THE LAST HOLIDAY CONCERT
by Andrew Clements, illustrated by Brian Selznick
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0689845162
Ages 8-12
176 pages

• Read an Excerpt

Hart Evans was the most popular kid at Collins Elementary School and is on his way to owning that title again at Palmer Intermediate. So when he unintentionally shoots a rubber band at his chorus teacher one afternoon, he expects it to be laughed off. After all, it was an accident.

Mr. Meinert, the chorus teacher, is wound so tight that he blows up at Hart and the entire class. In a huff, he announces that he is stepping down, and they are now responsible for planning their entire holiday concert themselves. Hart is elected the new chorus director, and it takes a few practices for him to finally learn how to run a class.

After assembling committees and coming up with lists of songs, Hart finally thinks he has everything running on track. But then his classmates get mad. Why is Hart, their friend, acting like a teacher? It takes a heart-to-heart with Mr. Meinert to learn what it takes to be a friendly and fair, yet strict, chorus director.

As with many of Andrew Clements's books, including the ever-popular FRINDLE, THE LAST HOLIDAY CONCERT is another great story about how kids can come together to make their own choices and yield great results. Sometimes teachers need to be taught a few lessons, but they always have a few great ones to teach their students as well. This just might be one of Clements's best books about teamwork since THE SCHOOL STORY and THE LANDRY NEWS.

THE LAST HOLIDAY CONCERT will be a great addition to your bookshelves this winter. The characters are warm and real, just like people you might meet in your own sixth grade classroom. Clements has created yet another winner.

   --- Reviewed by Hannah Gomez (gingermulatta@kiwibox.com)

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