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Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... Salem Main Library | J Buyea, R. | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... Dallas Public Library | YA Buyea, R. Perfect | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
From the beloved author of Because of Mr. Terupt comes the sequel to The Perfect Score, about a lovable group of students at Lake View Middle School and the rewards and challenges of seventh grade.
These students are in for a year of secrets, discoveries, and kid power!
GAVIN finally joins the football team--a dream come true!--but Coach Holmes refuses to play him for reasons that also threaten to tear Gavin's family apart. When RANDI attends an elite gymnastics camp, she uncovers a startling family connection. SCOTT starts researching an article for the school newspaper and stumbles right into a hornet's nest of lies. With his loser older brother, Brian, out of the house, TREVOR's life is loads better--until he realizes that only he can save Brian from getting into deep trouble. NATALIE's top goals: (1) find out why Mrs. Woods and Mrs. Magenta no longer speak to each other--a mission shared by all the kids--and (2) teach a certain someone an important life skill without anyone knowing.
It's tough keeping secrets. And tougher still to deal with the fallout when secrets spill out.
Author Notes
Rob Buyea taught third and fourth graders for six years; then he taught high school biology and coached wrestling for seven years. Currently, he is a full-time writer and lives in Massachusetts with his wife and daughters. He is the author of The Perfect Score and The Perfect Star, companion novels to The Perfect Secret. His first novel, Because of Mr. Terupt, was selected as an E. B. White Read Aloud Honor Book and a Cybils Honor Book. It has also won seven state awards and was named to numerous state reading lists. Mr. Terupt Falls Again and Saving Mr. Terupt are companion novels to Because of Mr. Terupt. Visit him online at robbuyea.com and on Facebook, and follow @RobBuyea on Twitter.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-8-The Lake View Middle School students return with a plan to reconcile their two teachers, Mrs. Magenta and Mrs. Woods. The top-secret project isn't the only thing that the friends keep hidden as they face bullying, racism, and familial discord. Gavin, the football star, experiences frequent verbal abuse and retaliation from the coach, Mr. Holmes, but doesn't share these incidents with his best friend. Randi, a gymnast, is also keeping the identity of her half-brother a secret from her mother after the two meet at a travel tournament. Things escalate until the Mr. Holmes is fired, setting off a chain of events which involves a serious accident with one of their cohort. Buyea is skilled at developing relatable characters for middle grade readers, and he continues to use alternating voices that allow the plot to unfold naturally. Despite some of the story lines being a bit predictable, the author introduces timely issues, such as immigration, in an engaging and empathetic manner. VERDICT This sequel shines a light on topics that many young readers are aware of and eager to discuss. The author provides a space where tweens can read about the social realities that impact themselves and their peers.-Claire Moore, Manhattan Beach Library, CA © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
This sequel to The Perfect Score picks up the next fall as the five kids who cheated on a standardized test are made to volunteer at the senior center. The co-narrators have new goals, including reuniting an estranged pair of mother-daughter teachers. Fans may be pleased to be reacquainted with this likable group, but a slow pace and superficial exploration of myriad issues probably won't win new ones. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Are there secrets that shouldn't be revealed?In this sequel to The Perfect Score (2017), Randi, Natalie, Gavin, Trevor, and Scott are assigned community service for cheating on a standardized test. It's not really a punishment, as these good-natured students enjoy working in the senior center where they've established relationships, and besides, they want to reconcile two of their teachers, a mother and daughter, before it's too late. As before, narration alternates among the five, and while their characters are well-developed, the various issues are examined lightly. In this case, many are related to secrecy, from budding romance to absentee fathers, familial estrangement, parental marital problems, financial struggle, Alzheimer's, brain injury, adult illiteracy, immigration, and racism. The last three revolve around Gavin, whose Mexican-immigrant mother is undocumented and who becomes the target of the racist football coach. Aside from biracial Gavin and his mother, the book adheres to the white default. Though handled with kindness and compassion, the sheer abundance of topics results in oversimplification, and every story has a pat ending, which, cumulatively, seems unlikely. Still, the characters shine, the plots are engaging, and the issues are addressed in interesting ways that will provide readers with many perspectives and much to consider. Strong characters grapple with a multitude of issues (a few too many) in this celebration of friendship and the rewards of volunteer work. (Fiction. 9-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Gavin, Randi, Scott, Trevor, and Natalie are back for seventh grade, and they have a big goal for the year: to get their teachers Mrs. Magenta and Mrs. Woods to mend their broken relationship. Although the five friends have discovered their teachers' secret, that they are mother and daughter, this won't be the only secret the kids find themselves keeping over the course of the school year. First-person narration switches among the five protagonists, effectively giving insight into their own personal challenges and struggles as they work together to help their teachers. Buyea has carved out a niche with sensitive and heartfelt stories, and this companion to The Perfect Score (2017) has him tackling topics like racism, immigration, bullying, and family secrets, with a deft hand. Buyea's story always remains positive, and although the ending might be a bit too fairy tale-ish for some readers, it could provide a nice escape for readers dealing with these issues of their own. Another winner from Buyea that is highly recommended for all middle-grade readers.--Sarah Bean Thompson Copyright 2018 Booklist