A review by aconant
The Perfect Score by Rob Buyea
4.0
A very good story targeted at grades 4-6. I think this book would appeal to a fairly wide audience who appreciate school stories with some drama.
The story is broken into character storylines. I think that is part of why it probably appeals to large groups. Most students will likely have favorite characters that they like following. I like the way all the characters feel real in their flaws and how they overcome their personal challenges. There are some small mysteries/unanswered questions that keep readers wondering and make for good plot lines. It's a classic case of you never really know a person's true story. Scott is a completely magical character, everyone should have a Scott in their life.
The story acts as a cautionary tale against state testing. I do think the extreme to which the school goes to prepare for testing is more than what most kids are familiar with. In order for the author to make his point, I'm sure the extreme was necessary. It was hard listening to some of the parent negligence or lack of support. Trevor's storyline just about broke my heart.
Not to spoil too much but the ending wraps up nicely with a little bow. Listening to the story from a parent/teacher perspective I did get teary eyed at the end. I don't know if I was just emotional that morning or what but there were a whole handful of really great moments at the end.
The story is broken into character storylines. I think that is part of why it probably appeals to large groups. Most students will likely have favorite characters that they like following. I like the way all the characters feel real in their flaws and how they overcome their personal challenges. There are some small mysteries/unanswered questions that keep readers wondering and make for good plot lines. It's a classic case of you never really know a person's true story. Scott is a completely magical character, everyone should have a Scott in their life.
The story acts as a cautionary tale against state testing. I do think the extreme to which the school goes to prepare for testing is more than what most kids are familiar with. In order for the author to make his point, I'm sure the extreme was necessary. It was hard listening to some of the parent negligence or lack of support. Trevor's storyline just about broke my heart.
Not to spoil too much but the ending wraps up nicely with a little bow. Listening to the story from a parent/teacher perspective I did get teary eyed at the end. I don't know if I was just emotional that morning or what but there were a whole handful of really great moments at the end.