The Sixth Grade Nickname Game [Hardcover]

Gordon Korman (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: 3 and up

Eleven-year-old best friends Jeff and Wiley, who like to give nicknames to their classmates, try to find the right one for the new girl Cassandra, while adjusting to the football coach who has become their new teacher.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-Wiley and Jeff have been best friends for all of their 11 years. Notorious for the nicknames they have awarded the people in their school, they are quick to dub their new teacher, Mr. Hughes, the former high-school football coach with a booming voice and can-do attitude, Mr. Huge. However, their game soon begins to backfire. A bet with a classmate-that nicknames don't stick unless they fit-has unpredicted results. Cassandra, an interesting and attractive new student with a passion for wildlife conservation, seems to defy all labels. Wiley and Jeff's clever moniker for their class, the Dim Bulbs (as opposed to the Bright Lights for class 6A), has everyone believing that they are incapable of doing well on a state reading test, which puts Mr. Huge's job in jeopardy. As the two boys vie for Cassandra's attention, their nicknaming turns to name-calling and they find the stability of their friendship threatened. Throughout the twists and turns of the plot, Korman manages to keep the tone light and the dialogue amusing. Wiley and Jeff go to great lengths to one-up one another and although Mr. Huge's whistle-tooting classroom behavior may be a bit overblown, it's all in good fun. Best of all, this fast-paced novel with lots of laughs will have readers wondering, along with the main characters, exactly what is in a name.
Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 4^-6. Wiley and Jeff take pride in their ability to come up with apt, funny nicknames, nicknames that stick. But even they don't believe in the power of their monikers until they give "the blandest student" in school a cool nickname, spread it around, and watch his popularity soar. At the same time, they mount a campaign to help their bombastic substitute teacher Mr. Hughes (aka Mr. Huge) keep his job by raising their test scores through constant reading. Told mainly in quick-paced dialogue, the story captures the ambience of sixth grade with humor and empathy. With its appealing title and accessible style, this entertaining book reinforces its own message about the power and fun of reading. Carolyn Phelan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (September 12, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786823828
• ISBN-13: 978-0786823826
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 4.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,073,292 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gordon Korman has written more than fifty middle-grade and teen novels. Favorites include the New York Times #1 bestseller The 39 Clues: One False Note, The Juvie Three, Son of the Mob, Born to Rock, and Schooled. Though he didn't play football in high school, Gordon's been a lifelong fan and season ticket holder. He says, "I've always been fascinated by the 'culture of collision' in football and wanted to explore it-not just from the highlight films but from its darker side as well." Gordon lives with his family on Long Island, New York.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The 6th Grade Nickname Game, June 17, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Sixth Grade Nickname Game (Paperback)

This book is about two best friends called Jeff and Wiley that love to give nicknames to practically everyone they know. But one day a new girl in school arrives, called Cassandra. The boys want to give her a nickname but they don't know what to call her. Soon they start to like her and they want her to invite them to a dance. Jeff and Wiley, who never fought together, started to fight over her. If you want to know who Cassandra asks to the dance, what her nickname will be, and how Jeff and Wiley will solve their problem, then read this book!!!!

I think it was very surprising to find out who Cassandra invites to the dance!!! I tell you, it will be hard to guess!!

I think that this book was very interesting. Yes, it was funny, but not as funny as Gordon Korman's other books, like the Bruno and Boots books(those were really good).Actually, it was not as funny as I thought it would be. Anyways, I gave it four stars because the description was really good. The characters even

seemed like real kids their age. I recommend this book to everyone because it is appropriate for all ages.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book has all the great components of a classic school story., July 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Sixth Grade Nickname Game (Hardcover)

My son (in sixth grade) and I read Korman books together because we think they are so funny. This one lived up to the tradition. The characters are two best friends with only one girl, the annoying classmate and the bland guy ceives a cool nickname, as well as the "you can do it" teacher and the stodgy principal. The girl and the teacher are Korman's "misfits" in this story and provide most of the lauhgs.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You should read this BOOK!!, December 14, 2000

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Sixth Grade Nickname Game (Paperback)

Wiley and Jeff made nicknames for everyone and their subsitute, Mr. Hughes, which is now their teacher. Charles Rossini, Snoopy, wnted another nickname so they had a bet. But, Cassandra, a new girl came and they couldn't find a nickname for her, so they spent more time getting to know her and they strted liking her and they shared their first broken-heart together and they gve her the nickname, Carrot-top. I agree with the author because this book is funny and I like to give nicknames to all my frieds and because this book is entertaining. Also, he treats all the characters right and he makes them seem real. I would recommend it to my friends because it is a cute, entertaining, and book and the kids in the book are the same age as us.