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aisha264's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
rustyreader's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
greeniezona's review
3.0
My twelve-year-old came to me with this book and insisted that I read it. And I did, for him, despite much internal grumbling. I would have given up on the book several times as I didn't really like any of the characters in the beginning and at least one of the twists I saw coming several miles off, but I kept reminding myself that there must be a reason why my kid liked it so much and so I forced myself to carry on.
In the end, the valuing of things like art and stories and relationship over and above standardized test scores is a good message, but I feel like it was taken to an unreasonable and unrealistic level in order to make that point. Maybe it was an attempt to make things feel as big as they do in life to some of these kids, but raising the stakes so high turned me off as an adult reader -- because my brain was struggling between "that would never happen that way," and "if that were my kid's school, I would burn the administration and school board to the ground."
I imagine my kid identified because he struggles with a particular school official who values obedience over relationship and free inquiry. I can see why he liked this book, but it really wasn't for me.
In the end, the valuing of things like art and stories and relationship over and above standardized test scores is a good message, but I feel like it was taken to an unreasonable and unrealistic level in order to make that point. Maybe it was an attempt to make things feel as big as they do in life to some of these kids, but raising the stakes so high turned me off as an adult reader -- because my brain was struggling between "that would never happen that way," and "if that were my kid's school, I would burn the administration and school board to the ground."
I imagine my kid identified because he struggles with a particular school official who values obedience over relationship and free inquiry. I can see why he liked this book, but it really wasn't for me.
jillcd's review
4.0
The writing is great. Well developed characters with a realistic plot that is shared through various perspectives. And who likes standardized tests anyway? A good read!
skundrik87's review
4.0
5 different kids in 6th grade all hate the upcoming standardized testing, for their own unique reasons. All about friendship, pressure, and teachers.
charlietheninth's review
3.0
This one was a little disappointing, compared to the Terupt books, because it took so long to get going, and I felt like the characters weren't as well defined/compelling as the last group. Still, it had a nice, thorny issue at its center, and the multiple perspectives kids go nuts for, to make it entertaining.
kslhersam's review
4.0
Another good book from Rob Buyea. I like his style and the different character perspectives. My 3 boys have liked this book for years and I had only read the Mr. Terupt series. This one gives you some things to think about.
bookwormjimmy's review
4.0
The kids at Lake View Middle School are not all right.
Kids have enough to deal with in middle school. Friends. New teachers. Homework. But when the state testing threatens to take away all the fun that they hold dear in school, there seems to be only one solution to get out of it. How to get the perfect score.
This is a wonderful children's/YA book that does a great job of setting up the world in which these kids live in. The main focus is on the kids, their unique personalities and points of view, and the impact that this high stakes test has not only on them but their school community as well. Each character is unique and speaks with their own voice, have their own set of challenges in life, and the chapters are relatively short. This gives young readers easy access for someone to connect too. The ending was handled pretty well, although some of the side stories seemed to have their problems solved a little too easily.
The Perfect Score may not be the perfect book, but does a really great job of putting young readers in the mind of people who may be a little different than them and challenges them to think different.
Kids have enough to deal with in middle school. Friends. New teachers. Homework. But when the state testing threatens to take away all the fun that they hold dear in school, there seems to be only one solution to get out of it. How to get the perfect score.
This is a wonderful children's/YA book that does a great job of setting up the world in which these kids live in. The main focus is on the kids, their unique personalities and points of view, and the impact that this high stakes test has not only on them but their school community as well. Each character is unique and speaks with their own voice, have their own set of challenges in life, and the chapters are relatively short. This gives young readers easy access for someone to connect too. The ending was handled pretty well, although some of the side stories seemed to have their problems solved a little too easily.
The Perfect Score may not be the perfect book, but does a really great job of putting young readers in the mind of people who may be a little different than them and challenges them to think different.
slapshottechnology's review
5.0
Hopefully this will become a book for this generation like many of the books from Blume, Cleary, and others were from my generation. What a great story with some great character development. Yes, probably some typecasted characters, but they were fun. You can see the clutz Scott. You can see the bullies. You can see the stuck-up girl. But then these kids have real problems like the over-trained gymnast or the boy with the blue-collar dad. And while much of it becomes predictable, I loved the twist at the end with Natalie helping on the test.