Radio Fifth Grade

by Gordon Korman

Mayhem breaks out in the fifth grade when the Venice Menace bullies his classmates into letting him become a regular guest on "Kidsview," the school's radio program

Genres: Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Humor, Realistic Fiction, Young Adult, Canada

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Gordon Korman is a Canadian author of children's and young adult fiction books. Korman's books have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide over a career spanning four decades and have appeared at number one on The New York Times Best Seller list.

Reviews

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main thing that I loved about this book was The Pit. A slightly lowered area of the classroom that contained only 5 desks. Every year, no matter who was assigned to sit there, whoever they might be, they united to heap sarcasm and insults on the rest of the room. A subplot at best, but Korman always has a way of making school seem just that little bit more fascinating than it ever was.

[Zaynen Strom · Rating 4 out of 5]

i thought it was funny

[Sarah Tilatitsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read this book in a year. Yet, this book is sooooooo hilariously funny. Believe me, I LOVE this book. The so-called "seminars," the teacher, and the blowdrier. It's so funny. If you read this, it might really make you laugh. Yet, I fell sorry for Mark, because he's like a walking bomb, destructing everything in his path. Oh well. Read, and laugh. ☺☺☺☺☺

[Michael]

its a really good book. my favorite chapter is chapter 13.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious, yet it's so hard to explain to someone a whole scene of situational humor. You just gotta read it.

[Jace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was vary entertaining with it's comedic tone throughout the book. When Benjy starts the school radio program in 5 grade not many people listened to it, but after some work and patients it grows in popularity. Personally I didn't think this book was bad or good it had a funny side to it but still some dry spots that you would have to push through. If you are 10-12 years old and your in to comedy i would 100 percent recommend this to you but if your older and not necessarily into the theme I would pass it on and try to find something more up your ally.

[Mohamadou Dibassy · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. I like this book because it is so funny.I say this because its a man yelling a his parrot because its not wanting to talk.For example on page 6 the man was lying on the parrot he was saying later on you will be hearing from my talking parrot.Also on page 135 the man was asking the parrot hard questions that he do not even know.

2.You would like this book if you like books that has people thinking they could make animals talk the day he get them.One person who like this book is pedro.I say this because everyday he always talk about animals that talk and how people think they could make them talk the first day they get it.

3.There was nothing challenging about this book.

4.the theme in this book is never try to do things so soon.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is actually a 3.5 rating-
This is one of the craziest, most unruly- but fun book in one that I've ever read.

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published in 1989 this was seventh standalone novel written by Korman, and it was the fourteenth novel he published. It is a laugh out loud tail, um I mean tale. A few years ago mid-summer, Korman published his 100th book. Yes, you read that correctly, his hundredth book. My introduction to Korman’s works was the 39 Clues back in 2009. Since then, I have read over 40 of his books. With each one I read I am entertained and often challenged. My son often reads these books to me or with me. I picked up this to read because I am alternating between his oldest and newest as I work through his complete works.

A description of this volume states:

“Mayhem breaks out in the fifth grade when the Venice Menace bullies his classmates into letting him become a regular guest on "Kidsview," the school's radio program. Benjy Driver dreams of becoming a big-time radio announcer. He gets an opportunity to develop his skills on a radio show produced by kids and aired every Saturday afternoon from the local station. Classic Korman hilarity ensues as a talking parrot says all the wrong things, a hair dryer jams radios and traffic lights, and a school bully writes stories about two kittens named Fuzzy and Puffy...but not the kind of stories that should be read on air!”

This is a really fun story. I am greatly enjoying some of these earlier Korman works. This is a hilarious story of a school radio show that is trying to just stay on the air. They have do jump through hoops and just a bit of sabotage to try and keep the ratings up, the station happy, and the sponsor paying the bills. But with a parrot who keeps picking the incorrect phrases to repeat and say on air. A school bully writing story after story to be read on air. A classmate focused on doom and gloom of all that can go wrong. And a new teacher they are trying to keep from catching the program It proves a lot for three youngsters to juggle.

This is a great story about friends, friendships, and finding your place in the world. Korman is one of the all-time masters of the School Story and this is another excellent offering. I just wish Scholastic would release eBooks of these older titles by Korman. A great read I can easily recommend.

[Ashley Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Benjy Driver hosts his own radio show for his school. Talk radio is his passion. He runs the radio show with a few friends. One day he gets a new teacher in school - Ms. Panagopoulus. She tells them they are in a seminar, and starts giving them more homework in a week than they used to get all year. Benjy and his friends come up with a scheme to get out of having to do their homework. Each week they hold a 'quiz' on the radio show, and give out prizes for the correct answers. They start using their homework questions for the quiz questions in order to have someone tell them the answers. They have it set! Until Ms. Panagopoulus tells Benjy one day that she is excited to listen to the radio show that week. Will Benjy be able to keep Ms. Panagopoulus from listening to the quiz on the radio show? Read this book to find out. I rated this book 3/5 because it was an easy read with a cute plot, but nothing that got me too excited. It was a cute book, but not groundbreaking for me.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Benjamin Driver is passionate about radio broadcasting and is obsessed with making his Saturday morning all-kids program a success. He’s only in 5th grade!

But, when a maniacal parrot, a bully who thinks he’s a gifted story writer, a classmate who is certain all world problems are catastrophes in the making, and a friend who is a little scatter-brained all come together to make Benjy’s broadcast a laughing stock, he is mortified. Yet, in the end, things have a way of working out Gordon Korman Style.

Radio Fifth Grade is not the best of Korman, but will nonetheless have kids laughing out loud.

[Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story follows a fifth grader Benjy driver and his friends it tells how their radio station went from no one listening to it to everyone listening to it. I really injoyed this book it was funny and very injoyable. I have read many other Gordon Kormon books and also injoyed them so this book didn’t let me down. I have no complaints about it and for that reason I am giving it 5 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to laugh and likes generally short books.

[Carenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Liked: Benjy's desire to be a great radio host and doing something about it; using the Kidsview show to get answers for the quiz
Disliked: Brad's story that kept getting more ridiculous and all the kids going along with it; the descriptions of the kids seated in The Pit; the advising teacher not paying ANY attention
Some humorous moments, but I never really got to the point that I actually cared about what happened to the characters.

[L Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very reminiscent of frindle and the other Andrew Clements books I enjoyed so much growing up. Love a group of kids who are passionate about their own project and a cast of zany characters. Winston the talking parrot is a fun addition to the cast of kids and unusual grown ups :) Have heard this author recommended a lot for 6th graders and I can see why. Will be adding this book to my library.

[Felipe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Gordon Korman book was alright because the plot seemed sort of boring for me. I really enjoyed some parts though. Something realistic that happened was the talking parrot. That happens in real life. But something unrealistic was like I said the plot. I would recommend this book to whoever likes animals.

[Madeline Pratchler · Rating 2 out of 5]

My son and I read this book together. We have read many from this author, and this is probably our least favourite. Some parts were funny, like the naughty things the parrot said, but I found my son often nodding off or distracted. I felt the story didn't move along quick enough to keep his attention.
However, we learned a bit about how radio progamming works!

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kids had no interest in reading this when I first brought it home. I started reading it aloud to them to show them the potential. It became common for them to ask for another chapter. They're looking forward to the next family read aloud.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book i like.It kept me updated on what was happening.

[Garret Ault · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was funny. This was another good book written by Gordon Korman.

[Sarah Thornton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The poor birbo

[Jessica Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

A ton of fun. 5 stars for B and me!

[Amanda Hunnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a truly laugh out loud funny book for fifth graders and teachers alike!

[Aiden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Enjoyed Mark's hilarious character traits and loved Benjy's sense of perfection.

[Tracey S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this with my ten year old, we enjoyed lots of laughs.

[LobsterQuadrille · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

A cute and silly story for slightly younger Korman fans. Enjoyable but not quite as clever and laugh-out-loud funny as most of his books.

[Nichole · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s just all out great and funny, the perfect book for kids like me.

[Gwen]

A quick read; it was funny and grade appropriate for fifth graders. Favorite quote "We're kids, mere children, fifth graders -- and too young to die!"

[Google · Rating 1 out of 5]

I do not really like this book because it was boring in the front but near the end it was a little better

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilariously full of hijinks!!

[Maddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Used this as a read aloud for my fifth grade class, it’s good but the lessons are not heavily present and the story line does not make up for it.