The book starts with one of The Cool Kids treating Natalie's friend badly. Then there's a school treat she misses, followed by a surprise party disaster all set up by The Cool Kids. Her mom takes her someplace special and reminds her how bright the light inside her is. She is inspired and all is well. Along the way, she learns that you need to shine bright so others who have lost their way, can still see in the darkness.
The book starts with one of The Cool Kids treating Natalie's friend badly. Then there's a school treat she misses, followed by a surprise party disaster all set up by The Cool Kids. Her mom takes her someplace special and reminds her how bright the light inside her is. She is inspired and all is well. Along the way, she learns that you need to shine bright so others who have lost their way, can still see in the darkness.
Hi! My name is Natalie. I ran into The Cool Kids today in the cafeteria, and it was no fun. The four of them were giggling and looking everyone up and down. They act like they are angels, but they are really little devils. Imagine four little girls sitting around a table in devil costumes, just like Halloween. If you know whatâs good for you, youâll stay away from them. I was minding my business and then BAM! It happened. My best friend was running towards the bathroom with tears in her eyes!
It had been a normal Friday morning. I got up early and ate cereal for breakfast. Cereal is my favorite. Doesnât matter what kind. I eat cereal every morning. My bus stop is only around the corner from my house so I donât have to walk far. My friends, Abby and Lia, were already outside school waiting for me when I got there. Abby had won a video game in a school contest. We were so excited for her!
âAbby, OMG! You won a contest?â I shrieked, jumping up and down.
âYeah, isnât that cool? They pulled my name! Can you believe it? Mr. Fritch said I can pick up the game after school today.â
âSo, when do we get to come over and play it with you?â Lia asked.
âOh, donât you worry, girls! Itâs going to happen!â Abby announced excitedly as we entered the school cafeteria for morning announcements. We chose a table near the door so we could get out first. You wonât believe what happened next! Yep, The Cool Kids picked the table right next to us!
There are four of them... Beth, Kelly, Felicia and Karen. Felicia sat quietly and didnât say a word. She usually doesnât. Sheâs more of an observer, recording everything thatâs happening in her head so she can spread a rumor later. A rumor is something unkind that someone says about you thatâs not true. For someone who doesnât talk much, sheâs good at spreading rumors. One time she told everyone that Mr. Fritch was a secret agent. It turned out that he wasnât. I was so disappointed!
Kelly and Karen arenât so bad when they are alone and not with the other Cool Kids. They are actually kind of thoughtful. Maybe clueless is a better word? Beth is the worst! She is consumed with jealousy, but she doesnât want anyone else to know that.
âOh, hi girls!â Kelly said, âAre you going to be around later? Weâre having a surprise party for Mr. Colson.â
Mr. Colson is our third-grade technology teacher. Itâs important to know how to use a computer. Computers do all kinds of cool stuff like tracking Santa on Christmas Eve.
âAbby, did you win the field hockey giveaway?â Kelly asked.
âI sure did!â Abby exclaimed, standing proudly and smiling from ear to ear. âOut of all the kids at this school, I was the lucky one. Theyâre giving me a free video game!â
âGood for you, Abby. I won that same contest last year,â said Karen.
âDonât you think itâs a little unfair that you won?â said Beth accusingly. âYou donât even play field hockey.â
âYou donât need to play field hockey to win,â muttered Abby as she sat down and turned to face the other way. I moved down on the bench to be directly next to her. Abby looked at me with sad eyes and asked, âDid I do something wrong?â Thatâs when she took off! Of course, I ran after her. Thatâs what a good friend does.
Light and trite and yet a good read for children who find themselves in the 2nd to 3rd grades. True to life, but lacking depth, a quick read that is meant to have elementary-aged children relate to the text and storyline without experiencing overwhelm.
The author has a mother's heart and does a good job of explaining the different personalities and groups most children will encounter within their childhood school days. What will you do when you find yourself targeted by the "cool kids", excluded intentionally, or if it's a close friend of yours that's being treated unfairly who needs you to stand by their side? What are the feelings you're going to feel and how will you choose to handle them? Will you react or think before you act?
This book highlights the role we as parents are able to have in our children's lives as our kids go to school each day. Not every day is a good day! Some days are harder than others. When our kids come to us with bad experiences that befell them due to the actions of others, how are we going to model our own reactions to them? What are we going to do to help them solve the things they come up against? How can we think outside of the box to ensure our kids are still able to participate in aspects of life that others were set on excluding them from or taking away from them entirely?
A book that children could read aloud, or to themselves quietly, on their own but also a book that a parent could read with their child. If read together as a family it would naturally open up a discussion where a parent could ask questions and inquire with their child as to their lives at school, the kids they are having to interact with regularly each week, and how your child believes they fit in within the mix of personalities and behaviors. Is your child an observer, part of the problems others face, or do they play a role within the solutions?
A book that on the outside seems little more than something to occupy a child for a half hour, might also prove to be the kind of book that makes a parent and child think beyond its pages into how they can look out for the underdogs and save them.
3-stars and most definitely worth reading!