43 pages 1 hour read

Jerry Spinelli

Fourth Grade Rats

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1992

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

In Jerry Spinelli's Fourth Grade Rats, Suds Morton navigates the social pressures of fourth grade, where being a "rat" involves rebellious behavior. Though his friend Joey quickly embraces this new identity, Suds grapples with the expectation to change. To gain his crush Judy's affection, Suds tries to conform but ultimately learns that true maturity means being true to himself. The book contains descriptions of bullying and peer pressure.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Fourth Grade Rats by Jerry Spinelli receives acclaim for its engaging writing and relatable exploration of peer pressure and growing up. Readers appreciate the humor and memorable characters but occasional criticism arises about predictability and simplicity. Overall, it's well-suited for young readers navigating similar experiences.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Fourth Grade Rats?

Readers who enjoy Fourth Grade Rats by Jerry Spinelli are typically upper elementary students who appreciate humorous and relatable stories about everyday school life. Fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney and Judy Moody by Megan McDonald would similarly enjoy Spinelli's light-hearted yet meaningful exploration of growing up.

RecommendedReading Age

8-12years

Lexile Level

340L

Book Details

Genre

Coming of Age / Bildungsroman

Children's Literature

Education

Themes

Life/Time: Childhood & Youth

Relationships: Friendship

Life/Time: Coming of Age

Topics

Education