thereaderintherye's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
ktcarlston's review against another edition
2.0
I read this book thinking maybe it would be a good book for my 10 year old. Granted I didn't know it was #2 with Millicent being first - but in reality - I can't recommend this book to my son. I just found it too boring. Whoosh. That sounds so harsh and I'm 100% aware that I'm NOT the demographic for this book - but my son is and I can't imagine him liking it. But maybe I should just say - I can't imagine him liking it yet. Maybe his taste will get more sophisticated (?) but that doesn't change the fact that I thought it was boring.
ikuo1000's review against another edition
5.0
This book is a clever companion book to [b:Millicent Min, Girl Genius|230992|Millicent Min, Girl Genius|Lisa Yee|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1328867080s/230992.jpg|223724]. It covers the same time period as Millicent Min, and sometimes the exact same events, only the story is told from Stanford Wong's perspective.
I was impressed that this book is more than just the same story from a different angle. While I pegged Millicent Min for audiences as young as "upper elementary grades", this book I would put solidly in the middle school grades. Stanford's life is somewhat more complex than Millicent's. Not only is he struggling to pass summer school English, but he's hiding his summer school from his closest friends, he has a strained relationship with his parents, he has an aging grandparent who is slowly losing her mental faculties, and he likes a girl. (The book mentions "hickeys" and "second base", both in a vague manner showing that Stanford himself doesn't quite understand what those words mean.)
From a multicultural point of view, I liked that this book was about a Chinese-American boy, but while his Chinese-American-ness was central to his character, it was also clear that Stanford was just another American kid trying to make his way through adolescence. On the one hand, this book is about a kid who just happens to be Chinese-American. The main plot is that Stanford loves basketball, but has failed English, so he needs to go to summer school. I imagine he's relatable to many young readers, and he's non-stereotypical because he doesn't fit the model minority mold. On the other hand, Stanford does have a tiger dad, and his family's dynamics were a pretty realistic portrayal of a Chinese-American family. Plus, Chinese culture makes regular appearances, mostly in the way Stanford's grandmother likes to make dim sum.
Even though I rated this book 5 stars, a couple things would lead me to rate it 4 1/2 stars if possible. First, for much of the book, it really bothered me that Stanford lied so easily. While he eventually comes clean with all the big lies, I'm not sure he ever had any kind of realization that all the little lies along the way were detrimental, too, like in the way they hindered his ability to communicate meaningfully with his parents.
Also, I didn't feel like I got enough closure with Digger. He's only a supporting character, but he was fleshed out enough that we know he acts out partly - or mostly - because he does not have a supportive home life. He is not a one-dimensional bully - we see his vulnerability a couple times - and yet there is no indication that he might change for the better after we leave the characters to their imagined futures. Too bad there isn't a book from HIS perspective!
I was impressed that this book is more than just the same story from a different angle. While I pegged Millicent Min for audiences as young as "upper elementary grades", this book I would put solidly in the middle school grades. Stanford's life is somewhat more complex than Millicent's. Not only is he struggling to pass summer school English, but he's hiding his summer school from his closest friends, he has a strained relationship with his parents, he has an aging grandparent who is slowly losing her mental faculties, and he likes a girl. (The book mentions "hickeys" and "second base", both in a vague manner showing that Stanford himself doesn't quite understand what those words mean.)
From a multicultural point of view, I liked that this book was about a Chinese-American boy, but while his Chinese-American-ness was central to his character, it was also clear that Stanford was just another American kid trying to make his way through adolescence. On the one hand, this book is about a kid who just happens to be Chinese-American. The main plot is that Stanford loves basketball, but has failed English, so he needs to go to summer school. I imagine he's relatable to many young readers, and he's non-stereotypical because he doesn't fit the model minority mold. On the other hand, Stanford does have a tiger dad, and his family's dynamics were a pretty realistic portrayal of a Chinese-American family. Plus, Chinese culture makes regular appearances, mostly in the way Stanford's grandmother likes to make dim sum.
Even though I rated this book 5 stars, a couple things would lead me to rate it 4 1/2 stars if possible. First, for much of the book, it really bothered me that Stanford lied so easily. While he eventually comes clean with all the big lies, I'm not sure he ever had any kind of realization that all the little lies along the way were detrimental, too, like in the way they hindered his ability to communicate meaningfully with his parents.
Also, I didn't feel like I got enough closure with Digger. He's only a supporting character, but he was fleshed out enough that we know he acts out partly - or mostly - because he does not have a supportive home life. He is not a one-dimensional bully - we see his vulnerability a couple times - and yet there is no indication that he might change for the better after we leave the characters to their imagined futures. Too bad there isn't a book from HIS perspective!
bookreader230's review against another edition
3.0
By the same author as who wrote Millicent Min. This time, it's from the boys point of view. I liked it, but because I sympathized with Millie more, it was not as good as the other.
abigailbat's review against another edition
4.0
http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/2008/05/book-review-stanford-wong-flunks-big.html
tcbueti's review against another edition
4.0
Stanford Wong is the first almost-7th grader to ever be put on the A-team at his middle school. He doesn't need to worry about grades, right? Until he flunks English, might not get into 7th grade, and has to go to summer school. He lies to his basketball crew/best friends, the Roadrunners, telling them he's working with his dad for the summer, to avoid embarrassment, pretends he's tutoring his tutor, Millicent Min, in order to impress her new friend Emily. (Meanwhile, Millicent is pretending not to be smart so Emily doesn't think she's a nerd.) His grandma has just been moved from their home to a senior residence, his academic sister is away studying at sea, and his parents are fighting whenever his dad is home (rarely).
School is hard for Stanford, but he has sports so he depends on that for status. When he might lose that, he finally puts his mind to school.
Parental expectations (of different generations!) and honesty (almost everyone has a secret) play a big role here--even his name.
Yee NAILS that first crush--"what if she thinks the ice cream I pick is weird?"
Books: (Lottery--read in class) From the Mixed-Up Files, Number the Stars, The Outsiders (extra--given to him by librarian), Holes.
School is hard for Stanford, but he has sports so he depends on that for status. When he might lose that, he finally puts his mind to school.
Parental expectations (of different generations!) and honesty (almost everyone has a secret) play a big role here--even his name.
Yee NAILS that first crush--"what if she thinks the ice cream I pick is weird?"
Books: (Lottery--read in class) From the Mixed-Up Files, Number the Stars, The Outsiders (extra--given to him by librarian), Holes.
jessalynn_librarian's review against another edition
4.0
Chapter book - realistic
For 5th-7th grade
Stanford is looking forward to basketball camp, until he flunks English and spends the summer in school, being tutored, and making unexpected friends in this funny story.
If Stanford doesn't pass English, he can't play on the best basketball team in seventh grade. Which is how he finds himself in summer school instead of at basketball camp, and why the obnoxiously smart Millicent Min is his English tutor. Any reluctant reader will empathize with Stanford's situation. He doesn't feel good about getting an F on his Holes essay ("Holes is a book. It was written by a writer.") but that doesn't mean he wants to spend time reading - even if getting good grades is what will make his mother happy. Readers of Yee's earlier book, Millicent Min, Girl Genius, will enjoy reading the flip side of that story, this time getting Stanford's perspective with plenty of the same humor - if a little grosser. In order to make friends with Emily, Millicent hides the fact that she's a genius, and when Stanford gets a crush on Emily, he's happy to play along and pretend that he's the one tuturing Millicent. This pretense adds to the humor of the book, as does the subplot with Stanford's grandmother - and the fact that Stanford secretly knits to relieve stress.
The chapters are generally quite short, the writing is clear and direct, and the characters are always entertaining, making this a good choice for reluctant readers, in addition to the themes and humor that will make it appealing to middle school boys. Yee also depicts three generations of a Chinese American family, incorporating that perspective into the story in subtle and realistic ways.
The Horn Book's review sums up the plot neatly while highlighting the story's combination of humor and heart. School Library Journal has a slightly clunkier plot summary, but does point out the book's boy-friendly aspects.
For 5th-7th grade
Stanford is looking forward to basketball camp, until he flunks English and spends the summer in school, being tutored, and making unexpected friends in this funny story.
If Stanford doesn't pass English, he can't play on the best basketball team in seventh grade. Which is how he finds himself in summer school instead of at basketball camp, and why the obnoxiously smart Millicent Min is his English tutor. Any reluctant reader will empathize with Stanford's situation. He doesn't feel good about getting an F on his Holes essay ("Holes is a book. It was written by a writer.") but that doesn't mean he wants to spend time reading - even if getting good grades is what will make his mother happy. Readers of Yee's earlier book, Millicent Min, Girl Genius, will enjoy reading the flip side of that story, this time getting Stanford's perspective with plenty of the same humor - if a little grosser. In order to make friends with Emily, Millicent hides the fact that she's a genius, and when Stanford gets a crush on Emily, he's happy to play along and pretend that he's the one tuturing Millicent. This pretense adds to the humor of the book, as does the subplot with Stanford's grandmother - and the fact that Stanford secretly knits to relieve stress.
The chapters are generally quite short, the writing is clear and direct, and the characters are always entertaining, making this a good choice for reluctant readers, in addition to the themes and humor that will make it appealing to middle school boys. Yee also depicts three generations of a Chinese American family, incorporating that perspective into the story in subtle and realistic ways.
The Horn Book's review sums up the plot neatly while highlighting the story's combination of humor and heart. School Library Journal has a slightly clunkier plot summary, but does point out the book's boy-friendly aspects.
heyshay07's review against another edition
3.0
I chose this book for the guys in my 6th grade reading group and the girls are going to read the companion novel, Millicent Min, Girl Genius. When I assigned the books had only read Millicent. I will be interested to see if the guys thought this book was too girly. One of the big conflicts is that Stanford really wants to impress a girl and I am not sure how middle school boys will appreciate it. They are very critical of anything they say is too girly. Other than that I thought it was a cute, light read that hits on some good topics for 5th-7th graders like trying to impress your friends, feeling like you are failing your family's expectations, and what really makes a good person. It could be a very fun read aloud book for a class.
pkadams's review against another edition
4.0
This book is the perfect fun summer read for kids! Stanford Wong loves basketball and hates school. As you can imagine this doesn't go over too well with his parents, especially his father who named him after his alma mater. After flunking 6th Grade English his middle school basketball career is in jeopardy just after he made the A team (varsity for middle school). What ensues is his summer that revolves around summer school. This book is engaging and has wonderful characters from Stanford's loving grandmother who has early-stage Alzheimer's to his tutor Millicent Min (Yee has written another book about this girl genius). Stanford goes to great lengths to keep his summer school secret from his basketball friends and the girl he is trying to impress. I highly recommend this and the other books by Yee for reluctant readers.