The Boy Who Failed Show and Tell

Boy Who Failed Show and Tell #1

by Jordan Sonnenblick, Marta Kissi (Illustrator)

An unbelievably hilarious middle-grade true story from bestselling author Jordan Sonnenblick.
In a typical school year, every kid has one or two things go wrong. But for Jordan, there's A LOT going wrong ALL THE TIME.


Take this year. Here are some of the thing going wrong:



-- His teacher hates him. Like, really hates him. Like, is totally out to get him even when he's trying to be good, and is willing to fail him on the simplest things, like show and tell.



-- He has a slight breathing problem because of his asthma. And breathing is never really an optional activity.



-- His pet snake has given birth to way, way, way too many baby snakes, all who need a home.


-- He is finding that becoming The World's Best Drummer in no time whatsoever is maybe not the easiest goal.



-- There are bullies ready to stomp him when all he has to defend himself with is a lunchbox.



And all this doesn't even include the freak swing set accident, the fears inside his head, or the funniest class presentation ever.




By keeping his cool (some of the time), banging on the drums (a lot), and keeping his sense of humor (all the time), Jordan's going to try to make it through the year . . . and grow up to write a book about it!

Genres: Humor, Middle Grade, Memoir, Nonfiction, Friendship, Childrens, Family

224 pages, Hardcover

Published February 2, 2021

About the author

I am the author of seven books for children and young adults, including Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie. So if youʼre looking for info about some other guy named Jordan Sonnenblick, youʼve got the wrong website.
Anyway, I know a lot of people are looking for stuff they can use in reports for school, so Iʼll just get this out of the way right up front:
My favorite color is blue.
I have a wife and two kids.
The best pet I ever had was a garter snake I caught when I was eight by a lake in Pennsylvania. I named the snake Hector. Then it gave birth to 20 baby snakes, so I changed its name to Hectoria.
My all-time favorite band is the Beatles, although I like a ton of different music.
My hobbies are playing the drums, guitar, and bass; riding my bicycle at least 50 miles a week; hanging out with my wife and kids; and reading.
Speaking of reading, I read a lot of different genres. As a kid, though, I mostly read fantasy, science fiction, and comic books. When I was in fourth grade, a fantasy novel called The Dark is Rising inspired me to become a novelist someday.
My favorite baseball team is the New York Yankees. When I was a kid, my best friend and I used to go to Yankees games and throw open ketchup packets off the upper deck. Donʼt try that at home, kids!

Reviews

[Jessica Ranallo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book would be great as a read aloud to start the year (although I’m not sure I could beat Sonnenblick’s voices for the characters on the audiobook).

I see myself handing this to students who enjoy James Patterson, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, or someone who just wants to follow the typical (and not-so-typical) struggles of a middle grade student with humor and laughs along the way. It was a great balance of funny with life lessons, effortlessly woven together.

Similar books I’ll suggest to students (note to self): Knucklehead by Jon Scieszka and Full of Beans by Jennifer Holm.

[Shaye Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I witnessed a Zoom author discussion interview with Jordan Sonnenblick last winter and knew we had to order a copy of this book as soon as it was published. So this ended up being our 10-year-old’s gift for Easter 2021. He loved it so much that he could hardly wait for me to finish reading it to start talking about all the scenes. This is Sonnenblick’s fourth grade memoir and it’s both heartbreaking and hilarious – quite endearing. ❤️ Additionally, there are some great illustrations scattered throughout. Happy to recommend!

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review from a 4th grader: This book was funny and relatable. Teachers misunderstand a lot, but they don't mean to. Some of them are good, and some of them are kinda mean. The sense of humor in this is awesome.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this middle grade novel inspired by true experiences, the author examines everything that happened in his life during fourth grade, and how those events led him to want to be a writer. Short in stature and struggling with both breathing problems and hair-ripping anxiety, Sonnenblick is a white Jewish boy who is trying hard to be cool but also true to himself.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is a 3.5 for me, and it is an example of this author's gift with words and storytelling. Although he's usually known for covering older territory, here he mines his own childhood to describe his fourth-grade year, even dedicating the book "To Elizabeth Tuff Duffy, the best fourth-grade teacher in the world" because she made such a difference in his life. After giving a recap of his early elementary years, the author introduces readers to Mrs. Fisher, his fourth-grade teacher, a woman who, in his eyes, resembles the Wicked Witch of the West. All Jordan wants is to be successful at something, but that never seems to happen. He's in trouble more often than not, and becomes preoccupied by events at home, including his parents' arguing, his fears about his mother's car breaking down on the New Jersey Turnpike late at night, and his pet snake. Bored, disenchanted, and frustrated, he gives into pranks such as secretly melting crayons on the classroom radiator. A teacher/parent conference makes it clear that Mrs. Fisher has little hope that Jordan will ever amount to anything, and her frustration bursts forth when she slaps him when he is distracted and doesn't stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance. His parents quickly move him to a different school, and while there are bullies and challenges there, eventually he starts coming into his own, gaining confidence, and being recognized for his accomplishments and how conscientious he is. Plus, he's found an outlet through his lessons in how to play the drums. The book closes with these words: "I have books. I have music. I am ready for anything" (p. 206), and he clearly is. Clearly, this chapter book contains many humorous moments, but it also has its share of poignant ones, including his fears for his mother's safety, his worries about his father having cancer, his awareness that baby snakes are not likely to survive for long outdoors in the winter, and his attempts to get Mrs. Fisher to see him. I vacillated between laughing and crying on many pages as the author captures the voice and thoughts of a fourth grader so well. And his memories of those literacy practices focused on SRA kits simply stunned me. I, too, can remember those passages and questions very well. They came close to killing my love for reading. While the title will certainly attract readers, there is so much more to this story than this boy's failure at show and tell. It will be a great read aloud for third, fourth, and fifth graders.

[Ellen Kunkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have been the parent of, or yourself been, an angst-filled middle schooler you will love "The Boy Who Failed Show and Tell". Jordan Sonnenblick has always had that special ability to write young adults books that are perfect for any adult who needs a good laugh/cry/think story.

Full disclosure: I am a friend/fan of Jordan's (see dedication to "The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade). He has a way of connecting with his readers, of any age, and seeing his young life in print makes that bond even stronger.

[LauraW · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the pain and hilarity of elementary school with the boy who is really trying to be good, but not quite succeeding. This would make an interesting read-aloud.

[Kate Waggoner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to @Scholasticinc for sharing an advance copy of The Boy Who Failed Show and Tell by @JordanSonnenblick with the @KidLitExchange network. This middle grade memoir was published in February 2021. All opinions are my own.

It's Jordan's fourth grade year and everything seems to be going wrong. His teacher hates him and no matter what he does to try to be good, it only seems to make things worse. He has asthma and has to frequently use his inhaler. He has a pet snake, which he takes to show and tell, that gives birth to a whole bunch of baby snakes that he has to find homes for. He's trying to become a drummer, but he can't get his hands on the same page. Then at school there are bullies to deal with. Jordan's just trying to make it to the end of the year.

This is a memoir of the author, Jordan Sonnenblick's, fourth grade year. The story reads very much like fiction making it easy to get into. Honestly, I think this is a must read for both teachers and students. Students will instantly connect to Jordan and his troubles. His story is a great reminder that sometimes your behavior is the problem and sometimes it's the people around you. It's also a great reminder that even when your behavior isn't perfect, that doesn't mean you're bad. I also think this is a great reminder for teachers. We never really know what our students are struggling with our how they interpret our behavior, actions, and tone. I hope to add a copy of this to my classroom library.

[Michele Knott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laugh out loud hilarious.

[Kelly Jahng · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent memoir of a formative year in the author’s life. I laughed, cried, and smiled. As a teacher, I was angry and heartwarmed by the changes in Jordan’s school situation. A must read for kids, parents, and teachers.

[Tara Ethridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious, but also heartbreaking, memoir novel of Jordan's elementary years. How teachers struggled to understand him and didn't always treat him the way kids need to be treated. This book should be required reading for teachers to get that inside view to kids who can't sit still and kids who appear to be continuously making poor decisions.

[Shannon]

My 10-year-old loved this. We finished it tonight and he wants to get the sequel tomorrow.

[Julie Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jordan's memoir of his 4th grade year is hilarious and endearing. Our 6th grade ELA teacher recommended it to me and her students, and she says that her students agree with me that it is GREAT.

[Carrie]

Thanks to Scholastic and Jordan Sonneblick for sharing this advanced readers copy with Kid Lit Exchange. Published 2/2/21.

Every teacher needs to read this middle grade memoir.

Sonnenblick tells the story of his 4th grade year, in often painful detail. He didn't have good experiences with many of his teachers and his 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Fisher, is the worst of the bunch. He is convinced that she hates him, and then two things happen to confirm his suspicions: 1) he overhears her tell his mother that he will never amount to anything, and 2) she slaps him across the face during class. Thankfully, his parents move him to a different school right away, and not only is his new teacher is kind and encouraging, his classmates have a positive attitude about education and accept him as he is, which changes his life in very real ways. Jordan's story is a reminder that we need to remember the impact we have on the self-esteem of our students.

In addition to his woes at school, Jordan also struggles with anxiety, trichotillomania, and likely ADHD. He doesn't understand why it is so difficult to "be good" at school. He doesn't think he does anything well, and when he does find something he is good at, it seems to upset people. He knows he is smart, but he doubts himself in every other part of his life. And, most unsettling of all, he worries that his mom will be killed in an accident on the New Jersey turnpike.

In sharp contrast to all of this angst, Jordan's adventures with pets, friends, family, and sports are often hilarious and heart-warming. His descriptions of a fight at school, his love of reading, sledding on a car hood, learning to be a drummer, a Little League win, and the glories of field day are told in a way that makes you feel the adrenaline, joy, and triumph that 4th grade boys feel.

If this is close to what Sonnenblick's 4th grade year was really like, my heart goes out to him, and I celebrate that he proved Mrs. Fisher absolutely wrong.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic autobiographical account of a fourth grade boy. I highly recommend this! It is funny and a great slice of what it was like to grow up in the late 70’s but is also relevant and timeless for kids today.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I am a nobody. I am the unlegend. If I jumped out of a burning building, the firemen would probably move the trampoline at the last second because they didn’t notice me. I would give anything to stand out in some cool way, but every slightly unique thing about me is slightly negative. You want a perfect example? I am the third shortest kid in my grade. Not the shortest, because that would be memorable, and I might even get a nickname out of it, or the girls might think I’m cute, or whatever. At least the shortest kid in the class has an identity.”

Jordan Sonnenblick (yes, author Jordan Sonnenblick) is a fourth grader. He is in a class with the perfect William Feranek (smartest, shortest, best voice, and teacher’s pet) where he can’t do anything right. He has trouble paying attention and following directions; he gets in trouble; he has a lot of questions and reads comics which his teacher abhors (…”comic books will rot your brain!”); and he has asthma and pulls his hair out when anxious. But he is also sensitive, a good friend, a fantastic snake owner for Hecky, and funny. And he has the meanest teacher at P.S. 35—a teacher who hates him. He doesn’t just think she hates him; she hates him. She even told his mother “JORR-dan will never amount to anything!” (74)

After Hecky's baby snakes die, Jordan loses what’s left of his confidence. “What I really wish is that I could stop ruining everything, and maybe even be particularly good at something.” (88)

When Mrs. Fisher slaps Jordan, his parents transfer him to P.S. 54 where, with the help of a truly caring teacher, Jordan realizes that he “is not zee kind of boy who lets go of zee rope” (a reference to his summer water-skiing lesson)—he has talent (especially for humor) and has become part of a team.

This is a memoir that will delight readers and make them laugh out loud, especially the snake wedding scene. Sonnenblick highlights the value of supportive, patient teachers, like Ms Tuff and drum teacher Mr. Stoll, family, and friends— and a sense of humor.

[Kathie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I initially didn't realize this was a memoir; I've never read a middle-grade book quite like it. The author shares his fourth-grade challenges with humour and honesty, making the reader laugh on one page and shake their head in sadness on the next. His teacher hates him, bullies tease him, and he deals with his fears and worries by pulling his hair out, but he also finds pleasure in learning to play the drums, hanging out with his snakes, the Field Day at school. It's a story that's hard to read as a parent but which many kids will relate to, and there are so many funny moments that it doesn't make the book feel like a depressing read.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fun memoir! I was reading this book for the first time as a read aloud with 5th graders. I couldn’t believe some of the things I had to read! Jordan was such a sweet kid, but could find trouble. The drummers are always trouble ha ha. My students loved his adventures. I loved that I connected with the time period as a kid. Then by some amazing coincidence, the school librarian tells me are having an author visit, and it is with none other than Jordan Sonnenblick himself!
I / we can’t wait to meet the author of this amazing kids’ book. We have so many questions and can’t wait to hear his writing wisdom. Maybe he will play the drums for us?

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Boy Who Failed Show and Tell”, an ominous title, to be sure, for an uplifting story about how the right teacher can make a difference. The book follows Jordan on his journey through 4th grade, with a few flashbacks to earlier years to set the foundation for Jordan’s story of 4th grade. The story is autobiographical, but is written from the point of view of the 4th grade Jordan as opposed to an older Jordan looking back on his experiences in 4th grade. This combined with the language that he uses makes it feel personal and clearly targeted towards elementary age readers. Jordan is an entirely average kid for his age, except for in all the ways he isn’t. From his point of view, the only ways he isn’t average are all negative ways. And not the kind of negative ways that could make him cool, just make his life harder. He is short, but not the shortest kid in his class, that would give him an identity. He’s smart, but not the smartest. He has severe asthma, bad vision, and likely textbook ADD. This makes school hard, especially with teachers who don’t understand. Up until 4th grade, he had only liked about half his teachers, and he liked his third grade teacher. This does not bode well for his 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Fisher. His fears are founded, as she turns out to be mean, strict, and often unfair. It quickly becomes clear that she dislikes Jordan, even more than he dislikes her. This animosity between them grows to a fairly dramatic climax, which I will not spoil here. This leads Jordan’s parents to have him change schools. His new teacher, Ms. Tuff, is very different. She seems to care and try to understand her students. The struggles in Jordan’s life are not over. Will Ms. Tuff’s kind exterior be revealed to be a facade, or will she be the 4th grade teacher he needs to grow and be a happier child? I guess you will have to read it to find out.

I believe this book is a perfect example of novels for older elementary students, and even up to middle school age students. Many kids feel weird and out of place, and this book provides a ray of hope, especially if parents and teachers are sure to point out that it is autobiographical. For the most part, this really happened. It can be used alone as an example of an autobiography or paired with lessons in mental health and hope. Each chapter is usually a short self contained story that builds off the chapters before. When discussing lessons, in the classroom, on reading comprehension individual chapters can be used to analyze elements of a story rather than trying to analyze much longer pieces of storytelling. This can be incredibly beneficial for scaffolding with struggling readers, but has benefits even for more advanced readers. Overall, I believe this book has a place in any 4th or 5th grade class for the important social lessons and timeless subject matter covered within these pages. Every teacher should have at least one copy in their classroom library, that is unless they are a “Mrs. Fisher”.

[Kira Hollars · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me some great insight as a future educator how to and how NOT to handle children who don’t necessarily meet your standards initially. It tells the story of a Jewish boy named Jordan who has had a rocky past with his elementary years. It seems the pattern of how each year will go is good-bad-good-bad, leading up to his fourth grade year which ends up being a mix of both. This illustrated novel gives us the experience of an asthmatic, energy-filled, anxious boy who navigates his fourth grade year trying to become someone special like his friend Robert or the boy who survived an apartment fire, Kenneth. He tries to accomplish this by learning to play the drums in an attempt to become the coolest drummer possible, something that would distinguish him from other classmates and finally shut his bully, Britt Stone, up. The most memorable aspect of this story, for me, was the night to day transition of Jordan’s fourth grade experience from Mrs. Fisher who never understands or cares for Jordan (and even goes as far as to hit this child in the face) to Mrs. Tuff who takes a special interest in him and is very accepting of his quirks. This stark contrast in characters highlights the importance of getting to know your students individually and taking into account the reasons for their behavior. A student may have trouble focusing or be a little fidgety, but that is for a reason and it is part of our jobs as educators to find out that reason or at the bare minimum, take into consideration the “whys” behind students’ behavior. This was a great book with a happy ending, and who doesn’t love a happy ending!

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Boy Who Failed Show and Tell belongs on the “memoirs of favorite middle grade authors about their childhoods” shelf with Jon Scieszka’s Knucklehead, Gary Paulsen’s My Life in Dog Years, Ralph Fletcher’s Marshfield books, and Jack Gantos’ Dead End in Norvelt. While I also love memoirs by women, memoirs by men are special in that they give me a peek into the mysterious, elusive world of boys—a secret world not typically accessible to middle-aged lady-teachers, like myself.

In this book we meet a fidgety, anxious, quirky, precocious 4th-grade Jordan, trying his best to be good at school despite the odds. I didn’t laugh out loud as much as I did while reading Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie, but to be fair, my lack-of-laughter was probably because I felt deeply for Jordan. I worried for him and spent a good deal of the book fervently hoping that I’d never been *that* teacher, who was too rigid even to treat Jordan with human kindness. I look forward to seeing how kids, the intended audience, respond to a read-aloud of The Boy Who Failed Show and Tell. I predict they’ll love it.

[Lynn Plourde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my aching sides! I can't remember the last time I read a book that made me laugh out-loud so hard. But at the same time it was bittersweet. Poor Jordan was bullied by other kids and even by a teacher. But being a spunky, smart, creative, funny kid, he survived it all--better than survived--he grew up to be a successful teacher and author. The Boy Who Survived Show and Tell is the author's 4th grade memoir so it's all true. And delightful. And perfect for grade 4 to adult. And even though it's a memoir, it hit so many notes of my own life, taking me back to when I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning as a kid anxiously watching and waiting for my dad to get home from work after his best friend had recently died in a car crash driving home from work. It also reminded me of the first time I tried to waterski--an embarrassing mishap. So, yes, this book is a memoir, but it holds universal truths that may take you back to your own growing-up years.

[Jacob Schmitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author and protagonist share the same name, which is no coincidence. One can tell the words on the page come naturally and effortlessly from the heart and humor of the author. And although Jordan, a struggling nerdy 4th grader who fairs his fair share of trials, the text remained incredibly hilarious and poignant.

Students will relate to the common struggles of 4th grade around, with such issues as identify, reputation, not fitting in, conflicts with teachers, and standing up for oneself. Jordan gets in trouble a lot, and yet the reader is faced with the feeling that Jordan’s wit, intelligence, and personality are simply misunderstood -something the reader is privy to. 5 out of 5 stars!

[Liz Good · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book because it is very relatable and funny. I also enjoyed that fact that this book was based off the the author’s own experiences. Jordan has different experiences with different teachers and finds it hard to focus in class most of the time. My brother and many other students also deal with this issue. Jordan was very smart and would often finish his homework before other students. This is get him in a but of trouble because he would then get bored and distracted. This book truly shows the highs and lows of school and how some students can suffer because of poor teachers. Overall, this book was funny, relatable, and would keep students engaged. I would recommend this for students ages 8-12.

[Amy Roebuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this! Sonnenblick lives in Bethlehem, PA, so I'm wondering if David Dunlap of the BAPL knows about him. In the tradition of Gordon Korman and Jeff Kinney, Jordan is a boy who finds himself in way more trouble than he ever sets out to create.

From a teacher (and a school, it seems) that doesn't know what to do with him, to a class that "gets" him, Jordan's story sounds familiar to any child, former child or parent who is or knows someone who doesn't easily 'fit in.'

Hurrah for Sonnenblick, who tells his own story with clarity as well as compassion. I'm going to read more of these wonderful Juvenile Fiction tales of wisdom.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jordan Sonnenblick is starting 4th grade at PS 35 on Staten Island and worries about his teacher -- will his teacher like him or hate him? Jordan’s asthma medication makes him antsy so he often gets in trouble for not concentrating and tapping his pencil. Jordan also worries about his pet snake (the show and tell exhibit), his mom driving home from grad school late at night, his drum-playing, and how he can be best at something -- even if it’s best at getting hit by pitches. This memoir is an hilarious look at childhood anxieties and will remind readers how important empathetic adults -- parents, teachers, drum teachers -- are to kids.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be honest. I didn't know this was memoir when I started, but what a memoir it was. I feel like I gotta share this one with colleagues. Really identifiable for my students. They're gonna empathize with Sonnenblick's anxious honesty, though I hope they find Mrs. Fisher absolutely abhorrent and impossible to imagine in real life. What a irredeemable horror of a teacher she was! Hope she lost her job and her license for her behavior. The last teacher I hated as much as her was Mrs. Ebbel from The Boy in the Girl's Bathroom. Still, well done to Sonnenblick for some nicely constructed storytelling. Very satisfying.

[Victoria Elias · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this memoir by Jordan Sonnenblick. I thought it was really funny and it definitely showed me how I do NOT want to a teacher like Mrs. Fisher. I would love to read this aloud to my classroom whenever I become an teacher. I think children would love Jordans character and his activities like drums, snake, summer camp, and school life. I found the book very relatable and children would too! My favorite part of the book was whenever Jordan figured out the snake was a girl, Hector turned into Hectoria. I thought that was funny because my name is Victoria! Very similar! I also enjoyed the part in chapter 7, at Jordans drum lesson. Page 78 where Jordan sees his teacher Mr. Stroll as an Star Wars character. I thought that was unique because Im a huge Star Wars fan. I also enjoyed the small illustrations to go along with the story! It was a special touch. This book was super fun to read and I would like to read more by this author!

[Johnny G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story, about a 4th grade Jewish boy going through various challenges of growing up, is heartwarming in some parts but frustrating in others. The story is told well, caters towards things that boys love (snakes, drums, baseball and comics) but Jordan has issues being an athlete, standing up to bullies, doing the right thing, and fitting in. It has potential to be a whole-class read-aloud, if a teacher has the time.

[Autumn King · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a novel based on real life experiences of the author. It is about a young boy in the 4th grade. It showed the ups and downs that Jordan (the main character and the author. I thought that bit was awesome). I would definitely read this to my 4th grade classrooms (and maybe even 5th grade). I would show this book to the students to let them know, just because you are different than everyone else doesn't mean that is a bad thing. I loved all the illustrations the book included the funniest ones were the ones showing what happened to him when we went to summer camp. When the teacher slaps him I felt very sorry for Jordan and mad at the teacher. School is a place children should be able to go to and not be scared or not feel safe. Teachers who do not appreciate students and do not treat them with respect have no place in a classroom. I was SO glad when Jordan changed schools and finally got a teacher, who was what a teacher should be.