Adam Canfield of the Slash by Winerip provides an excellent look at school politics and the way some teachers have to choose between best teaching practices or test scores. Adam is co-editor of the award winning school paper The Slash and is initially annoyed by pushy, gifted, third-grade Phoebe who wants to do an article on Eddie the janitor. Co-editor Jennifer heard something about a zoning code that might prohibit front yard basketball hoops, and Principal Marris insists they write a story about a deceased woman named Minnie Bloch who had donated money to the school. It sounds simple enough, but once they start digging, they uncover things about their wonderful school and community that aren’t so wonderful. I couldn’t put this one down but had hoped there would be a little more about the discrepancies between the haves and have nots in Tremble as well as closely tied racial issues. Great book!

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