Ellray Jakes Is Not a Chicken

March 14, 2011
EllRay is shorter than everyone in his third-grade classâeven the girls, who include Emma of Warner's Only Emma and its sequels. Yet in this lively series launch, EllRay displays big-time guts as he stands up to class bully Jared. Pondering why Jared has waged "war" against him, EllRay rules out that it's because he's black ("Jared would have said something if it was. He is not the type of kid to keep things to himself"), deciding that it's either because "I'm better at just about everything at schoolâexcept being bigâthan Jared is" or that "there could be no reason at all." When EllRay's father promises him a day at Disneyland if he stays out of trouble for a week, he worries that Jared will make him lose his temperâand the trip. Though it appears that EllRay's acceptance of Jared's challenge to a fight will doom his amusement park dreams, Warner's clever plotting brings an unexpected and rewarding ending. EllRay's ingenuous narration and the well-observed classroom dynamics are the main draw, and Harper's cartoons, incorporated throughout, further enliven the story. Ages 6â8.

April 1, 2014

Gr 1-3-Third grader EllRay Jakes is fighting a secret war against Jared and Stanley, two bigger boys in his class who take every opportunity to call him names or grind their knuckles into his ribs. He is afraid to tell his parents, teacher, or anyone else, for fear that the situation will get worse and he'll get in trouble. He already is in trouble at home because his latest progress report said he was disruptive in class. (He tried to explain that the girl next to him wanted to be distracted, but no one listened.) When his father promises EllRay a family trip to Disneyland if he can stay out of trouble for one week, EllRay uses every bit of creativity and will an eight-year-old can exert to avoid the bullies and keep his nose clean. The story is told from EllRay's point of view, so the listener is able to see the world through his eyes. In this series first, available on audio for the first time, Warner has created a memorable, realistic character in EllRay, even though she misses the opportunity to teach her audience that it is okay to ask grownups for help. The narrator, Corey Allen, was not convincing as the voice of EllRay, however, and may be annoying to listeners.-Amanda Rollins, Northwest Village School, Plainville, CT

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