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Me and Rolly Maloo

Author Janet S. Wong
Illustrated by Elizabeth Buttler
Paperback
$7.95 US
Charlesbridge
6"W x 8.31"H x 0.36"D  
On sale Mar 25, 2014 | 128 Pages | 9781580891592
Grades 2-5
Reading Level: Lexile 740L | Fountas & Pinnell R
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Would you cheat to be popular? That’s the question, Jenna Lee is faced with in this part middle grade coming-of-age part graphic novel that explores the complicating circumstances that come with growing up.

Rolly Maloo, is popular and smart, but not as smart as Jenna Lee, and she worries that she won’t earn a spot in the annual math competition. When Rolly approaches Jenna, Jenna thinks it may be too good to be true, but it is not until Jenna is asked to help Rolly cheat on a test that Jenna’s suspicions are confirmed. Wong writes in the alternating voices of Jenna and Rolly, as well as their classmates, teachers, and parents, allowing readers to see all sides of the dilemma. Buttler’s frequent black and white, graphic-novel-style artwork is emotive and lively, bringing depth to the characters as well as to their reactions.

A thoughtful and heartfelt exploration of the issues of cheating, popularity, and integrity that all kids face along the way.
Janet S. Wong is the acclaimed author of dozens of books for young readers, including Dumpster Diver (Candlewick), Apple Pie 4th of July (Harcourt), and the Minn & Jake series (Farrar Strauss & Giroux). She lives near Princeton, New Jersey. View titles by Janet S. Wong
Elizabeth Buttler View titles by Elizabeth Buttler
Cast of Characters iv
1 Rolly Maloo and Me.....4
2 Mrs. Pie and I.....16
3 The Math Test.....22
4 Cheating—or Not?.....36
5 Confession Time.....50
6 Rumors.....56
7 The Bad News.....68
8 Detective Loop.....76
9 Me and Shorn L......96
10 Momma’s Pies.....100
11 The Math Test, Round Two.....113
12 The Results.....120
Ring, ring! Ring, ring! Ring, ring—
The third day of fourth grade, Rolly Maloo called me up at home. Out of the blue, for no reason at all, she asked me if I wanted to come to her house to play. Rolly Maloo has air conditioning, I bet. But even if her house were ten times hotter than ours, I would go in an Appaloosa minute.
Rolly Maloo is the most popular anybody (girl or boy) in fourth grade and maybe even the history of the whole school, except for her older sister. Marissa Maloo left Edison last year for fifth grade at Hilltop, the fancy private school downtown.
Rolly Maloo spends every recess in the middle of a crowd of kids who let her say everything she wants. I spend every recess sitting under a tree, digging holes in the mud with Shorn L.
Rolly Maloo, what on earth has you calling me, Jenna P. Lee, for no plain reason at all?
Copyright © 2014 by Janet Wong (Author); Elizabeth Buttler (Illustrator). All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
"Middle-grade readers will be easily caught up in the cheating drama." - Booklist

About

Would you cheat to be popular? That’s the question, Jenna Lee is faced with in this part middle grade coming-of-age part graphic novel that explores the complicating circumstances that come with growing up.

Rolly Maloo, is popular and smart, but not as smart as Jenna Lee, and she worries that she won’t earn a spot in the annual math competition. When Rolly approaches Jenna, Jenna thinks it may be too good to be true, but it is not until Jenna is asked to help Rolly cheat on a test that Jenna’s suspicions are confirmed. Wong writes in the alternating voices of Jenna and Rolly, as well as their classmates, teachers, and parents, allowing readers to see all sides of the dilemma. Buttler’s frequent black and white, graphic-novel-style artwork is emotive and lively, bringing depth to the characters as well as to their reactions.

A thoughtful and heartfelt exploration of the issues of cheating, popularity, and integrity that all kids face along the way.

Author

Janet S. Wong is the acclaimed author of dozens of books for young readers, including Dumpster Diver (Candlewick), Apple Pie 4th of July (Harcourt), and the Minn & Jake series (Farrar Strauss & Giroux). She lives near Princeton, New Jersey. View titles by Janet S. Wong
Elizabeth Buttler View titles by Elizabeth Buttler

Table of Contents

Cast of Characters iv
1 Rolly Maloo and Me.....4
2 Mrs. Pie and I.....16
3 The Math Test.....22
4 Cheating—or Not?.....36
5 Confession Time.....50
6 Rumors.....56
7 The Bad News.....68
8 Detective Loop.....76
9 Me and Shorn L......96
10 Momma’s Pies.....100
11 The Math Test, Round Two.....113
12 The Results.....120

Excerpt

Ring, ring! Ring, ring! Ring, ring—
The third day of fourth grade, Rolly Maloo called me up at home. Out of the blue, for no reason at all, she asked me if I wanted to come to her house to play. Rolly Maloo has air conditioning, I bet. But even if her house were ten times hotter than ours, I would go in an Appaloosa minute.
Rolly Maloo is the most popular anybody (girl or boy) in fourth grade and maybe even the history of the whole school, except for her older sister. Marissa Maloo left Edison last year for fifth grade at Hilltop, the fancy private school downtown.
Rolly Maloo spends every recess in the middle of a crowd of kids who let her say everything she wants. I spend every recess sitting under a tree, digging holes in the mud with Shorn L.
Rolly Maloo, what on earth has you calling me, Jenna P. Lee, for no plain reason at all?
Copyright © 2014 by Janet Wong (Author); Elizabeth Buttler (Illustrator). All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

Praise

"Middle-grade readers will be easily caught up in the cheating drama." - Booklist

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