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Test Trouble
Try as he might, Arun simply cannot wriggle his way out of taking the maths test at school. Instead, he must learn to face his fears in this encouraging and relatable school story from Serena Patel.
Maths test? Nightmare! Arun is determined to get out of a Maths test at school. But how? A school-wide protest against all tests? Pretending to be sick? He’s ready to try anything, but maybe he’s not the only one who feels this way, and maybe in the end it’s better to face your fears?
Maths test? Nightmare! Arun is determined to get out of a Maths test at school. But how? A school-wide protest against all tests? Pretending to be sick? He’s ready to try anything, but maybe he’s not the only one who feels this way, and maybe in the end it’s better to face your fears?
Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 12, 2024
Serena Patel introduces us to a cast of children from diverse backgrounds in a story that shows that children feel anxiety over tests but also how to overcome this by meeting those fears, and helping others do that too.
Arun's teacher announces that they will be having a Maths test - on all aspects of maths - the following week. Arun doesn't like tests, it's not that he can't do Maths but he doesn't like being timed. He decides that he will protest and say no to testing - but his friends don't think he can. He just gets into trouble with the Head Teacher!
Then he decides to "be ill" but despite Mum giving him the day off - his teacher changes the test to the next day! He sits in the garden and admits to his neighbour why he is at home. Mr Patel tells him that possibly actually turning up for the test is the hard part, doing the test might be easier.
The next day Arun is still worried but when he runs to the toilets instead of going into class, he finds he isn't the only one who is worried. an he go back to the test and persuade his friend too? He thinks again about Mr Patel's words.
Brilliant story around anxiety at school and certainly perfect with Children's Mental Health Week last week and Empathy Day coming up on 9th June.
Out now with, of course, all the attributes of a Barrington Stoke book. Suited to those who simply like a smaller chapter book but also those 9+ children who are dyslexic which of course Barrington Stoke is aimed at as the pages have the perfect reading tone and size of text.
Thanks to Poppy at Barrington Stoke for this copy.
Arun's teacher announces that they will be having a Maths test - on all aspects of maths - the following week. Arun doesn't like tests, it's not that he can't do Maths but he doesn't like being timed. He decides that he will protest and say no to testing - but his friends don't think he can. He just gets into trouble with the Head Teacher!
Then he decides to "be ill" but despite Mum giving him the day off - his teacher changes the test to the next day! He sits in the garden and admits to his neighbour why he is at home. Mr Patel tells him that possibly actually turning up for the test is the hard part, doing the test might be easier.
The next day Arun is still worried but when he runs to the toilets instead of going into class, he finds he isn't the only one who is worried. an he go back to the test and persuade his friend too? He thinks again about Mr Patel's words.
Brilliant story around anxiety at school and certainly perfect with Children's Mental Health Week last week and Empathy Day coming up on 9th June.
Out now with, of course, all the attributes of a Barrington Stoke book. Suited to those who simply like a smaller chapter book but also those 9+ children who are dyslexic which of course Barrington Stoke is aimed at as the pages have the perfect reading tone and size of text.
Thanks to Poppy at Barrington Stoke for this copy.
October 2, 2024
A story that advocates for a growth mindset during your learning journey, focusing on the importance of having a go even when something scares you. Sometimes, convincing yourself to have a go is the hardest part.
March 9, 2025
Great book . Very short but good story and moral .
March 30, 2024
I am not sure that anyone likes tests of any form but for children they can be quite daunting and often they will find as many creative ways as possible to get out of them. How do we make them less daunting and take the pressure away? I am not entirely sure, but I do know that we can help children to relax and think of tests differently. How? Well, with input from authors such as Serena Patel and publishers like Barrington Stoke who ensure that every child has an opportunity to read a book. In this case the book in question is Test Trouble and it even has illustrations from Louise Forshaw. Addressing not just the fear of tests but also feelings of anxiety, stress and academic pressure this story takes a very serious issue and makes it easier to understand. Giving its readers a story they can relate to, sympathise with and laugh at as well as learn from is no easy feat but this story ticks all those boxes!
Arun has a maths test to face and, quite honestly, he is prepared to try everything to get out of it. It is a nightmare come alive this maths test and, as far as Arun is concerned the only way to get rid of this nightmare is to get out of it. The only hurdle is how. How is he going to find a way to get out of having to take this test? He could stage a school-wide protest, in the playground, against all tests. He could pretend that he is sick and can’t go to school. Honestly, he will try anything to get out of this test but is this just making him feel more stressed than the actual test and is he the only one who feels this way? The answers are yes and no. By trying to find more and more creative ways to make excuses to get out of the test he is becoming more and more stressed and anxious. And he is not the only one who doesn’t like tests. As the story progresses, we see empathy and understanding being built in for the reader to realize they are not the only ones who ever feels this way and come to the understanding, the very mature realisation that sometimes it is better to face your fears.
Arun has a maths test to face and, quite honestly, he is prepared to try everything to get out of it. It is a nightmare come alive this maths test and, as far as Arun is concerned the only way to get rid of this nightmare is to get out of it. The only hurdle is how. How is he going to find a way to get out of having to take this test? He could stage a school-wide protest, in the playground, against all tests. He could pretend that he is sick and can’t go to school. Honestly, he will try anything to get out of this test but is this just making him feel more stressed than the actual test and is he the only one who feels this way? The answers are yes and no. By trying to find more and more creative ways to make excuses to get out of the test he is becoming more and more stressed and anxious. And he is not the only one who doesn’t like tests. As the story progresses, we see empathy and understanding being built in for the reader to realize they are not the only ones who ever feels this way and come to the understanding, the very mature realisation that sometimes it is better to face your fears.
May 30, 2024
Test Trouble
is a short book that is targeted towards younger readers. It tells the story of Arun, a school boy who has fears around doing tests that have a time period set to them. Throughout the book, Arun attempts to avoid doing the test until he realises the futility of it.
Not a bad book to teach children to face their fears.
Not a bad book to teach children to face their fears.
July 26, 2024
Patel's Curries #2
Book about kid facing Maths test and how he is afraid and overcomes the fears.
More could be made of is the whole test area the right one for young minds - there could be some decent arguments in a tale if it was willing to invest time and words in thinking this issue through.
An OK read but there was potential for more.
Book about kid facing Maths test and how he is afraid and overcomes the fears.
More could be made of is the whole test area the right one for young minds - there could be some decent arguments in a tale if it was willing to invest time and words in thinking this issue through.
An OK read but there was potential for more.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews