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Description
Mallory enters fourth grade with high hopes for her best year ever, but instead she starts by breaking the teacher's rules and then feels left out when her best friend likes the same boy she does.
Quick Summary
Mallory's got big dreams for fourth grade, and watching her navigate the chaos of broken classroom rules and a crush situation with her best friend is genuinely funny and relatable. The book perfectly captures that tricky middle-grade moment when friendships shift and things don't go according to plan, which makes it especially resonant for kids in that 4th-6th grade sweet spot. What makes this one stand out is how Laurie Friedman balances the humor with real heart you'll find yourself rooting for Mallory even when she's making questionable decisions. It's a great pick for readers who enjoy slice-of-life stories with lots of dialogue and personality, and reluctant readers often gravitate toward it because the chapters are short and the pacing moves quickly. There's nothing too heavy here just everyday fourth-grade drama that feels authentic without being preachy. If your kid loved books like "Dory Fantasmory" or Diary of a Wimpy Kid, they'll probably enjoy this too.