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Title details for The Last Holiday Concert by Andrew Clements - Available

The Last Holiday Concert

by Andrew Clements
Fred Berman
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available
For Hart Evans, being the most popular fifth grader has its advantages: kids look up to him and teachers let him get away with everything. But during one choir practice, Hart zones out too far, accidentally flinging a rubber band at his teacher. Mr. Meinert realizes that if Hart is ever going to discover his musical potential, his punishment must march to a different drummer. And then, as Mr. Meinert is about to leave school because there is no funding left for his job, he orchestrates a class vote to appoint Hart as the new interim choir director. Now it's Hart's job to ready the class for the annual Holiday concert, and ultimately to convince the board why his teacher should stay in school.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Awards

  • Release date

    September 14, 2004

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780739345139
      • File size: 86825 KB
      • Duration: 03:00:53

  • Languages

    • English

  • Levels

    • ATOS Level: 5.4
    • Lexile® Measure: 800
    • Interest Level: 4-8(MG)
    • Text Difficulty: 3-4

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Few authors capture school situations as convincingly as Andrew Clements. In his latest novel, sixth-grader Hart is faced with the challenge of marshaling his chorus mates through preparation for the school concert. Consensus, fairness, and ownership, as seen from both the teachers' and the students' points of view, take on new meaning. Fred Berman narrates at a fast clip, capturing the flavor of a multifaceted classroom and the speed at which sixth-graders move. He voices teacher Mr. Meinert's frustration, as well as Hart's alternating enthusiasm and disappointment as he hones his leadership skills. A.R. 2005 ALA Notable Recording (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      October 11, 2004
      Clements's (The Report Card
      ) latest school-centered novel introduces Hart Evans, the most popular boy in school ("Hart could have charmed the hairnet off a cafeteria lady"). He hates sixth-grade chorus; while the chorus practices for the upcoming holiday concert, the bored boy shoots two elastic bands that hit the teacher, Mr. Meinert. The man hustles Hart to the principal's office, and readers then discover something that Hart does not know: because of budget cuts, the chorus director's job is being terminated at semester's end. His patience strained by this and by his class's lack of interest, the teacher snaps and hands responsibility for the concert to the students ("It's not my concert. It's your
      concert. You don't like the songs I've picked? Fine. Pick your own"). After the students elect Hart as director, the teacher looks on with understandably mixed feelings. Meanwhile, as the boy panics about the approaching concert, his diplomacy gives way to bossiness that lands him in trouble with his peers. The third-person narrative focuses on both boy and teacher, and some readers may grow impatient with the sections that reveal Mr. Meinert's feelings. It comes as no surprise that—with Meinert's help—the concert is an unparalleled success. Though the account of the culminating event and of Hart's farewell to the teacher are affecting, Clements's fans may find that this belabored tale does not live up to his best performances. Ages 8-12.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • ATOS Level:5.4
  • Lexile® Measure:800
  • Interest Level:4-8(MG)
  • Text Difficulty:3-4

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