What do you do when you find out that your homeroom teacher is the same one that you hit on the head with your shoe last year? The one who told you, "If I ever see you throw another shoe in school, you will stay in from recess for the rest of your life!" You try to get your parents to have you transferred to another class. Your best friend tells the principal there has been a mistake. And then, you prepare for the worst school year ever.
Charlie is not a bad kid. He is friendly. He does okay on his work. But he is messy, impulsive, and even when he is trying to be helpful, he usually makes things worse. Whether it is trying to borrow a soccer ball from the new gym teacher, fairly judging a foot race, or doing something about the white sneakers that he can't stand - the consequences are never what he expects, or what an adult wants to see.
Reminiscent of Hank Zipzer, Charlie is a likable character with very ordinary issues to to deal with. Readers will identify with problems like an older brother who enjoys teasing him, or a best friend who volunteers him to race a bully, or a mother who buys new school shoes that he doesn't want (just think of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day at the show store).
Perfect middle grade realistic fiction with memorable characters, plenty of humor, and a narrative that is easy to read aloud - thanks to master storyteller/author Bill Harley.
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