Review by Booklist Review
Gr. 3-5. "First grade babies! Second grade cats! Third grade angels! Fourth grade rrrrats!" So goes the school-yard jingle at Suds Morton's school. Suds liked being an angel last year--rat status scares him. Making the transition harder is Suds' best friend, Joey, who's taking the rat thing so seriously he's given up peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for MEAT. Suds tries to show some ratlike fangs--he pushes a couple of first-graders off the swings (a scene that makes a great dust jacket), he throws his teddy bear out the window, and when his mother asks him to clean up, he informs her he "ain't got time." This preadolescent rebellion is soon squelched by Suds' mother. In a saccharine last scene, Suds confesses all his sins, and Mrs. Morton hugs him and tells Suds she still loves him. Like the bubbles from which Suds derives his name, the book is light enough to float, but the concept works, the dialogue is snappy, and the kids are appealing (though they often seem older than nine). Besides, the title alone will sell this one. ~--Ilene Cooper
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The transition from third to fourth grade befuddles Suds Morton; according to PW, ``Rapid-fire dialogue and a hilarious string of episodes unfold a story with a valuable message about peer pressure and the importance of being oneself.'' Ages 8-12. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-5-- The book's title comes from a playground rhyme, ``Third grade angels!/Fourth grade . . . RRRRRATS!'' Joey Peterson, the best friend of Suds (the story's narrator), takes the rhyme a bit too seriously and instructs Suds, Svengali-like, in the ways of rebellion and macho bravado. Complicating things is the long-standing crush Suds has on Judy, a girl more interested in seeing bugs crawl all over him than in having him open doors for her. The short-lived rebellion is finally squelched by Joey's mother, and Suds is relieved to return to his old habits. This is a fast-paced story about kids growing up too quickly. Some of the characters are exaggerated but believable, and the scenes in which Joey tries to toughen up Suds are especially funny. This should prove a popular addition to most collections. --Todd Morning, Schaumburg Township Pub . Lib . , IL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
In a funny, believable, pithy look at peer pressure and growing up, Suds enters fourth grade and is pressured by his friend Joey into becoming a true 'rat' - pushing first graders off swings, refusing to clean up his room. A terrific choice for the second- or third-grader just venturing into chapter books. From HORN BOOK 1991, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The latest Newbery winner spins a funny, light story about a couple of boys who take to heart a familiar chant: ``First grade babies!/Second grade cats!/Third Grade angels!/Fourth grade rats!'' Narrator Suds (so called because a warm bath is his most effective solace) is having a tough time complying with best- friend Joey's demand that he give up baby stuff like peanut- butter sandwiches and his treasured elephant-covered lunch box; macho behavior--such as being mean to little kids and creating chaos in his room--is even harder, while saying ``No'' to his mom proves almost impossible. Still, Joey's new behavior--especially his stoicism after a bee-sting--have such a dramatic effect on friend Judy's affections that Suds makes the effort, to the dismay of parents and teacher. Judy's regard turns out to be as fickle as it is self-serving; she literally leaves Suds up a tree after he rescues her cat. After Mom comes to the rescue, she and Joey's mother call a halt to the premature adolescent behavior-- to everyone's relief. The humor here is broad but genuinely comical, while the kids' real concerns are presented with sympathy; the parents are laudably sensible, assertive, and good at keeping their cool. A fine addition to the Cleary/Hurwitz league. (Fiction. 7-10)
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
