Lunch Money by Andrew Clements
My kids loved the book Frindle by Andrew Clements and so Kristie decided to try Lunch Money. She loved it and suggested I read it as well. I was ready for any single title book after laboring through Charlie Bone. But having not read Frindle myself, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into.
Content
Lunch Money is geared towards your upper elementary aged students, 8-12 years old. Greg Kenton is an 11 year old entrepreneur. Throughout his young life, he has had more than one money-making schemes. In fact when he opens his first savings account, he shocks his dad with a $3,200 deposit.
At the end of his 5th grade year, Greg tries selling toys to his classmates but runs into trouble with the principal. So over the summer he develops a new idea of making miniature comic books, which he names Chunky Comics, to sell for a quarter each. But after a few of his classmates try to steal his idea, the principal once again steps in to put a stop to Greg’s new business.
What should Greg do? Should he walk away from a sound business idea? Or is there a way to make his business benefit both himself, the school, and the other students?
Recommendation
I give this book 12 out of 12 buttered rolls. It was brilliant. Sure, Greg Kenton is a little unrealistic. I can’t get my kids to clean out the car for any price, let alone have them come up with their own ways to earn some money. But that makes Greg more likable. He was intelligent, inventive, and thorough. He did his best and refused to quit. With each stumbling block, he found ways to improve his ideas. Things may not have turned out as he had initially planned, but sometimes that means they turn out better.