The Hero of Third Grade [Hardcover]

Alice DeLaCroix (Author), Cynthia Fisher (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

When Randall changes to a new school, he pretends to be an anonymous hero until he finds that being himself is good enough.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-3-Randall feels that his life is ruined. His parents have divorced and he and his mother have to move to a new town. Now the class bully is after him and the rest of the kids just ignore him. Then he finds a mission when he remembers an old movie-The Scarlet Pimpernel. Like the daring French champion, he resolves to do noble deeds in secret. He retrieves a homework paper vandalized by Gordo's gang, locates a stolen toy, and encourages a student upset by a classroom conflict. Each time, he leaves an anonymous note stamped with a red flower. The whole class is excited by the mysterious messages, and speculation about the unseen hero occupies every lunch hour and recess. While Randall enjoys his secret identity, he wonders if he will ever be accepted as himself. The short chapters and realistic dialogue will appeal to transition readers, and they'll identify with the authentic characters and classroom relationships. A humorous beginning chapter book with a quiet message about courage and individuality.
Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 2-4. The Scarlet Pimpernel, that swashbuckling nobleman who worked incognito to save aristocratic necks from the guillotine, inspires an embattled third-grader to daring deeds in this funny, ingenious chapter book. Randall faces a tough transition. His parents are divorced, and he and his mother have moved to a new town. At school, he isn't fitting in. When the class bully confiscates another kid's homework, Randall thinks of an old movie, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and he decides to intervene. Thus starts Randall's clandestine career of keeping an eye out for kids in trouble and writing helpful anonymous notes to them. As he helps others, he finds himself losing his own sense of isolation. A wonderful sense of pacing underlies this readable story, with action steadily building to a climax at a class carnival, and Fisher's comical pen-and-ink drawings capture the intrigue and chaos of a grade-school classroom. Best of all, however, is the lesson about finding oneself by looking out for others. Connie Fletcher
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 72 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House (October 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 082341745X
• ISBN-13: 978-0823417452
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,270,690 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review of The Hero of Third Grade, March 18, 2003

By 

T.Barker (Richmond, KY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hero of Third Grade (Hardcover)

This was a great book. I really enjoyed the main character Randall. He is going through the struggle of his parents divorcing, moving to a new town, starting at a new school, and making new friends. I really feel that children will be able to relate to the struggles that Randall experiences in the book. I think this would be an excellent choice for beginning readers. I found this book to be both funny and interesting!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a charmer!, January 18, 2003

By 

A teacher (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hero of Third Grade (Hardcover)

Randall is an irresistible hero. Young readers can't help but relate to his efforts to fit in at his new school. Warm-hearted and true-to-life, this book will draw in even reluctant readers with its humor.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Summer reading turned enjoyable :-), August 27, 2006

By 

Y. Hill "Yesi Hill" (Coral Springs, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Hero of Third Grade (Hardcover)

This book was a selected "summer reading" story for my son. We weren't sure what to expect but had no choice in the matter given it was mandatory.

Bottom-line: My son and I both enjoyed the book. It was an easy read for him, the characters were very likable and the story flowed easily. Randall (main character) is very sweet, a bit insecure and has a good heart.