First Grade King CL

Joey King is excited and delighted about starting first grade. His older brother Daniel is already a man of the world at 8, providing Joey with 3rd-grade wisdom. Even still, nothing can dampen Joey's excitement as he will be walking to school regularly with his older brother. After all, Daniel can show him the ropes around their elementary school. First grade is nothing like Joey imagined. A classmate named Ronald taunts him over his name; Joey does not walk out the door the first day knowing how to read as he originally expected; a classmate named Madeline who has a congenital visual impairment proves to be a good friend to Joey. As much as Joey likes school, he dreads dealing with Ronald and his bullying. Madeline takes him in stride; after all, her older sister knows Ronald and his brother and she lets Joey in on a little secret - Ronald was repeating first grade. Ronald steps up his bullying of Madeline; during art class, Madeline was so stressed out over not being able to see how to draw she wets herself. Joey walks her to the nurse's office and acts as her protector. To make matters better still, Joey's mother arranges to have him walk her home on the days her sister has intramural practice. These walks turn out to be good for both children. Joey learns that Madeline has musical talent; she can read and that she fears losing what little vision she has as her eyes "keep getting worse." Madeline is very matter-of-fact; she is extraordinarily bright and independent. In a delightful conclusion, it is Madeline who indirectly helps Ronald "see" her in a new light. This is truly an excellent book.