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The Class
Twenty Kids. Twenty points of view. One rambunctious, brilliantly conceived novel that corrals the seeming chaos (c’mon, TWENTY points of view!) into one effervescent story.
Sixth grade is a MOST confusing time. Best friends aren’t friends anymore. Worst enemies suddenly want to be partners in crime. And classmates you thought you knew have all sorts of surprising stuff going on. The kids in Mrs. Herrera’s class are dealing with all these things and more—specifically, three
1. There’s a new girl who just seems to be spying on them all and scribbling things in a notebook. Maybe she IS a spy?
2. Someone is stealing all of Mrs. Herrera’s most treasured items.
3. Their old classmate, Sam, keeps showing up and no one knows why…until they do.
Which leads to a fourth problem. But we can’t tell you about that yet. The twenty kids in Mrs. Herrera’s classroom can, though, and they do.
Every. Single. One. Of. Them.
Sixth grade is a MOST confusing time. Best friends aren’t friends anymore. Worst enemies suddenly want to be partners in crime. And classmates you thought you knew have all sorts of surprising stuff going on. The kids in Mrs. Herrera’s class are dealing with all these things and more—specifically, three
1. There’s a new girl who just seems to be spying on them all and scribbling things in a notebook. Maybe she IS a spy?
2. Someone is stealing all of Mrs. Herrera’s most treasured items.
3. Their old classmate, Sam, keeps showing up and no one knows why…until they do.
Which leads to a fourth problem. But we can’t tell you about that yet. The twenty kids in Mrs. Herrera’s classroom can, though, and they do.
Every. Single. One. Of. Them.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2019
28 people are currently reading
322 people want to read
About the author
Frances O'Roark Dowell
44 books402 followersWhile Frances O'Roark Dowell (Dovey Coe, The Secret Language of Girls, Trouble the Water) is best known for her award-winning novels, she also hosts the popular "Off-Kilter Quilt" podcast, where she talks about her latest quilt projects with friends and fellow quilters around the globe. Her own little corner of the globe is Durham, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband, two sons, and a dog named Travis. Connect with her online at FrancesDowell.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
November 3, 2019
I enjoyed this book so much. Before I began I worried it wouldn't work for me. The concept of so many points of view left me wondering if connections to any of the characters would be made. And at heart, I'm a character driven reader. Dowell nailed the shifting friendship and identities of sixth graders. I've been at my school long enough now to watch most of the same students from Kindergarten through 6th. And 6th is the year when personalities and friendships take a hard knock. She was great at painting many complex characters, both through their own POV and the perceptions of other. Some characters only got a passing glance but all, with one exception, where shown with compassion and grace. (And frankly, I do think self-centered, powerful Rosies exist, and the best bet is to avoid them)
This had A VIEW FROM SATURDAY feel to it.
This had A VIEW FROM SATURDAY feel to it.
April 22, 2024
Where was the plot again???
IT FELT LIKE THERE WAS NO PLOT AND NO ENDING
IT FELT LIKE THERE WAS NO PLOT AND NO ENDING
August 25, 2021
In The Class we get, not one, not two, but twenty perspectives -- namely those of the whole class!
This book motivated my 12-year-old to take pen to paper and write a highly entertaining story about her own class. Putting herself into the shoes of each member of her class was an ambitious task, but it was an eye-opening, educational experience -- and a whole lot of fun! Any book that can inspire a youngster to write down her own story like that gets two thumbs up in my book!
I received a copy of this book from Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
This book motivated my 12-year-old to take pen to paper and write a highly entertaining story about her own class. Putting herself into the shoes of each member of her class was an ambitious task, but it was an eye-opening, educational experience -- and a whole lot of fun! Any book that can inspire a youngster to write down her own story like that gets two thumbs up in my book!
I received a copy of this book from Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
July 31, 2020
Another one from the backlist -- this one was entertaining and so true to life! 4/5 for The Class by @francesdowellbooks
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GIve this one to kids who love multiple perspectives (20!), classroom drama (great readalike to Mr. Terupt series), and/or fun, fast-paced reads.
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The 6th graders in Mrs. Herrera's class are having a weird year. Friendships are shifting, kids are undergoing major personality changes, some of their teachers' belongings (including a signed copy of Hatchet!) go missing, and one of their former classmates seems to be hiding out at school? Ellie is new to school and struggling to make friends, so she makes careful observations about everything she sees. Petra has decided she doesn't want to be a popular jerk anymore. Becca is mad that she's not the teachers' pet and has decided to be sneaky and destructive. I was surprised by how easy it was to connect with so many different characters despite the short time I was with each of them.
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Addresses bullying, housing insecurity, learning disabilities, the problems with labels, and more. Lots to discuss and unpack!
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#middleschoollibrarian #middleschoollibrary #library #librarian #futurereadylibs #iteachlibrary #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #librariesfollowlibraries #librarylife #librarianlife #schoollibrarian #middlegrade #middlegradebooks #iteach #librarylove #booksbooksbooks #amreading #bibliophile #schoollibrariansrock #bookreview #bookrecommendation #igreads #malibrary #msla #mediaspecialist
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GIve this one to kids who love multiple perspectives (20!), classroom drama (great readalike to Mr. Terupt series), and/or fun, fast-paced reads.
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The 6th graders in Mrs. Herrera's class are having a weird year. Friendships are shifting, kids are undergoing major personality changes, some of their teachers' belongings (including a signed copy of Hatchet!) go missing, and one of their former classmates seems to be hiding out at school? Ellie is new to school and struggling to make friends, so she makes careful observations about everything she sees. Petra has decided she doesn't want to be a popular jerk anymore. Becca is mad that she's not the teachers' pet and has decided to be sneaky and destructive. I was surprised by how easy it was to connect with so many different characters despite the short time I was with each of them.
.
.
.
Addresses bullying, housing insecurity, learning disabilities, the problems with labels, and more. Lots to discuss and unpack!
.
.
.
#middleschoollibrarian #middleschoollibrary #library #librarian #futurereadylibs #iteachlibrary #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #librariesfollowlibraries #librarylife #librarianlife #schoollibrarian #middlegrade #middlegradebooks #iteach #librarylove #booksbooksbooks #amreading #bibliophile #schoollibrariansrock #bookreview #bookrecommendation #igreads #malibrary #msla #mediaspecialist
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November 30, 2019
There was a Breakfast Club-style book a while back where I noted how hard it was to do this kind of book well, but maybe John David Anderson should give it a try. I should have said Frances O’Roark Dowell (though technically this is not a Breakfast Club setup.) Dowell is a writer of uncommon perception, which is just what is needed to pull off a technically difficult book like this. And despite the realism of the characters, the book is still aspirational, which is just as it should be.
Edited to add: I just realized what this reminded me of, in a good way: the Origami Yoda books.
Edited to add: I just realized what this reminded me of, in a good way: the Origami Yoda books.
April 30, 2019
Thanks to Edelweiss Plus for an ARC of this book.
I totally and completely LOVED this book! Distinct and unique with each chapter told from the perspective of a different student in one class. I would love to see how the author planned this one ahead of time! Every person that reads this book with identify with at least one student in the class. (My favorite was Henry!) I will not only be buying several copies of this for my school library but will recommend this as a read aloud to the classroom teachers. Student will love this one.
I totally and completely LOVED this book! Distinct and unique with each chapter told from the perspective of a different student in one class. I would love to see how the author planned this one ahead of time! Every person that reads this book with identify with at least one student in the class. (My favorite was Henry!) I will not only be buying several copies of this for my school library but will recommend this as a read aloud to the classroom teachers. Student will love this one.
November 20, 2019
Henry was my favorite
August 22, 2021
This book is so fun and entertaining. I enjoyed all of the characters and their relatable and funny points of view. Very good, happy read 🥰
January 1, 2020
Cute story told of a class that bands together to protect their teacher from being fired. Each character gets their own chapter. Totally engrossing and a great read to start off the new year!
July 20, 2023
A perfectly fine realistic fiction book about a class of 6th graders trying to figure out friendship, what kind of person to be, and figuring out what's really important. There are a lot of kids' perspectives here, and I couldn't always remember who was who. The plot revolves around their homeroom teacher's special shelf, a place she keeps trinkets that help ground her, remind her of why she became a teacher. A few of her items are stolen. It's a bit of mystery but not one I think most kids would find super-compelling. Another plot element (more interesting) revolves around a classmate that presumably moved but continues to show up surreptitiously off and on.
November 28, 2020
This book was okay.
I really liked it for the majority, frankly. The author did a nice job with character introductions - I worried I'd be overwhelmed by having twenty characters all thrown in at once, but alas, it was done well.... kind of. There was enough information for the basis of the story, but none of the characters were crazily developed. Like, Carson for instance - in his chapter we learn about his mom's cancer, but it's never mentioned again. There were a few characters I was interested in because of their chapter, but the story was never told from their perspective again. I think that twenty perspectives is difficult to do, and probably not great for a children's novel (also probably why it's not done often). I commend the risk but think it could've been explored more deeply.
The plot was weak as well. There were a few storylines that just ended up going nowhere. Each third of the book was devoted to a whole different topic, none of which flowed nicely together.
The ending was disappointing. The entire class comes together and then our main narrator says that she wishes it would stay like that forever, but probably won't. Ellie makes the audience aware that the group's unity was only temporary. Kind of sad, to be honest.
I'm hesitant to give this book less than 3 stars, though. I was drawn to it and enjoyed it. But looking back? I don't know.
I really liked it for the majority, frankly. The author did a nice job with character introductions - I worried I'd be overwhelmed by having twenty characters all thrown in at once, but alas, it was done well.... kind of. There was enough information for the basis of the story, but none of the characters were crazily developed. Like, Carson for instance - in his chapter we learn about his mom's cancer, but it's never mentioned again. There were a few characters I was interested in because of their chapter, but the story was never told from their perspective again. I think that twenty perspectives is difficult to do, and probably not great for a children's novel (also probably why it's not done often). I commend the risk but think it could've been explored more deeply.
The plot was weak as well. There were a few storylines that just ended up going nowhere. Each third of the book was devoted to a whole different topic, none of which flowed nicely together.
The ending was disappointing. The entire class comes together and then our main narrator says that she wishes it would stay like that forever, but probably won't. Ellie makes the audience aware that the group's unity was only temporary. Kind of sad, to be honest.
I'm hesitant to give this book less than 3 stars, though. I was drawn to it and enjoyed it. But looking back? I don't know.
July 6, 2021
This would be a great beginning-of-the-year read-aloud, especially for 6th grade. Told from 20 students' points of view (easier to follow than you might think), you see the kids' perspectives of one another and of themselves evolve over just a month's period at the beginning of the school year. It's a very character-driven novel with plenty of humor and a little mystery (ELA teacher's autographed copy of Hatchet, among other things, goes missing) reminding me a lot of Gordon Korman, who our middle school students LOVE.
November 11, 2020
I think that this book is a great book. It really shows fun, suspenseful stories, and different points of views in this book.
January 6, 2020
@kidlitexchange thank you to author @francesdowellbooks and publisher @simonandschuster for sharing an advanced review copy of The Class with the #kidlitexchange network. All opinions are my own. This book was released on October 8, 2019!
This was a cute book written in multiple voices. In fact, it was written by a whole 6th grade class, each telling the reader their perspective on the happenings in Mrs. Herrera’s classroom. Ellie, whose dad is in the military, has just moved (again) and for some reason is having a hard time finding friends (my students might be able to relate!). But she notices some weird things happening within her classroom, and decides she’s going to solve the mysteries. Like, who stole the items that Mrs. Herrera has on display in her special collection by her desk? And why is Sam, who left to go to another school, still hanging out around campus? And why is Mrs. Herrera on thin ice? Not to mention all the weird changes in social dynamics within the class.
These mysteries are all intertwined and layered on the age-old question- why does middle school and the teen years change people? Suddenly, best friends aren’t friends anymore, enemies are hanging out together (and getting crazy haircuts), and people you’ve never looked at twice suddenly seem the most interesting. This 6th grade class has a bunch of secrets, and the students in the class are ready to crack them wide open. Each student brings the reader closer to solving the mysteries through their own perspectives.
I thought this was a fun, fast, and important read. The first chapter opens with the new girl Ellie, who has a couple of other chapters scattered throughout the book to hold the story together. But every other chapter is told from another person in the class. Frances Dowell artfully weaves each classmate’s perspective on what is happening in their own life while also advancing the plot of the mysteries. One classmate might be directly involved, so the reader learns a lot through their voice, while other characters are trying to solve the mystery and deal with their own issues at the same time (ie the jock who hates the jock label; the mean girl who decides she doesn’t want to be mean anymore; the nice girl who has a secret; the nerd group who really aren’t that nerdy; and the loner who just wants to make a friend). There is a lot in this book for everyone. I highly recommend it and even though it is about a 6th grade class, I think my 7th graders would enjoy it!
This was a cute book written in multiple voices. In fact, it was written by a whole 6th grade class, each telling the reader their perspective on the happenings in Mrs. Herrera’s classroom. Ellie, whose dad is in the military, has just moved (again) and for some reason is having a hard time finding friends (my students might be able to relate!). But she notices some weird things happening within her classroom, and decides she’s going to solve the mysteries. Like, who stole the items that Mrs. Herrera has on display in her special collection by her desk? And why is Sam, who left to go to another school, still hanging out around campus? And why is Mrs. Herrera on thin ice? Not to mention all the weird changes in social dynamics within the class.
These mysteries are all intertwined and layered on the age-old question- why does middle school and the teen years change people? Suddenly, best friends aren’t friends anymore, enemies are hanging out together (and getting crazy haircuts), and people you’ve never looked at twice suddenly seem the most interesting. This 6th grade class has a bunch of secrets, and the students in the class are ready to crack them wide open. Each student brings the reader closer to solving the mysteries through their own perspectives.
I thought this was a fun, fast, and important read. The first chapter opens with the new girl Ellie, who has a couple of other chapters scattered throughout the book to hold the story together. But every other chapter is told from another person in the class. Frances Dowell artfully weaves each classmate’s perspective on what is happening in their own life while also advancing the plot of the mysteries. One classmate might be directly involved, so the reader learns a lot through their voice, while other characters are trying to solve the mystery and deal with their own issues at the same time (ie the jock who hates the jock label; the mean girl who decides she doesn’t want to be mean anymore; the nice girl who has a secret; the nerd group who really aren’t that nerdy; and the loner who just wants to make a friend). There is a lot in this book for everyone. I highly recommend it and even though it is about a 6th grade class, I think my 7th graders would enjoy it!
September 10, 2019
The Class
by Frances O’Roark Dowell
Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing
Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
Children’s Fiction
Pub Date 08 Oct 2019
I am reviewing a copy of The Class through Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing/
Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books and Netgalley:
There are twenty kids in Mrs Herrera’s Sixth Grade Class there is Ellie who has just finished writing her first novel, and Becca who is out to please all the adults in her life, when Becca discovers though that she will not become Mrs Herrera’s favorite she’s determined to become her most unfavorite. Carson is in the class too, after his Mother got diagnosed with Cancer everyone in his family became Vegan’s but his Mother lets him have Cheese Pizza at parties but never Pepperoni. He feels different from the rest of his classmates.
Cammi loves weekends because on weekends she can earn extra screen time so she can watch Netflix. Ben is really into science and he feels that precludes his Mother’s strong Faith, besides he would much rather spend his time on the computer playing video games. Petra seems to think everything is boring, she uses sarcasm to mask her feelings when she is hurting.
Rogan isn’t into drama, he’d rather spend his weekends playing basketball with his friends or playing Assassins Creed.
Arianna is looking forward to her sleepover with three other girls, she wants to help Becca but how can she do that when Becca is so mean. Stefan somehow always get gets put in with the kids who have ADHD, or disrupt the class in some way.
Rosie was Petra’s friend, her former friend after Petra cut her hair without discussing it with her, she misses her best friend but feels as if she has been replaced.
Ethan, Rogan and Cole are the trio of trouble or so they call themselves as they track down who stole the special things from Mrs Herrea’s special collection.
The twenty kids in Mrs Herrera’s sixth grade class are dealing with such diverse issues as Homelessness, Learning Disabilities, As well as gifted learners.
If you are looking for a good novel for a middle grader, or perhaps are looking for something to read as a class, The Class is a book I would definitely recommend.
I give The Class five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
by Frances O’Roark Dowell
Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing
Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
Children’s Fiction
Pub Date 08 Oct 2019
I am reviewing a copy of The Class through Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing/
Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books and Netgalley:
There are twenty kids in Mrs Herrera’s Sixth Grade Class there is Ellie who has just finished writing her first novel, and Becca who is out to please all the adults in her life, when Becca discovers though that she will not become Mrs Herrera’s favorite she’s determined to become her most unfavorite. Carson is in the class too, after his Mother got diagnosed with Cancer everyone in his family became Vegan’s but his Mother lets him have Cheese Pizza at parties but never Pepperoni. He feels different from the rest of his classmates.
Cammi loves weekends because on weekends she can earn extra screen time so she can watch Netflix. Ben is really into science and he feels that precludes his Mother’s strong Faith, besides he would much rather spend his time on the computer playing video games. Petra seems to think everything is boring, she uses sarcasm to mask her feelings when she is hurting.
Rogan isn’t into drama, he’d rather spend his weekends playing basketball with his friends or playing Assassins Creed.
Arianna is looking forward to her sleepover with three other girls, she wants to help Becca but how can she do that when Becca is so mean. Stefan somehow always get gets put in with the kids who have ADHD, or disrupt the class in some way.
Rosie was Petra’s friend, her former friend after Petra cut her hair without discussing it with her, she misses her best friend but feels as if she has been replaced.
Ethan, Rogan and Cole are the trio of trouble or so they call themselves as they track down who stole the special things from Mrs Herrea’s special collection.
The twenty kids in Mrs Herrera’s sixth grade class are dealing with such diverse issues as Homelessness, Learning Disabilities, As well as gifted learners.
If you are looking for a good novel for a middle grader, or perhaps are looking for something to read as a class, The Class is a book I would definitely recommend.
I give The Class five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
August 29, 2019
Thank you @kidlitexchange and @simonandschuster for providing me we a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own. The Class by @francesdowellbooks is set to release 10.8.19!!
This is such a creative and fun middle grade book. Forget having a main character. All twenty students in Mrs. Herrera’s sixth grade class get a chance to tell this story. Each chapter alternates to a new person which is a wonderful way to introduce the importance of perspective to young readers.
Middle grade is always new and full of chaotic drama making it the perfect setting for a story. This class is dealing with some issues as well as a couple mysteries that will definitely keep you intrigued until the end of the book. Special items that the teacher showcases in her room start to disappear. Who took her autographed copy of Hatchet, a beloved photo of her favorite teacher and a set of adorable cat figurines? There’s also some confusion about a former student. Sam supposedly moved away over the summer, but everyone swears they keep seeing him around campus. Students are hanging out with new cliques and playing around with what “label” they identify with. One girl tries to reinvent her “goody two shoes” persona by cutting her hair in the art room as she starts breaking rules.
Needless to say, there’s a lot going on in this book!! However, it was easy to distinguish everyone as an individual character. Every reader will have no problem identifying with a certain personality or problem that’s covered. Along with the playfulness of the story, it does cover some deep topics and eventually shows how all personalities can come together and show empathy regardless of their interests. It also has a great theme about how others view an individual based on their observations.
The chapters are short and would be a perfect selection for a read aloud or book club to discuss.
This is such a creative and fun middle grade book. Forget having a main character. All twenty students in Mrs. Herrera’s sixth grade class get a chance to tell this story. Each chapter alternates to a new person which is a wonderful way to introduce the importance of perspective to young readers.
Middle grade is always new and full of chaotic drama making it the perfect setting for a story. This class is dealing with some issues as well as a couple mysteries that will definitely keep you intrigued until the end of the book. Special items that the teacher showcases in her room start to disappear. Who took her autographed copy of Hatchet, a beloved photo of her favorite teacher and a set of adorable cat figurines? There’s also some confusion about a former student. Sam supposedly moved away over the summer, but everyone swears they keep seeing him around campus. Students are hanging out with new cliques and playing around with what “label” they identify with. One girl tries to reinvent her “goody two shoes” persona by cutting her hair in the art room as she starts breaking rules.
Needless to say, there’s a lot going on in this book!! However, it was easy to distinguish everyone as an individual character. Every reader will have no problem identifying with a certain personality or problem that’s covered. Along with the playfulness of the story, it does cover some deep topics and eventually shows how all personalities can come together and show empathy regardless of their interests. It also has a great theme about how others view an individual based on their observations.
The chapters are short and would be a perfect selection for a read aloud or book club to discuss.
February 20, 2021
Frances O'Roark Dowell really gets middle school, and this book is entertaining from start to finish. Though the narrative point of view changes often, the main character seems to be Ellie, the new girl and aspiring writer who takes notes on everything she observes. Ellie is just quirky enough not to fit in right away, but she is a keen observer, and as the story moves into other characters' minds, you start to empathize with most of them. You get to know many of the kids that are categorized: the geeks, the jocks, the popular mean girls, the nice kids, and the outsider (Ellie). They are connected by their likeable homeroom teacher Mrs. Herrera.
There are three central mysteries throughout the book: (1) Who stole the objects that are missing from Mrs. Herrera's collection of favorite things? (2) Why is Petra Wilde, powerful mean-girl, suddenly chopping off her hair and ignoring her friends? (3) Why is Sam, a former student who relocated, often spotted on the playground and in the halls? Despite the multiple narratives, these puzzles are not easily solved. The mysteries give shape to the plot and also force some unlikely kids to work together.
I love all of Frances O'Roark Dowell's books, especially The Secret Language of Girls trilogy. The only reason I'm not giving it the usual stars is that I prefer to stay in the point of view of one or two characters. Dowell manages to pull it off, though there were a few times I had to flip back to remind myself what a certain character said or did; unfortunately, the best way I could remember them was to categorize them just the way middle school students do: oh, he's one of the geeks. Not an ideal way for me to think, especially because the multiple viewpoints humanized the characters. A thoroughly enjoyable and quick read!
There are three central mysteries throughout the book: (1) Who stole the objects that are missing from Mrs. Herrera's collection of favorite things? (2) Why is Petra Wilde, powerful mean-girl, suddenly chopping off her hair and ignoring her friends? (3) Why is Sam, a former student who relocated, often spotted on the playground and in the halls? Despite the multiple narratives, these puzzles are not easily solved. The mysteries give shape to the plot and also force some unlikely kids to work together.
I love all of Frances O'Roark Dowell's books, especially The Secret Language of Girls trilogy. The only reason I'm not giving it the usual stars is that I prefer to stay in the point of view of one or two characters. Dowell manages to pull it off, though there were a few times I had to flip back to remind myself what a certain character said or did; unfortunately, the best way I could remember them was to categorize them just the way middle school students do: oh, he's one of the geeks. Not an ideal way for me to think, especially because the multiple viewpoints humanized the characters. A thoroughly enjoyable and quick read!
Read
September 19, 2019I loved reading this book told from the perspectives of the students in Mrs. Herrera's 6th grade class. It was a very creative way to tell the middle grade novel. Mrs. Herrera's class has a mixture of students: popular, smart, nice kids, mean kids, bullies, jocks, kids who struggle, quiet kids, jokesters, and kids who want to be the teacher's favorite. Each student lives up to their label at the beginning of the year and mostly stay on separate paths. They begin to come together and better understand one another after three things happen: the "good" student in the class cuts off all her hair and beings misbehaving, their principal tells their teachers she is on thin ice, and they begin to see a boy around the school they thought had moved away. When their beloved teacher's favorite items go missing, the class adds this to the list of mysteries and begins to try and solve them.
This novel approached topics such as homelessness, learning disabilities, and gifted learners in a way that I thought was appropriate for this age. Students who struggle with each of these diversities would be able to relate to the students similar to them. Other students would also have the opportunity to gain a better insight on how a "label" isn't a person’s true character. I would recommend this book to middle grade readers. It would be a great book club book or a wonderful classroom read aloud.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing, Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this book. The Class is expected to be published on October 8th, 2019.
This novel approached topics such as homelessness, learning disabilities, and gifted learners in a way that I thought was appropriate for this age. Students who struggle with each of these diversities would be able to relate to the students similar to them. Other students would also have the opportunity to gain a better insight on how a "label" isn't a person’s true character. I would recommend this book to middle grade readers. It would be a great book club book or a wonderful classroom read aloud.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing, Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this book. The Class is expected to be published on October 8th, 2019.
August 22, 2019
Thank you to the author for providing me an ARC to review.
I'm a huge fan of books written from multiple perspectives, and The Class did not disappoint. Mrs. Herrera's class is filled with every type of student: kids who bully, kids who love sports, quiet kids, nice kids, studious kids, and, of course, the one kid who drives everyone else crazy. But as they start sixth grade, they start to realize, separately and then collectively, that they are all more than their label would dictate.
Interestingly, they come to this conclusion after they all start noticing this after three interesting events: the goody-goody of the class goes off the rails, people start seeing a boy who has moved away in the school at odd times, and they overhear the principal telling their beloved teacher that she's on 'thin ice'. Nothing like a good mystery to pull kids together.
With themes of the devisivenss of labels, standing up for others, and good versus kind, this book will make kids think about who they are when people aren't looking.
I'd love to create a book club this year with The Class, The Frog Effect, Because of Mr. Terupt, and The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary. All are thought-provoking stories of classes told from multiple points of view.
The Class is quick moving, with shorter chapters (something I always appreciate). Highly recommend for students in grades 5 and up.
I'm a huge fan of books written from multiple perspectives, and The Class did not disappoint. Mrs. Herrera's class is filled with every type of student: kids who bully, kids who love sports, quiet kids, nice kids, studious kids, and, of course, the one kid who drives everyone else crazy. But as they start sixth grade, they start to realize, separately and then collectively, that they are all more than their label would dictate.
Interestingly, they come to this conclusion after they all start noticing this after three interesting events: the goody-goody of the class goes off the rails, people start seeing a boy who has moved away in the school at odd times, and they overhear the principal telling their beloved teacher that she's on 'thin ice'. Nothing like a good mystery to pull kids together.
With themes of the devisivenss of labels, standing up for others, and good versus kind, this book will make kids think about who they are when people aren't looking.
I'd love to create a book club this year with The Class, The Frog Effect, Because of Mr. Terupt, and The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary. All are thought-provoking stories of classes told from multiple points of view.
The Class is quick moving, with shorter chapters (something I always appreciate). Highly recommend for students in grades 5 and up.
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October 12, 2019As a reader who enjoys multiple points of view, I found THE CLASS to be a fun, fast-paced read. Each chapter features the POV of one the twenty sixth graders in Mrs. Herrera's class.
Ellie starts the adventure as she contemplates writing a book about her classmates. She has already finished one book she is sure she could get published if she could only find someone in the publishing business. In the meantime, she decides to focus on her sixth grade classroom. She begins to fill her latest notebook with observations of her fellow students.
It quickly becomes obvious to Ellie that just seeing the outside of a person doesn't mean you understand the inside. She makes note of who seems nice, who seems mean, and those like Henry who seem a bit crazy. Ellie also observes Mrs. Herrera as she hears whispers that their teacher might be "on thin ice" when it comes to her teaching position.
As the story unfolds, each of Ellie's classmates "speak" enabling the reader to get a glimpse into each of their lives and what makes each of them unique. Ellie isn't the only one interested and concerned about the fate of Mrs. Herrera and the mystery of some missing items and a former classmate's strange return.
Author Frances O'Roark Dowell has been a favorite of mine since I read CHICKEN BOY years ago. I was excited to see this new novel and even more excited that it is an awesome read.
Ellie starts the adventure as she contemplates writing a book about her classmates. She has already finished one book she is sure she could get published if she could only find someone in the publishing business. In the meantime, she decides to focus on her sixth grade classroom. She begins to fill her latest notebook with observations of her fellow students.
It quickly becomes obvious to Ellie that just seeing the outside of a person doesn't mean you understand the inside. She makes note of who seems nice, who seems mean, and those like Henry who seem a bit crazy. Ellie also observes Mrs. Herrera as she hears whispers that their teacher might be "on thin ice" when it comes to her teaching position.
As the story unfolds, each of Ellie's classmates "speak" enabling the reader to get a glimpse into each of their lives and what makes each of them unique. Ellie isn't the only one interested and concerned about the fate of Mrs. Herrera and the mystery of some missing items and a former classmate's strange return.
Author Frances O'Roark Dowell has been a favorite of mine since I read CHICKEN BOY years ago. I was excited to see this new novel and even more excited that it is an awesome read.
October 16, 2019
Any teacher can share how each class has their own personality. From year to year, as students come through, they connect (or don't) with each other and with the teacher. In addition to transferring knowledge to the class, teachers must also find ways to harness the students' energies and challenge them to wrestle with big ideas and grow as individuals.
The Class is a middle-grade novel focusing on one sixth-grade classroom. Narrators change among the students with each chapter. Perhaps we're listening to the popular boy who keeps secret how his mother is struggling with cancer, or perhaps we're witnessing friendships change and break. Maybe parents fight at home or are no longer together. Or maybe we follow along with the ADHD student who struggles with his disruptions.
Throughout, The Class shows how a typical class with varied personalities unifies and gains new sympathies. The teacher and her shelf of treasures plays a central role with the students. Her trust is strained when items go missing, and through each character's insight, we gain deeper understanding of their motivations.
This book lends itself to a classroom read-aloud or to a small-group selection. Students will find someone they empathize with, and fruitful discussion could emerge, allowing readers to leave with a better understanding of themselves and their peers, much like the characters in the book do.
(I received a digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.)
The Class is a middle-grade novel focusing on one sixth-grade classroom. Narrators change among the students with each chapter. Perhaps we're listening to the popular boy who keeps secret how his mother is struggling with cancer, or perhaps we're witnessing friendships change and break. Maybe parents fight at home or are no longer together. Or maybe we follow along with the ADHD student who struggles with his disruptions.
Throughout, The Class shows how a typical class with varied personalities unifies and gains new sympathies. The teacher and her shelf of treasures plays a central role with the students. Her trust is strained when items go missing, and through each character's insight, we gain deeper understanding of their motivations.
This book lends itself to a classroom read-aloud or to a small-group selection. Students will find someone they empathize with, and fruitful discussion could emerge, allowing readers to leave with a better understanding of themselves and their peers, much like the characters in the book do.
(I received a digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.)
October 5, 2019
[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
When I read that this would be a story from the perspective of all 20 kids in the class, I thought it would be all the kids telling roughly the same story, but with added details that would all make sense in the end. Like the first part of THE CANDYMAKERS - it's part of what makes that book brilliant. But that is not how this is structured. This is a chronological story told by the 20 kids. It didn't work for me.
I felt like there were too many points of view. It was hard to keep track of who was who. The first half of the book seemed to be working on establishing those characters, but I kept turning pages asking when we were going to get to the crux of the story. Once we did, it was pretty flat for me. I had a hard time drumming up any excitement or urgency for finishing the story. And the format made it hard for me to connect with any characters who might pull me through the book. While I finished, I did not enjoy the reading experience.
If you are looking for a multiple point of view story, I'd stick with a Rob Buyea series or something like THE RECKLESS CLUB where the cast is smaller and the stakes are more engaging.
When I read that this would be a story from the perspective of all 20 kids in the class, I thought it would be all the kids telling roughly the same story, but with added details that would all make sense in the end. Like the first part of THE CANDYMAKERS - it's part of what makes that book brilliant. But that is not how this is structured. This is a chronological story told by the 20 kids. It didn't work for me.
I felt like there were too many points of view. It was hard to keep track of who was who. The first half of the book seemed to be working on establishing those characters, but I kept turning pages asking when we were going to get to the crux of the story. Once we did, it was pretty flat for me. I had a hard time drumming up any excitement or urgency for finishing the story. And the format made it hard for me to connect with any characters who might pull me through the book. While I finished, I did not enjoy the reading experience.
If you are looking for a multiple point of view story, I'd stick with a Rob Buyea series or something like THE RECKLESS CLUB where the cast is smaller and the stakes are more engaging.
September 11, 2019
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network and Simon and Schuster for the review copy of this book - all opinions are my own. The Class by Frances O’Roark Dowell (@francesdowellbooks) releases on October 8, 2019, and you’ll definitely want to get your own copy then!
The Class is told by twenty different characters, all classmates in Mrs. Herrera’s class. Ellie is an aspiring author who needs an idea for her next book, so she starts taking notes about her classmates. She sees a student who used to be a goody-goody starting to turn bad. She sees boys labeled as “jocks” showing more depth and emotion than she would have expected. She watches everyone to see how they interact and what their relationships are like, because Ellie is struggling to find friends herself. When some of Mrs. Herrera’s special things go missing, all of the students have their suspicions of who took what, but all these students also have their own reasons why they might be the thief.
See my full review and how I hope to use this with future classes: http://www.howifeelaboutbooks.com/201...
The Class is told by twenty different characters, all classmates in Mrs. Herrera’s class. Ellie is an aspiring author who needs an idea for her next book, so she starts taking notes about her classmates. She sees a student who used to be a goody-goody starting to turn bad. She sees boys labeled as “jocks” showing more depth and emotion than she would have expected. She watches everyone to see how they interact and what their relationships are like, because Ellie is struggling to find friends herself. When some of Mrs. Herrera’s special things go missing, all of the students have their suspicions of who took what, but all these students also have their own reasons why they might be the thief.
See my full review and how I hope to use this with future classes: http://www.howifeelaboutbooks.com/201...
March 19, 2020
@kidlitexchange #partner Thanks to the #kidlitexchange network, publisher @simonandschuster, and author @francesdowellbooks for the review copy of this book - all opinions are my own! The Class is told from the point of view of all 20 sixth graders in Mrs. Herrera’s classroom. That sounded a little intimidating at first, but the writing is incredibly easy to follow, even with all the changes in point of view! The kids are going through the normal struggles of all sixth graders - figuring out who they are, friend breakups, and family struggle - but these sixth graders have a few other problems. Is one of the other students spying on them? Who’s stealing from their teacher (and why might she be fired)? And why is their classmate who loves sneaking around the school? The Class is engaging and gives a realistic peak into the wide range of issues that kids in a normal classroom face. I enjoyed that we got to know more about each character. There’s depth given to everyone, rather than just one character and their closest friends. The reader gets to know the motivations behind actions and attitudes. For the type of reader I am, there’s nothing better! Recommended for all kids ages 8-13, The Class was published in October 2019 so you can pick up a copy now!
December 11, 2019
Oh, how I loved this MG book! The story is told from the point of view of everyone in a sixth grade class. Each chapter is told by a different student in the class. You learn about their families, their background and their insecurities. You gain so much insight into their thoughts about themselves and about each other. ✏️
The teacher is a very caring person who always puts her students first, even though it might result in bending the rules a bit. She’s the teacher we would all want to have; demanding, caring, fair and patient. She’s a teacher who sincerely believes every one of her students has good within them and she works to help them find their worth. ✏️
I wholeheartedly recommend this book be added to elementary and middle school libraries! In fact, I predict you’re going to need multiple copies!
The teacher is a very caring person who always puts her students first, even though it might result in bending the rules a bit. She’s the teacher we would all want to have; demanding, caring, fair and patient. She’s a teacher who sincerely believes every one of her students has good within them and she works to help them find their worth. ✏️
I wholeheartedly recommend this book be added to elementary and middle school libraries! In fact, I predict you’re going to need multiple copies!
June 12, 2020
Huge letdown. I paid 17.99 for this book, and it was very not worth it. Some of the chapters literally pained me too read. A lot of plot lines are left unresolved and most of the characters are unlikeable or have no motivation. Going through multiple peoples perspective works great in a lot of books but not this one. The book would have been better if all the characters had the same amount of screentime or we only went in a few characters perspectives. In some cases we didn't get a lot of backstory or motivation, making some characters come of as jerks and others come of as saints. The only characters I liked were Ariana and Henry. Ariana is the human version of a cupcake and probably the best character in the entire book. Henry is the only character in this book with a good motivation. Everyone else is either unlikeable or easily forgotten.
January 25, 2021
It was ok. With such a large cast of characters, I found it difficult to keep track of who was who outside of the couple standout characters. And even they were kind of flat.
It feels a little like this book isn't quite sure what it wants to be. Is it a mystery? Not really, not convincingly so. Characters don't feel fully formed, it's hard to believe Petra's transformation because we don't get much of her prior to deciding to change, Sam is there for mystery but has zero personality. Even Ellie, who is the most main character this book has, is rather dull. There is unrealized potential for conflict, what sort of conflict we do get is hearsay, and muted.
I'm not going out of my way to recommend this book to students, but if they find it on their own, I wouldn't dissuade them either.
It feels a little like this book isn't quite sure what it wants to be. Is it a mystery? Not really, not convincingly so. Characters don't feel fully formed, it's hard to believe Petra's transformation because we don't get much of her prior to deciding to change, Sam is there for mystery but has zero personality. Even Ellie, who is the most main character this book has, is rather dull. There is unrealized potential for conflict, what sort of conflict we do get is hearsay, and muted.
I'm not going out of my way to recommend this book to students, but if they find it on their own, I wouldn't dissuade them either.
August 9, 2019
I received this e-ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Middle school is a time for big changes in the lives of tweens. The Class follows the students in Mrs. Herrera’s sixth grade class with each chapter being told from a different student’s point of view. New students trying to fit in, old friendships tested, and several of Mrs. Herrera’s items have gone missing. There is a lot going on in this story even though there’s only been 2 months of school. While I did enjoy the overall story, I found it difficult to keep track of all the students’ narratives. Maybe it’s because I read the digital version and couldn’t flip back to compare students.
#TheClass #Edelweiss
Middle school is a time for big changes in the lives of tweens. The Class follows the students in Mrs. Herrera’s sixth grade class with each chapter being told from a different student’s point of view. New students trying to fit in, old friendships tested, and several of Mrs. Herrera’s items have gone missing. There is a lot going on in this story even though there’s only been 2 months of school. While I did enjoy the overall story, I found it difficult to keep track of all the students’ narratives. Maybe it’s because I read the digital version and couldn’t flip back to compare students.
#TheClass #Edelweiss
March 3, 2020
The best thing about this book is that the reader never has an omniscient narrator telling her everyone's business. This story is a split-narrative style, and the narrative is split among all twenty of Ms. Herrera's students (except one, but you'll find that out later). I found this book fun to read, as the character reveals were relatable and interesting. This book makes the point that no one ever knows everything about anyone, and portrays even the most seemingly unlikable characters as individuals with stories to tell. But even with so many stories, in the end, sometimes standing together is the best answer of all.
February 4, 2022
Age: 4th-6th grade
SEL: Empathy
Mrs. Herrera's typically disjointed 6th grade class finds themselves bonding across cliques as they experience tantalizing mysteries: why does the mean popular girl suddenly change her ways? Why has a recently moved classmate been spotted around the school? How stole Mrs. Herrera's prized possessions?
Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different classmate, helping readers to build empathy and understanding about several scenarios. The amount of perspectives became overwhelming for my aged brain, but I don't think this will be a problem for a whipsmart 5th grader. They are so much smarter than me :*(
SEL: Empathy
Mrs. Herrera's typically disjointed 6th grade class finds themselves bonding across cliques as they experience tantalizing mysteries: why does the mean popular girl suddenly change her ways? Why has a recently moved classmate been spotted around the school? How stole Mrs. Herrera's prized possessions?
Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different classmate, helping readers to build empathy and understanding about several scenarios. The amount of perspectives became overwhelming for my aged brain, but I don't think this will be a problem for a whipsmart 5th grader. They are so much smarter than me :*(
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