Genre: Realistic Fiction

Summary: This is the story of four students and their teacher as they become friends despite the strange circumstances of their connection as well as use their life experiences to win the state academic bowl. ( )

This is a book I re-read regularly, because the story is fantastic, the characters are well rounded, and E.L. Konigsburg really has a way with words.

The book begins at nearly the end of the chronological order of events, then tracks back and forth to fill in the picture. Each major character is given ample development, because each is given his or her own chapter that intersects with another characters, demonstrating their connection to the others.

The oversimplified plot goes something like this: four kids are involved in an academic quiz bowl competition in the ultimate battle: sixth graders vs. eighth graders. How this particular team comes together is really the crux of the matter. All the questions and answers used in the quiz bowl are included in the book, so be careful: you might just learn something! ( )

This is about four less-than-straight-A students who come together with their teacher, a paraplegic, to win the Academic Bowl. This story deals with issues of race, societal expectations, societal roles, and handicapped people by not dealing with these issues as issues. Rather, the author simply allows these multi-cultural, less than perfect students and their paraplegic teacher to tell their own stories. While the story is about winning a competition, it really is about the fact that every one of these less-than-perfect kids and their less-than-perfect teacher is a winner, especially when they work together. ( )

This is a good example of realistic fiction because each of the main characters comes from a diverse background. Also, they take a while to learn to trust each other before becoming "the souls" and even then may not associate with each other outside their meetings. Mrs. Olinski also chooses her team very carefully and focuses on the dynamics of the group. ( )

A decent book about 6th graders and their bond with their teacher. This is good because the students can relate to the characters.