A funny and fast-paced school story about two best friends whose innocent game could make them not-so-legendary, with signature hilarity from New York Times bestselling author Gordon Korman.
Jeff and Wiley are nicknaming pros. Practically everyone in their school has been renamed by the duo. They've dubbed their own underachieving class "The Dim Bulbs"; their pop-eyed principal is better known as "Deer in Headlights"; and their enormous new English teacher, Mr. Hughes, is "Mr. Huge."
But when a spunky red-haired environmentalist named Cassandra enters their lives, the boys begin to doubt themselves. No name seems to say it all. On top of that, some of the nicknames are backfiring, and now their teacher is in danger of losing his job. Will the duo be able to get it together before it's too late?
This hilarious and heartwarming story captures all the beauty and pain of middle school, while discovering—what’s really in a name?
Don’t miss more great reads from Gordon Korman!
Schooled
Born to Rock
Jake, Reinvented
No More Dead Dogs
Juvie Three
Son of the Mob
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
June 4, 2017 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9781368012744
- File size: 1379 KB
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9781368012744
- File size: 2001 KB
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Languages
- English
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Levels
- ATOS Level: 4.3
- Lexile® Measure: 640
- Interest Level: 4-8(MG)
- Text Difficulty: 3
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Reviews
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School Library Journal
Starred review from December 1, 1998
Gr 4-6-Wiley and Jeff have been best friends for all of their 11 years. Notorious for the nicknames they have awarded the people in their school, they are quick to dub their new teacher, Mr. Hughes, the former high-school football coach with a booming voice and can-do attitude, Mr. Huge. However, their game soon begins to backfire. A bet with a classmate-that nicknames don't stick unless they fit-has unpredicted results. Cassandra, an interesting and attractive new student with a passion for wildlife conservation, seems to defy all labels. Wiley and Jeff's clever moniker for their class, the Dim Bulbs (as opposed to the Bright Lights for class 6A), has everyone believing that they are incapable of doing well on a state reading test, which puts Mr. Huge's job in jeopardy. As the two boys vie for Cassandra's attention, their nicknaming turns to name-calling and they find the stability of their friendship threatened. Throughout the twists and turns of the plot, Korman manages to keep the tone light and the dialogue amusing. Wiley and Jeff go to great lengths to one-up one another and although Mr. Huge's whistle-tooting classroom behavior may be a bit overblown, it's all in good fun. Best of all, this fast-paced novel with lots of laughs will have readers wondering, along with the main characters, exactly what is in a name.-Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal -
Booklist
October 15, 1998
Gr. 4^-6. Wiley and Jeff take pride in their ability to come up with apt, funny nicknames, nicknames that stick. But even they don't believe in the power of their monikers until they give "the blandest student" in school a cool nickname, spread it around, and watch his popularity soar. At the same time, they mount a campaign to help their bombastic substitute teacher Mr. Hughes (aka Mr. Huge) keep his job by raising their test scores through constant reading. Told mainly in quick-paced dialogue, the story captures the ambience of sixth grade with humor and empathy. With its appealing title and accessible style, this entertaining book reinforces its own message about the power and fun of reading. ((Reviewed October 15, 1998))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1998, American Library Association.) -
The Horn Book
January 1, 1999
Best friends Jeff and Wiley can nickname anyone, from Snoopy, the class busybody, to Mr. Huge, the former coach turned teacher. But when new student Cassandra joins their class, finding the perfect nickname for her almost ruins their friendship. Characterization relies on single attributes, such as Mr. Huge's zealous use of football terminology in class, to encompass whole personalities; but the nicknaming is clever and funny.(Copyright 1999 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
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Formats
- Kindle Book
- OverDrive Read
- EPUB ebook
Languages
- English
Levels
- ATOS Level:4.3
- Lexile® Measure:640
- Interest Level:4-8(MG)
- Text Difficulty:3
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