What's Bugging Bailey Blecker?

by Gail Donovan

For fifth-grader Bailey Blecker, a classwide case of head lice is the worst thing that could happen. She's been growing her hair to donate, and she's "determined" (or stubborn, as her mom calls it) not to cut it until it's long and lice free enough to be useful. But lice are only the beginning of Bailey's troubles, and in this classroom comedy, the solution is full of twists and tangles.
With pitch-perfect dialogue, the right amount of humor and sympathy, lots of action, and an unfortunately familiar problem, this middle-grade comedy will leave kids "itching" for more.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Humor, Friendship

194 pages, ebook

First published February 1, 2011

About the author

Gail Donovan was fired from her first job in an ice cream shop for making the sundaes too big. She now works in a library and writes middle grade novels, including IN MEMORY OF GORFMAN T. FROG, named to the New York Public Library’s 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing list; FINCHOSAURUS, winner of the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award; as well as the trilogy SPARROW BEING SPARROW (Publishers Weekly, starred review), SPARROW SPREADS HER WINGS (Maine Literary Award winner for Young People's Literature), and SPARROW, ALWAYS. She has also written for the Rainbow Fish & Friends picture book series based on the bestselling work of Marcus Pfister. Donovan lives on the coast of Maine, where she jumps in the ocean all year round.

Reviews

[Sophia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wasn’t written horribly, but I have some issues with it.

Firstly, it’s lacking the correct use of grammar. For example, instead of combining two sentences—that relate—with a comma and a coordinating conjunction, the author simply refers to two separate sentences. This can be hard to understand… refer to “She had kept after school and weekends for Olivia. Who was standing there, not saying anything.” Really, if you think about it, that second sentence is not really a sentence! I’m probably being quite picky with this, but to be fair, it bugged me.

Now, listen to this: “The plan was to go back to the house.” *period* “Have lunch and cake.” *another period* “Walk around the island, maybe stopping to explore the old fort.” *then again, a period* This continues on for a little, remaining the same format. I’m convinced the author does not believe in using commas!

Finally, I would simply like to point out that the book was written greatly, the story is marvelous, and the author did an excellent job on this novel. I could never write a book, so I must give props to Gail Donovan for such an extraordinary piece of writing. This is 100% a book that I would recommend for young readers!

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a girl who goes to a new school and ends up getting lice. She has a lot of struggles she works through. She does not want to cut her hair because she is trying to grow it out to donate the hair for wigs for cancer patients.
This book is in a setting that could be real but is not real characters therefore it fits perfectly into contemporary realistic fiction.
This book has many different writing prompt that could be discussed and journaled about. There is loss of friends, a missing pet, struggles with emotions and bullying. All of these could be taught on as well as the importance of not sharing clothing because it could spread lice.
This book is a grade 3 through 5 option.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bailey Blecker is a superstar fifth grader! I loved the simple premises of the storyline: girl starts fifth grade in a new school, grows apart from best friend, gets lice etc—Bailey’s perspectives on the trials and tribulations she faces are very real and extremely cute. The story was compelling and fun and had lots of laugh out loud moments and a few moments that made me truly tear up. Don’t miss this fun middle grade reader!

[Crys · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poor Bailey Blecker - she is starting a new school for fifth grade, she is growing apart from her best friend, and she has lice.

It all starts with a simple scratch during class, ends with a visit to the nurse's office, and next thing you know everyone in the book is wearing bandannas to protect their locks.

Friendship, lice, a lost bird, and a re-enactment of the Boston Tea Party are at the heart this coming of age tale.

Bailey's character was infested with the nasty four-lettered word throughout the book, leaving me a bit scratchy while reading. For this reason, I gave it three instead of four stars; I felt this part of the plot could have been resolved a lot sooner, getting to the meet of the novel: friendship and self-discovery.

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story seems to have many plots going on at once but I liked that it was a simple and nice coming-of-age story. This book reads quickly and even though it was going in many different directions, the story was easy to follow without getting lost along the way. It had some good humor in spots and I also felt a connection to the realistic situations Bailey was going through because she was a likable character. I did learn a lot about head lice too.... The story mainly focuses on change and old and new friendships which many kids do go through when they start reaching the upper grade levels

[Kim Gontarz]

Bailey is at a new school by herself and ends up with lice. She is growing her hair for Care Through Hair because her aunt is having cancer treatment and loosing her hair. She lives on an island in Maine where her best friend decide to stay instead of going to the new school with her. Life is not going well and Bailey feels like everything is against her. What will happen to her hair and where is her bird? Will she ever make new friends?

[Betsy Brainerd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bailey Blecker wants to donate her long hair to cancer victims like her Aunt Josie, but when the fifth grade class is infested with lice, her plans may have to change. With help from her new friends, Bailey learns that compromising might be a good way to solve problems that are bugging her.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a stupid book. The book revolves around Bailey, a girl with lice who is allowed to attend school with lice for weeks. She makes friends and learns valuable lessons, but still, give me a break. I wanted to stop reading it but pushed myself to finish it.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute... but not too exciting.

[Mas5thgrade2012 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is really helpful if you have lice and it also has a good twist in it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HorseBackRider1

[Nikole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this story, but the mention of lice fifteen times on each page sure make a person feel itchy!