There's a Boy in the Girls Bathroom (Louis Sachar)

 

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Age Range: 5th - 7th grade. The characters in this book can be related to by the kids of this age group. Like some of the characters, they too seek guidance in their life due to their lack of experiences. Developing a sense of one's self is important. Some parts of this book suggest just that.

Plot: Bradley Chalkers is the oldest kid in his 5th grade class. He is a bad seed with an array of behavioral problems. He lies and bullies his classmates. He is overall just a mean person. He doesn't do well in his studies. He never received a gold star. He hardly ever does any homework. This is why he was held back a year making him the oldest child in the class. The school contacts a new counselor to try to help Bradley turn his life around because they were concerned about his scholastic future and behavioral problems. In the midst of this, a new student comes to his class. Bradley ends up befriending him. The book takes you on a journey through the eyes of a troubled boy and shows you that everybody deserves a second chance. All he needed was someone to truly believe in him. By the end of the book, Bradley is reformed due to the efforts of his counselor Carla.

Characters: Bradley Chalkers, Jeff Fishkin, Carla the counselor

Setting: Most of the book is set at Bradley's school and the counselor's office.

Theme: Everyone deserves a second chance

Equity: Everything in this book seemed to be depicted accurately