-- and the lesson about forgiveness is well taught.
I picked up this book because Bean takes violin lessons and her father is a college music professor. The cover is cute, too, although it led me to expect interior illustrations, like the Ramona books have. The recital at the end of the book, however, feels tacked on, as if the book needed an American Girl movie ending. I'm not sure that learning to play the violin enriched Bean's experience, apart from giving her an occasion to wear a fancy dress.
2.5 stars rounded up.
February 8, 2017
Bean is having a hard time at the beginning of third grade. She lost touch with her best friend Carla over the summer and now Carla has a new best friend, leaving Bean with no one. Her older sisters are mean to her. Her father is forcing her to play a musical instrument. And the teacher that everyone says is so nice doesn't seem to like her. Her only choices for friends at school seem to be Stinky Stanley, Goody Two-Shoes Gabrielle, and Mean Tanisha. Bean tries each one out, in a series of increasingly poor choices. This realistic portrayal of the friendship struggles of a third grader is very relatable. Recommended for grades 2 & up.
July 24, 2012
What I liked about this book: This was a delightful story about the joys and perils of third grade. Fans of Sarah Pennypacker’s Clementine, Beverly Cleary’s Ramona and Megan McDonald’s Judy Moody will love Bean Gibson. Lone Bean is a great classroom read aloud. I can’t wait to share this book with my third grade teachers so they can share it with their students. As a parent and an educator, I enjoyed how Bean learned from her escapades. Ross paints a wonderfully entertaining picture of a precocious and very likable third grader. Bean does learn from her mistakes, but Ross doesn’t beat the reader over the head with a message about consequences. Young readers will identify with Bean and her challenges of being the youngest sister and dealing with a best friend who doesn’t want to be her best friend anymore.
I don’t know if this will be a series. I hope so. I would love to read more about Bean’s adventures.
If you would like to learn more about Chudney Ross visit her website.
What I didn’t like about the book: This book is a real winner. I loved it all.
Release date: June 26, 2012
Recommended for: 3rd – 5th grades
I don’t know if this will be a series. I hope so. I would love to read more about Bean’s adventures.
If you would like to learn more about Chudney Ross visit her website.
What I didn’t like about the book: This book is a real winner. I loved it all.
Release date: June 26, 2012
Recommended for: 3rd – 5th grades
January 27, 2013
Third-grader Bean (her real name is Chrysanthemum) has one of the worst possible starts to a new school year when she realizes that her best friend, Carla, has replaced her with a different friend. Bean feels completely at sea and ends up acting out and behaving in ways that are unkind and get her into plenty of trouble at school and at home. To add to all this, her musician father insists that she starts learning how to play an instrument. Eventually, though, she makes new friends, and things work out between her and her BFF. Many young readers will relate to Bean's desperate need to have someone to sit with at lunch or at recess, but the author doesn't explore this problem as thoroughly as I expected. While I liked the storyline and the imperfect characters' likely appeal for many readers, all the characters could have used more development. For instance, Tanisha, the class bully is portrayed in a one-dimensional way that explains her behavior as based in loneliness, which is certainly possible, but her character lacks depth.
July 14, 2012
This book is perfect for those students that are starting a new grade or school and find the challenges to be overwhelming. I guess that means this book is perfect for just about any child! Bean is looking forward to school, but is surprised to find on the first day her best and only friend is no longer talking to her, and is for the first time feeling alienated. Add to that she has added pressure by her new teacher, her parents think that third grade is the perfect time to learn a new instrument and she is forced to work with other students that do more than cause trouble for her. Great read aloud that has potential for discussions with your child on pressures they feel in school and solutions for overcoming them. Thank you Goodreads Givaway for this book! It will now find a home in my school library for others to read!
March 8, 2021
Chrysanthemum "Bean" Gibson is starting third grade without her best friend Carla. It seems Bean was having so much fun with her cousin over the summer that she didn't respond to any of Carla's messages. This hurts Carla's feelings and when Bean comes back, Carla is now best friends with Sam. Bean doesn't like being without a friend, but every where she turns there is some one she's not thrilled about getting to know: Goody Two-Shoes Gabrielle, Stinky Stanley and Terrible Tanisha (the class bully). But as she gets to know these students, she finds that they are more than just the label the class has given them - even Terrible Tanisha. But she also discovers that hanging around with someone who misbehaves can backfire on you, as well.
Though things are a tied up a little too tidily at the end, the story has a good message for students.
Though things are a tied up a little too tidily at the end, the story has a good message for students.
October 12, 2012
Great African American Children Literature That is Age Appropriate. Finally a novel that is innocent and portrays an African American and doesn't "deal" with "hard subjects"
This sweet little read was perfect for my younger sister. She loved it! Devoured it from beginning to end. And she's very picky with her choice of novels as am I. I was sent this lovely children book and I must say. Bean is a very spunky character in comparison to Junie B. Jones! She's a lovely little girl who navigates her life through elementary school and copes with her best friend changing over the summer. It's done in a way that's easy for elementary school children to read and the dialogue is great for kids.
Thank you HarperKids for allowing me to review this book!
This sweet little read was perfect for my younger sister. She loved it! Devoured it from beginning to end. And she's very picky with her choice of novels as am I. I was sent this lovely children book and I must say. Bean is a very spunky character in comparison to Junie B. Jones! She's a lovely little girl who navigates her life through elementary school and copes with her best friend changing over the summer. It's done in a way that's easy for elementary school children to read and the dialogue is great for kids.
Thank you HarperKids for allowing me to review this book!
July 1, 2013
This book was d-u-l-l DULL. It's the story of a third child in a family where flowers are used as names and hers is the most awful name of all. Given that there are a fair number of flowery names (Lily and Violet come to mind; there is already a Rose and a Gardenia at her home) one might wonder why Chrysanthemum was chosen for hers. She also learns in 3rd grade to play the violin and has Twinkle Twinkle Little Star as her recital piece, another odd choice since that's picked rather than bowed as I recall.
The story is supposed to be about girls and their friendships. It was just dull. Seemed to be about girls being mean and exclusionary and I would worry a bit about her older sister being in l-o-v-e LOVE at her age and having group dates while in elementary school.
The story is supposed to be about girls and their friendships. It was just dull. Seemed to be about girls being mean and exclusionary and I would worry a bit about her older sister being in l-o-v-e LOVE at her age and having group dates while in elementary school.
July 31, 2012
Bean (or Chrysanthemum) is a girl just starting third grade, but her best friend isn't her best friend anymore. Now Bean must learn to strike out on her own, but instead of making good decisions, she falls in with the class bully and has to learn what it really means to be a friend. All in all, readers will likely relate to Bean, although they might find her mean behavior puzzling. Either I didn't catch the humor in this book, or there wasn't much, so that is going to make going up against Judy Moody and Clementine pretty hard. If another Bean book follows, I hope that there is a little more laughter mixed in with the lessons.
June 18, 2012
I see this book as a potential one to hand to girls who are having a hard time fitting in, letting go of specific friends, making friends with kids that might have a bad influence on them, and also those who sometimes get in trouble without intentionally meaning to... I really thought this book was special with quite the cute character who speaks her mind, sometimes a little too freely and is working to find her way through third grade, friendship problems, and parent expectations. Release date of 7/12.
July 19, 2012
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I reading this with my children, 7 and 10. We found this book to present a fairly accurate look into social interaction of kids in this age group (roughly 3rd grade)and the struggles that they go through to find their place within a social group. It also showed how children with older siblings can feel and the pecking order of families. We did find a few areas in the book that seems to drag on a bit, but overall the book had a well written story, we enjoyed it.
December 22, 2013
Lone Bean is a good book for children to understand the value of playing music , and the qualities of a kind person.I main part of the story is where a 2nd grader girl, named Bean , gets the option to make bad choices but does not.It begins when she goes to a school,and has no friends.Her father , a music teacher, wants her to play an insturment.her sister is so good at the piano that she wants to try playing music too,but trying to make friends and playing music is hard for her.I think it is a good book and children in 2nd grade through 4th grade would have a fun time reading it. :)
June 13, 2012
I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. The book is easy to read. Some of the dialogue and behavior gives me the impression of a third grader, but some I thought might be anomalous. But, a lot of experiences will seem familiar to children in elementary school.
I like the visual imagery of descriptions such as "It was more like a loose, spaghetti-arms hug" or "as she clip-clopped like a horse to catch up to me".
I like the visual imagery of descriptions such as "It was more like a loose, spaghetti-arms hug" or "as she clip-clopped like a horse to catch up to me".
July 11, 2014
Changing friendships and relatable characters make this an accessible chapter book for young readers. On her first day of third grade, Bean finds herself alone when her friend from second grade ignores her. Bean finds herself breaking rules and getting into trouble when she begins hanging out with the school bully. She must find out who she really wants to be and then make efforts to mend relationships to bring her friends together.
July 4, 2012
Elementary school librarians...make room on the bookshelf for "Lone Bean"! Every student can identify with the trials of making new friends and keeping old friends. And we can learn from remembering that everyone makes mistakes, it's learning from them that's so important. Great story for second graders and third graders.
June 12, 2012
Great book for boys and girls alike faced with change. Bean goes through stresses and struggles not often associated with 3rd grade. From an adult's point of view life is easy for Bean, but for her it is anything but! It's a story about friendship, second chances, making bad or good choices and overcoming struggles. Great discussion opener to read with your child:)
July 12, 2012
Received this book as a First Reads giveaway. Although some may like it, there are far better books for this age group to read. As someone who works with kids the same age as these characters, I found their dialogue off-the-mark. There's also a lot of "stupid" talk and stereotypical characters. Hate that.
May 10, 2013
This book has a message but it was done so well that it absolutely didn't sound preachy. The author successfully pulls you right inside Beans' thoughts and you experience everything right along with her.
She makes mistakes but they also helped her grow in a wonderful way. This is a great book for that age range.
She makes mistakes but they also helped her grow in a wonderful way. This is a great book for that age range.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews