About This Book
Reach for this book when you want to encourage a child who is frustrated by rigid rules or who thinks school is boring. It is particularly effective for children who may not see themselves as traditionally smart but have a high capacity for creative problem solving. Through the lens of the hilariously unreliable narrator A.J., the story celebrates the power of out of the box thinking and the importance of teamwork when facing a challenge. In this installment of the My Weirdest School series, the Ella Mentry students prepare for the Brain Games, a competition where they must build complex structures and machines like toothpick bridges and remote control cars. Led by the eccentric and creative Miss Brown, the class learns that innovation often requires looking at things from a different perspective (literally). It is a lighthearted, fast-paced read that validates the messy, experimental side of learning, making it a perfect choice for reluctant readers who enjoy humor and slapstick energy.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
Parents should be prepared for the narrator's use of words like 'hate' or 'stupid' in a hyperbolic, comedic context, which is a hallmark of A.J.'s voice. Otherwise, the book maintains a consistently light, humorous tone typical of the series. While there is a rivalry between schools, it remains within the realm of cartoonish competition.
Ideal Reader
An elementary student who prefers jokes and fast-paced action over heavy drama. It is specifically great for the kid who loves LEGOs, building, or breaking things apart to see how they work, and who might need a reminder that 'weird' ideas are often the best ones.
Parent Prep
This book can be read cold. A parent might reach for this if their child is expressing school-refusal or boredom, or if they have received feedback that their child struggles to follow standard instructions but excels in creative play.
Age Experience
Younger readers (6-7) will delight in the slapstick humor and Miss Brown's quirky behavior. Older readers (8-10) will appreciate the engineering challenges and the satirical take on school rivalries.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many STEM-focused books that are dry or overly instructional, this book embeds engineering concepts into a highly accessible, laugh-out-loud comedy format that appeals to reluctant readers.
Read plot summary
A.J. and the third grade class at Ella Mentry School are preparing for the Brain Games, a high-stakes STEAM competition against their rivals at Dirk School. Their new teacher, Miss Brown, encourages them to use extreme creativity and unconventional methods to build bridges out of toothpicks and design remote control cars. The story follows their trial-and-error process, culminating in a competition where the grand prize is a trip to an amusement center called PizzaWorld.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Miss Brown says that to be creative, you sometimes have to look at the world upside down. What is a problem you solved by looking at it in a different way?
2
A.J. and his friends have to work together on the toothpick bridge. What was the hardest part about working as a team, and how did they fix it?
3
If you were entering the Brain Games, what kind of invention would you want to build to help your school win?
4
How does Miss Brown's teaching style compare to other teachers A.J. has had? Why do you think her 'weird' methods helped the class?
