The Last Holiday Concert

I love any book by Andrew Clements, but this might be one of my favorites. In this book, a boy named Hart Evans gets into trouble with his Chorus teacher for shooting a rubber band. The next thing that he knows, HE is the Chorus director and he has to plan the next holiday concert all by himself! This book was a little unrealistic, but that made it even better. And the holiday concert in the end turns out great- I wish that we could have one like that at my school! I would get this book, especially if you are already an Andrew Clements fan.

I have recommended this book to half a dozen elementary school age kids, and all of them have loved it. And in contrast to the views spotlighted above, several of them have also read Kate DiCamillo's "Because of Winn-Dixie" and think that "Ida B." is a much better read, and I agree. This is the rare book that creates a direct connection between the reader and the protagonist's emotions and motivations; the children I know who have read the book all have remarked about how the author allowed them to "get inside" the protagonist's head in ways they hadn't experienced before. Ida B. has all the runaway emotions and issues of self-control that elementary school children struggle with -- anger at her parents for not fulfilling all of their promises, anger at her schoolmates and teachers for not allowing her to fit in, anger at the very environment around her for not staying perpetually the same. She has moments of elation and moments of deep depression. She comes up with creative ways to "punish" her parents for breaking their promises. In other words, she's a real child and not the usual paragon that we typically find in children's fiction. Eventually Ida B. manages to reconcile herself to her surroundings in different ways -- by the end of the book she is able to make peace with herself and those around her in ways that rang true to me and to the children I know who have read the book. Ultimately, the book's message for children is an optimistic one -- don't despair, because no matter how hard things seem, you will find ways of coping, and this too shall pass.

The events of "The Last Holiday Concert" begin with a boy flinging rubber bands during a choir practice which he considers to be incredibly boring. Irritated at this childish behavior and upset because his position will soon be eliminated, the instructor decides he's had enough. When very little disciplinary action is taken against the student, he lays down a challenge --- organizing the upcoming holiday concert will be all up to the students and he's stepping out of the matter entirely. The boy who flung the rubber bands quickly takes charge, feeling that he could manage things much better than what the teacher had been doing. He soon finds that matters aren't as simple as he thought and that without guidance, things are getting out of control. But with help, he and the class find themselves on the way to a holiday concert that will be one everyone in attendance will remember. Those who have read many of Clement's past works will find that things go rather differently in this one than in some of his other stories. That's good thing and the ending of this book leaves a lot to think about.

(This review first appeared in the "Ephrata (Pa.) Review.") Clements possesses the unsettling ability to throw readers smack dab into the rebellious chaos that is called middle school. In this story, readers are "caught" up in a sixth-grade chorus. The music teacher, upset that his job has been cut in a selective "reduction in work force" and angry with some students' antics, turns over the holiday concert's production to the students. The class elects as its director popular Hart Evans, who dislikes chorus and who has already gotten into hot water with Mr. Meinert. As Hart learns how to manage his fractious peers, Mr. Meinert sees that allowing students to create their own unique production may be more important than musical perfection. One strand of this lively story illuminates the relationship between freedom (democracy) and peace, the messy self-interested "lobbying" and eventual compromise that makes for peace-even in the sixth-grade classroom. After all, peace is the hope of the holiday season.

Ida B. Applewood is a delightful character who is sure to inspire and amuse young readers. Ida B. is a touching and humorous story about a quirky little girl living an idyllic life in the country. She is home-schooled by her doting parents, and the whole earth is her classroom. Her family, the trees, the brook, and her animals are all the companionship she needs. Ida B.'s life drastically changes when her family faces a crisis and she is forced to start attending public school. Ida B.'s response is to harden her heart and shut out the world. We get to experience her internal struggles and see the messes she creates for herself with her new tough-as-nails demeanor. A caring teacher slowly helps peel away the layers so the true Ida B. Applewood can shine again.