Reviews for Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade

The average rating for Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade based on 2 reviews is 2.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2021-02-21 00:00:00 John Pitchford Jr childhood favourite book re-reads vlog:

Review # 2 was written on 2013-09-24 00:00:00 Marc Dellaire I'd just like to say to those of you who think this book was not a real representation of fifth grade and it was "over the top", this was a pretty realistic representation for me. Granted I don't remember all the details of the book, but I remember relating to it at the time. I actually read this book when I was in the 5th grade the year it was published... and I... was the fat blonde girl. My day at school consisted of being taunted and teased. Kids would act like I smelled bad (I didn't) and made jokes that I never showered. My hair was difficult to tame so they also liked to say that I didn't brush my hair. I spent my recess alone on the field, walking around the perimeter. I had friends, but we didn't always hang out together during recess because they would do things that would put me in the spotlight to get mocked. I wanted to jump rope, but couldn't because I'd get laughed at. I wanted to play tether ball but the meanest boys in school would say nasty things to me endlessly. I wanted to play wall ball... but again... same thing. If I sat on the swings or played on the monkey bars, I was shouted at not to break it. If I got upset they'd say, "Watch out or she's going to sit on you!" My last name, unfortunately, sounds like "bomb" (it's not) but that's how some people chose to pronounce. So of course I was the source of laughter when someone would shout "SHE'S GOING TO EXPLODE!" I was asked if I "liked to eat" and when I answered "well doesn't everyone like to eat?" the boy said "haha no... I don't like to eat." And proceeded with his usual torments. After I had already read this book, my fifth grade teacher decided to read this book to the class (she read to us every day). And she always read the names of the chapters. And the first chapter is titled, "The Fat Blonde Girl." When she pulled out this book, I absolutely dreaded her reading the title of the first chapter. I wished and prayed inside my head that she would skip it. But... she didn't. She read it loud and clear... THE FAT BLONDE GIRL. Every single kid in my class turned to look at me and laugh. And maybe it was just because I was feeling humiliated, but I swear the teacher actually smirked a bit. So for those of you who had a lovely childhood where no one was cruel to you, be very grateful for that. And I'm really glad that you personally weren't this cruel to anyone. But bullying does exist. It did in 1990 and it does now. And to teachers... if you have an overweight little girl in your class... I beg of you... don't read this book out loud to the class. I think maybe you think that it would help somehow, because it's supposed to be a feel good story about acceptance... but kids won't see it that way. It will just fuel the jokes and make life so much harder for her.