Four linked stories tell the story of Stuey's year in second grade in which he masters reading, devises an ingenious "Halloween Caper" to haul in extra candy, tries out for "bitty league soccer," and discovers that being nice to a fellow classmate, the annoying Lilly, isn't the end of the world.
Stuey's relationships are realistically portrayed. Although his father moved out, the two talk frequently on the phone. His older brother, Anthony, might call his younger brother "Stu-pid"all the time, but he's there to give encouragement at the big soccer game. And Ms. Curtis, the second grade teacher who prefers to be called Ginger, is firmly in Stuey's corner as he navigates the demands of second grade.
Jane Schoenberg's first chapter book is a humorous take on the trials and tribulations of second grade and will appeal to young readers graduating to chapter books. The delightful black-and-white illustrations by Cambria Evans compliment the text, emphasizing its humor. A sequel, Stuey Lewis Against All Odds, is due out in spring of 2012.
The One and Only Stuey Lewis
by Jane Schoenberg
illustrations by Cambria Evans
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 128 pages
Published: July 2011
I really enjoyed this when I read it - despite not being American and so not really knowing what she describes so well. It was a really fun read and I thought it would appeal hugely to its target audience.
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