4th grade boy-girl friendship turns into boy-girl competition. Illustrated, looks fun. Andrew Clements read-alike?

It's obvious that Yee wants readers to come away from this thinking that maybe boys and girls can be friends, that it's normal for kids to explore their identity by trying on roles of being more (or less) girly or macho... but I don't think she necessarily will succeed with the kids who need her lesson most. ?áThere's a lot of pages and drama devoted to the antics of the more apish boys and the more prissy girls. ?áBut then, having the ex-football player be a stay-at-home dad, and having Bobby learn how to be friends with whomever he chooses, no matter what other kids say, is pretty didactic. ?áI bet 4th-grade teachers who see boy vs. girl junk in their classroom will be glad to have this in their repertoire, as they can read a chapter after lunch and keep all their students engaged.

So. ?áNot just humor, but some poignant bits, too. ?áAlso most of the kids are mixed-race and comfortable with it. ?áAlso there are some interesting science bits. ?áAlso Mrs. Ellis-Chan has a pretty interesting job. ?áAnd Bobby's big sister is a football player. ?áIow, something for everyone. ?áNot amazing, but a fun & worthwhile read for the right & receptive audience. ( )

What could possibly go wrong as Bobby enters the 4th grade? Just about everything. He wants a dog but gets a fish. His best friend Holly is becoming all girly thanks to Jillian Zarr. His ex-football hero dad is a PTA lady. He gets stuck on the stinky Koloff tree during a field trip. His campaign for student council rep goes disastrously wrong. But there are some good things, too. Bobby teaches his pet fish Rover to do tricks. And most of all, even if Holly is getting girly, she turns out to still be a good friend. Light-hearted, humorous reading just right for elementary readers, especially boys. ( )

4.5/5 Very funny mixed with good drama. Great conclusion!