Alexandra Hopewell, Labor Coach [School & Library Binding]

Dori Hillestad Butler (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

By the time Alex Hopewell breaks her third egg in her fifth grade class’s Family Life Unit she’s earned the nickname "Alex Hopeless." Since Mrs. Ryder won’t trust her with an egg, she has to write a report about child development. That’s when Alex announces that she is going to be her mom’s labor coach. There’s only one problem—she hasn’t told her mom yet!

Things don’t always go easily for Alex. Her parents talked to Mrs. Ryder at the beginning of the year about her learning disorder, but Alex still thinks Mrs. Ryder hates her. Somehow Alex knows everything will be fine if only she can be there when the baby is born. Finally, her parents agree. Then Alex’s mother goes into labor early, and Alex gets a chance to prove what a great kid she really is.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-7–Alexandra, 11, struggles with a learning disability and an unpleasant teacher at school, while at home she prepares for the birth of a sibling. After having broken three eggs (representing infants) in her class's family-life project, Alex decides that witnessing her sibling's birth firsthand would be a fine replacement for the assignment and sets out to convince her parents that she is mature enough to handle the occasion. Predictably, the baby arrives early, and Alex must deliver it single-handedly, giving her a much-needed confidence boost. Although Alex is likable, most of the characterizations are uneven and the message is a bit heavy-handed. The author describes a childbirth video in blatant detail, describing the blood, mucus, and pain so accurately that it may shock or scare some readers. This book might have limited use in a parenting collection or for children with specific requests; however, suitable alternatives exist in this genre, notably the works of Ellen Conford, Betsy Byars, and Jack Gantos.–Caitlin Augusta, The Darien Library, CT
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-5. Alexandra Hopewell is called "Alex Hopeless" by her classmates; she is endlessly in the doghouse with her teacher, and, as if life weren't complicated enough, she has announced that she is going to be her pregnant mom's labor coach. Just when Alex decides that being in the delivery room might be too overwhelming, her mother goes into labor, and Alex must prove herself to her parents, her teacher, and her skeptical classmates. For the most part, Butler successfully juggles the many elements of her novel, including a protagonist with special needs (Alex has auditory processing disorder); a teacher who is impatient with a pupil's atypical learning style; and the specifics of giving birth. However, portrayals of supporting characters are occasionally too simplistic, and few readers will be drawn by the awkward, dated cover illustration. Still, this merits consideration for its candor regarding the birthing process, unusual in fiction for this age group. Jennifer Locke
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• School & Library Binding: 136 pages
• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Co (April 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807502421
• ISBN-13: 978-0807502426
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,540,388 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dori Hillestad Butler has always wanted to be an author. She wrote her first novel when she was in sixth grade. She wrote it to find out if she could write a novel, and because she needed extra credit in her English class. Her dream of becoming a published author came true in 1997, with the publication of The Great Tooth Fairy Rip-Off. She's gone on to publish more than 35 additional books for children.

Her books have been appeared on children's choice award lists in 18 different states. Trading Places with Tank Talbott won the Maryland Children's Choice Award in 2007. And The Buddy Files: Case of the Lost Boy won the 2011 Edgar Award for best Juvenile Mystery.

Dori has also been a ghostwriter for the Sweet Valley Twins, Unicorn Club and Boxcar Children series, and a children's book reviewer for several publications. She's published numerous short stories, plays and educational materials, and has served as the Iowa Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators' Regional Advisor.

She grew up in southern Minnesota and now lives in Coralville, Iowa with her husband, son, dog and cat. She visits schools and leads writing workshops all over the country.

For more information, visit her website at www.kidswriter.com.