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Original Title:	Sixth Grade Can Really Kill You
ISBN:	0606081690 (ISBN13: 9780606081696)
Edition Language:	English
Literary Awards:	Sunshine State Young Readers Award (1987), Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award (1988), New Mexico Land of Enchantment Award (1989)

Sixth Grade Can Really Kill You

Barthe DeClements

Hardcover | Pages: 146 pages

Rating: 3.74 | 2111 Users | 81 Reviews

Details Containing Books Sixth Grade Can Really Kill You

Title	:	Sixth Grade Can Really Kill You
Author	:	Barthe DeClements
Book Format	:	Hardcover
Book Edition	:	Anniversary Edition
Pages	:	Pages: 146 pages
Published	:	January 1st 1995 by Turtleback Books (first published September 4th 1985)
Categories	:	Fiction. Young Adult. Childrens. Middle Grade. Realistic Fiction. Academic. School. Humor

Explanation To Books Sixth Grade Can Really Kill You

Helen Nichols has a reputation for being one of the best pitchers, and worst readers, in the sixth grade. She's also known as one of the biggest troublemakers in school. At the start of the year, she's assigned to the classroom of Mrs.Lobb--"Blob" to those who know her--a teacher with very little tolerance and a lot of rules. Although Helen works for hours after school every day with her mother on her homework, she can't fake her way through reading assignments and tests all year, and soon she's in danger of failing the sixth grade. With the sympathetic guidance of some understanding adults (her father, uncle, and new teacher, Mr. Marshall), Helen makes the difficult decision to start taking special ed classes in reading--even if it means getting made fun of by her classmates.

Although many of the references in the book are more than a little out of date--the students talk about playing Van Halen albums and use Pee Chee notebooks--DeClements does an excellent job of creating a relatable pre-teen world. Her sixth graders talk like sixth graders, and act like sixth graders, without ever lapsing into the sort of self consciously good behavior that makes it obvious that they were written by an adult. This is important, not only because it makes the characters believable, but because it is an honest portrayal of the sort of power struggles that kids at this age have with the adults around them. They're not sure if they want to be treated like children or teenagers, and take a great deal of pride in pulling things over on adults (particularly their parents) when they can. Helen frequently does things at her friend's house that she knows her mother wouldn't allow--drive in her friend's brother's fiberglass car, go to a horror movie unchaperoned--and this seemed so wonderfully realistic to me.

DeClements also deals with Helen's bad behavior and reading difficulties with the same sort of empathy and realism. It's not difficult to see why she acts out so much, but the connection between her bad behavior and her disability is never belabored. Also, just because Helen decides to take special education classes doesn't mean that she suddenly loses all of her self-deprecating negativity. "Face it, Helen," she says in the next to last chapter. "You're dumb in reading."

Another facet of DeClement's realism is that the adults in the novel have their problems and short-comings, too. Mrs. Lobb is certainly a beleagured teacher, but she's also unable to find a way to connect with Helen and be a productive figure in her life. Helen's mother also means well with her refusal to let Helen take special education classes, but her actions are mostly motivated by her pride, and Helen's father even admits this to her. Adults aren't perfect either, and I think that demonstrating that shows a lot of respect for young readers.

The other standout aspect of this book is that it really underscores the importance of taking responsibility for oneself and one's actions. Helen not only decides of her own accord to pay back the school for her spray-painting vandalism, but also asks herself to be considered for special ed classes. Later in the book, she assures her mother that at twelve, she's old enough--and responsible enough--to stay at home without supervision after school. Learning to be responsible helps Helen begin to feel better about herself as a person, and I think this is an applicable message for any young reader.

Rating Containing Books Sixth Grade Can Really Kill You

Ratings: 3.74 From 2111 Users | 81 Reviews

Assessment Containing Books Sixth Grade Can Really Kill You

Sixth Grade Can Really Kill You by Barthe DeClements is a controversial book mainly for the use of the word retarded. This word is frowned upon by almost everyone, with good reason. The book uses this word to talk about people who use resources from the special education room. This word is definitely not one of my favorite words, and it hurts to read, but I believe that this word in this book can be used to teach students that the words we chose to use are not okay sometimes, and can hurt

I remember being so excited to read this, after I had read Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade a dozen times. I also remember checking that it was the same author after I read it! There's only a passing mention of one of the girls from the first book, and the rest focuses on Helen, who has a learning disability. But where Fifth Grade was so fun because it really felt like the kids were real, this book felt like an adult's attempt to show the kids she was still cool and hip. A lot of the things that

I thought that this book was great. It teaches people that you're gonna make it in life no matter what kind of education you get. You're going to be ok, whatever you are good or bad at. The best thing you can do is just sit back and watch your life take its toll and remember to control those big decisions in life. We even have to have a little fun in our lives just like "Bad Helen". I liked the characters that was her dad and Mr. Marshall. I liked her dad because he was easy-going about Helen's



The main character in this book is different from most of the books I've read in the children and young adult categories. Unlike most book protagonists, Helen has a reading disability. She's had it all her life, and her mother tries her best to help, with little success for either. Add to that Helen's propensity for trouble-making, and we have a sixth grader who really doesn't get along well at school.The story follows Helen through her sixth grade year as her feelings about school worsen along

This book addresses special education, specifically dyslexia. The protagonist, Helen, can't read. How did she get to sixth grade without something being done about it? Her mother would not recognize that there was a problem with her daughter that she could not solve. I believe the author does a good job of showing the frustration Helen feels. She worries about failing sixth grade and not being able to go to junior high with her friends. Bear in mind that the book was written in 1985 so Helen

I love how this book raises awareness for kids with learning disabilities. It helps kids who have learning disabilities relate to Helen's character and helps them realize that they're not alone. It also helps kids who don't have learning disabilities realize that just because a classmate is in special ed doesn't mean that they are dumb. This book also raises awareness about the special ed program in public schools so that parents won't be ashamed to give their kids the help that they need. All