Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade

I read this back in 5th grade (no, really, haha) and I really enjoyed it. (i really hated 5th grade but then I hated school overall) At first, the fat kid in here seems like a stereotypical fat child (stealing food, and lunch money) but later on in the book her character is nicely fleshed out (pun not intended) and you get to see she's actually a decent girl when given a proper chance/discipline.

You see how she got fat in the first place, an that she has issues because of her parent's divorce and how her mother treats her, but her friends give her encouragement. Elsie Edwards is the central character in two books in this series, and I felt her character was realistically portrayed as having struggles with self-mage even after she's been show more at a healthy weight for a long time. show less

This book still resonates with me, about a decade later. It brought to light eating disorders, and how girls perceive their weight even as young as ten years old. I struggle(d) with my weight from a young age and reading about someone else dealing with these issues was eye opening. I remember the very last page the overweight friend is walking with her friends and stops walking and says, "I can see my feet when I look down" and that struck me to the core.

A very important book and I'd like to re-read it to see if it still holds up.

Wow, this book is really horrible! Waaaaaaay before the days of political correctness, Jenny and her friends flat out fat shame poor Elsie to the max. I'm not all that into accepting unhealthy weight gain as fine---I think we need to do what we can to live as healthily as possible---but this story is downright heartbreaking; and the worst thing is that the author brings very little moral element out of the story. Elsie is treated horribly by kids and adults, alike; but the more weight she loses, the nicer she is treated. By the end of the story, Elsie can see her feet and all is well. I can't help but wonder how many cases of bullying and eating disorders this author was responsible for.

I remember when the phrase "politically incorrect" show more became popular. I was in ninth grade. I remember thinking it was stupid and anti-American to ever censor anyone's words, and I still believe that to an extent, but this book really is over the top.

On a positive note, when I read this in grade school, I would imagine all the scenes as if they took place at my own school. Reading back through this last night, I can still see it all in my mind! Those were some happy days.

And...Elsie's feet still look really sunburnt on this cover. I never understood that one. show less

i was thinking about this novel today. i read and reread it only because it was around. like judy blume, declements writes a world i've always found grim. if i say their writing is cruel, please understand: that makes this type of social realism sound more interesting than it is.

this novel and blume's are entertaining enough for a reading kid, but they sell the idea that growing up (even just year to year) is being absorbed into a crowd that is simultaneously homogenous (everyone likes the same things) and chaotic (everyone dislikes the same things but with unpredictable degrees of fervor; being weird might make somebody tell a mean joke about you or sock you in the nose.) it all seemed a dreadful portent of a life spent crossing one's show more fingers that the teacher won't give homework on friday so you can spend saturday figuring out what everyone else wants to do so that you can want to do that, too. show less

I first read this when I was in grade or middle school. On re-reading it now, I have so much sympathy for Elsie. It's interesting to wonder how she'd be treated today, when obesity among children is so much more common.

This story of Elsie Edwards in grade school, dealing with her weight and the reactions to her from those in her life, even her own mother, are the experiences of so many children today everywhere. The articulation of this by the author, makes it an easy and fast read. Barthe's books were always books I could not put down as a child. Much like the Beverly Cleary books.
A simple, but personal look into human thought and the struggles in relating to others. It shows just how well children can interpret life and other people's feelings.

The dialog is engaging and realistic. There is a sequel to this book about Elsie later on as a high school student. It follows the same poignancy, the same interest in what people are going through.

Library Thing Part D Diversity-Obesity
DeClements, Barthe. Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade. New York, NY: Puffin, 2009. Print.

A fifth grade teacher strongly suggested that I include this title in my reviews for realistic fiction. She was correct, the book is poignantly sharp. It deals with friendship and obesity. The main characters are Jenny and Elsie, however, the narrator is Jenny and the story is told from her perspective. She relates her feelings and observations when Elsie is transferred to her school and class. The drama a new student brings to a classroom is intermingled with Jenny’s drama at home with her parents and her pre-k brother Kenny. Elsie is obese and to make matters worse her mother and Mrs. Hansen, their teacher, show more make a firm statement that Elsie will only be able to eat her prepared lunch and nothing else. She has a special diet. The children’s comments directed to Elsie are cruel but very realistic. Elsie’s reactions to the comments are mature and reserved and heroic in a sense. She is a disgusting pitiful young lady who wrestles with her eating disorder, steals money to buy candy, and takes her punishment in a dignified manner. She can see over the other girls unkind comments and stays right there waiting for an opportunity to earn their friendship. Elsie conquers her compulsion to over eat and wins favor with the girls through her tutoring them math and giving them homemade gifts, and sharing her knowledge of popular music. I enjoyed the simple read, and the preteen dialogue was still realistic even though this title was written in 1981. I don’t think a present day teacher and principal would react to a parent’s demands concerning their obese child, the way it was presented in this title. But I do think the student’s behavior and the other girls’ mothers’ reactions to Elsie were very believable. This read is light-hearted but with an undertone of optimism in the face of friendships, family relationships and a grappling disability of obesity. I would include this read in a realistic fiction collection along with the author’s recent titles. Curriculum connection is language arts lower elementary. show less