Fourth Grade Journey

A Fourth Grade Teacher's Journey Through the World of Books

Saturday, December 16, 2017

Engineers by Jarrett Lerner

How I Heard About It:  This was a title that has been getting a lot of BUZZ online.  After seeing friend after friend after friend RAVE about it, I knew it was time to get a copy, read it, and see what was inside the cover!  

What It Is About:  Ken is an active member of the "Enginerds" which is a group of boys who are smart, interested in math and science, and live to "outbrain" each other.  When Ken receives a secret gift from someone "unknown", he isn't sure quite what to think.  After his buddies arrive to help unwrap the gift, they discover a collection of metal parts.  As they contemplate how to put these pieces together, the gift itself appears in the shape of a robot. The boys are beyond thrilled and can't wait to find out what this large robot can do.  Ken hides the robot from his family, but after a few days he realizes this may be harder than he thinks.  Part of the problem is that the robot eats and eats and eats!  The enginerds have to come up with a plan to "feed" the robot.  Not only do they have to find enough "food", they also learn that there is more than one robot roaming around town consuming way too much.  The boys must come up with a plan and come up with it fast.  

What I Thought Of It:  This was just the book that I needed.  It was a complete fun ride and I could NOT put the book down.  The whole format is absolute perfection for middle-grade readers.  The chapters were short.  There are illustrations throughout the book.  The action starts on page one and doesn't stop until the very last word.  I also loved that the story ended on a cliffhanger which leaves the reader waiting for the second installment.  

Who Should Read It:   Readers in grades three, four, and five would be perfect for the book.  The novel would also be awesome for readers that may struggle a bit with longer novels.  The set-up of the story would be ideal to put in the hands of an individual reader.  I'm planning on using it as a class read aloud because I want all my fourth graders to experience this fun, fast-paced, and engaging story.  Happy Reading!  

Rating:  5 STARS out of 5 Stars

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