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Stanford Wong Flunks Big-time

(Millicent Min / Stanford Wong / Emily Ebers #2)

Lisa Yee (Goodreads Author)

3.86 · Rating details · 1,675 ratings · 194 reviews

Stanford Wong is in big trouble--or as he would spell it, "trubble"--in this laugh-out-loud companion to the award-winning MILLICENT MIN, GIRL GENIUS and this season's HC, EMILY EBERS.

Stanford Wong is having a bad summer. If he flunks his summer-school English class, he won't pass sixth grade. If that happens, he won't start on the A-team. If *that* happens, his friends w ...more

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Paperback, 320 pages

Published April 1st 2007 by Scholastic Paperbacks (first published 2005)

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· 1,675 ratings · 194 reviews

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Oct 27, 2008 Jess rated it really liked it

Shelves: sports, middle-school, juv

Chapter book - realistic
For 5th-7th grade

Stanford is looking forward to basketball camp, until he flunks English and spends the summer in school, being tutored, and making unexpected friends in this funny story.

If Stanford doesn't pass English, he can't play on the best basketball team in seventh grade. Which is how he finds himself in summer school instead of at basketball camp, and why the obnoxiously smart Millicent Min is his English tutor. Any reluctant reader will empathize with Stanford's ...more

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Feb 18, 2013 Chalida rated it liked it

Shelves: books-read-since-baby-2-s-birth, books-read-since-baby-s-birth, good-for-teens

In my ever-long quest in examining Asian American teen fiction, I gave Stanford Wong a try and have to admit, I am a fan. Stanford is a horrible student and basketball star who has to retake English in summer school. This book, written in the form of a diary, tracks Stanford's life that summer where he deals with his parents' tense relationship, his grandmother moving into an old folks' home and his falling in love for the first time with a girl and with books. Cute. I loved Stanford's character ...more

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May 29, 2009 Della rated it really liked it

After I finished Milliecent Min, I got the sequel. I have to be honest, it wasn't quite as entertaining as Milliecent Min's take on things, but it was cool to see the whole story from a different prespective. Standford Wong is your average teenager: Longing to prove himself, sports jock, blows off school in general and his nerdy tutor (Millicent Min) and is constantly pressured to get good grades by his mother and father. A good read! :)
PS. Cute little relationship between Standford and his gran ...more

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Jan 09, 2013 Ryan rated it did not like it

Shelves: written-book-reviews

This book is almost as annoying as its cover and title. One look at the kid on the front of this book, and you already know what type of book this is: annoying, sassy, predictable, corny, blasphemous, and upright appalling. So what is this book even about? A boy named Stanford who use to be a nobody at school decides to become a mega-ultra superstar at basketball and become popular. Problem is, he flunks English and has to go to summer school, which you wouldn't think is that big of a deal. But This book is almost as annoying as its cover and title. One look at the kid on the front of this book, and you already know what type of book this is: annoying, sassy, predictable, corny, blasphemous, and upright appalling. So what is this book even about? A boy named Stanford who use to be a nobody at school decides to become a mega-ultra superstar at basketball and become popular. Problem is, he flunks English and has to go to summer school, which you wouldn't think is that big of a deal. But apparently its some sort of crisis, because his friends can't know otherwise they'll leave him...some friends. This girl named Emily who he likes can't know, because he lied to her and told her he's a genius...cause that's how you impress a girl, right? Anyway, he goes to summer school, and acts like the biggest 2-year old ever. He goes around pretending to be "spyyy" and his teacher, a really nice guy named Mr. Glick, is "teacher torturer." I mean, can you really not have compassion for the poor man? It's because of you that he has to waste his summer teaching annoying kids like you instead of going on that cruise in Peru that he's been planning since he was a kid. If you had just paid attention in class, this whole "ordeal" wouldn't take place. So quit acting like such a pain, suck it up, and just pass the dang class. So Stanford claims he has "friends." Great friends you have who you think are willing to abandon you when they find out you take classes over the summer. And then there's also a bunch of these side stories about his personal life that are so stupid it's kind of funny. Also, Stanford is like this really mean kid. He's constantly making fun of this genius named Millicent Min, this really nice Chinese girl that's just trying to help him pass the summer school class by tutoring him. Instead, Stanford just makes fun of her the whole time and they pretty much get nothing done. She has no friends, just trying to make conversation, and Stanford just cracks some heartless joke about her. Really annoying protagonist just sets the stage for an annoying book. At least have the main character someone who's nice, maybe. ...more

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Jun 13, 2016 Jenny rated it it was amazing

I really liked this novel by Lisa Yee. In fact, I enjoyed reading about Stanford more than Min (the companion prequel book). I think it's because Stanford is so accessible. He does enough goof-ups to make him likable, and he feels really real as a young boy.

Of course, there are still deeper issues (like his grandmother's health and his dad's workaholism) that are present, but Stanford reacts like a regular youth. (The only minor drawback is that my husband found his super-mad basketball skills ...more

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Apr 30, 2018 Maximilian Lee rated it it was ok

I did not like this book because it was too long and I didn't understand a lot. I also didn't like this book because I don't like basketball that much. I liked this book because it had a happy ending. I liked the part when Stanford got into the A basketball team because it was the best basketball team. I also liked the part summer school because he flunked reading during the school year. Stanford learned that he needed to put more effort because he couldn't go to basketball camp because he had f ...more

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May 17, 2009 Jamie rated it really liked it

Shelves: humor, real-life, sports-basketball, 10-12, aging

A good problem novel for boys. Sports, humor, first "love." some family issues.

There is a bit of an "everything but the kitchen sink" to this, but I still enjoyed it, and think most tween boys would.

Family booklist.

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Jan 03, 2008 Jennifer M rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: natasha, iris

This book was AMAZING. It was so kewl how Lisa Yee put alot of information about basketball to make Standford a REAL person. His personality is so real. Lisa Yee, u r amazing.

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Jul 17, 2012 Torense rated it it was amazing

I loved this book! Great format and writting style. Though this book is geared to elementary basketball playing boys, this book is still a good read for the young female too.

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Jan 28, 2020 Robert Swogger rated it really liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Stanford Wong is the main character in Stanford Wong Flunks Big Time (SWFBT) by Lisa Yee. SWFBT follows a formula fiction structure and is the second book in a series. The other two books are told from the perspective of the two other main characters’ – Millicent Min and Emily Ebers. In the book Stanford is a young boy who just failed 6th grade English. He had hoped to go to a famous basketball camp during the summer, but his dad puts the kibosh on camp in favor of summer school and passing Engl Stanford Wong is the main character in Stanford Wong Flunks Big Time (SWFBT) by Lisa Yee. SWFBT follows a formula fiction structure and is the second book in a series. The other two books are told from the perspective of the two other main characters’ – Millicent Min and Emily Ebers. In the book Stanford is a young boy who just failed 6th grade English. He had hoped to go to a famous basketball camp during the summer, but his dad puts the kibosh on camp in favor of summer school and passing English. Stanford then spends the rest of the summer with the help of Millie, the smart girl who is the same age but in high school and also taking college courses, tutoring him and trying to help him pass English. During the course of the summer Stanford also has other issues relating to his grandma, Yin Yin, who moves to an assisted living facility and has what could best be described as dementia. However, Yin Yin, is an important friend and confidant to Stanford throughout the book and her transition to the facility ends up being a good one. Stanford also has issues at home relating to his dad because he is a workaholic. Dad would rather work than deal with the problems that have developed with his wife and Stanford. The other issue in the book is Stanford falling for his first girl, Emily Ebers, and getting along with friends and the pressures of being a standout athlete. In the end everything works out for Stanford and he figures out that people are really on his team more than he realizes. He ends up passing English and connecting with his teacher, keeping his friends, building a better relationship with his dad, getting the girl, and gets to stay a member of the basketball team.

Classroom applications for this book are plenty, but best suited for grades 6-8. First, SWFBT would probably be a good book to use to help get a student who struggles with reading to connect with a book, especially if that student loved basketball. Getting the student to read the book and finding a time to meet with them once a week to discuss with them what they’ve read would probably go a long way in getting the student to hopefully continue reading on their own. This could also be a good book to use to as a mentor text to help model a simple story arc that keeps one main character as the focus of everything. Also, if you included the other books you could show how students could write different stories from different character’s perspectives that are connected to each other.
...more

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May 07, 2013 Jen rated it liked it

Shelves: realistic-fiction, asian-characters, humor

Yee, L. (2005). Stanford Wong flunks big-time. New York, New York: Arthur A. Levine Books.

Stanford Wong is a sixth grader who didn’t pass his English class. He has to take summer school with Mr. Glick, notoriously the hardest teacher at school, and pass or else he won’t be able to play on the A-Team (the top tier) in basketball in the fall. Stanford’s parents hire Millicent Min, Stanford’s peer, but who is a genius who takes high school level classes. During the summer, Stanford deals with tryin Yee, L. (2005). Stanford Wong flunks big-time. New York, New York: Arthur A. Levine Books.

Stanford Wong is a sixth grader who didn’t pass his English class. He has to take summer school with Mr. Glick, notoriously the hardest teacher at school, and pass or else he won’t be able to play on the A-Team (the top tier) in basketball in the fall. Stanford’s parents hire Millicent Min, Stanford’s peer, but who is a genius who takes high school level classes. During the summer, Stanford deals with trying to hide the fact that he has to make up English class from his best friends (the Roadrunners), adjust to his grandmother Yin-yin being in a senior living facility, his dad’s pressure on him to perform better at school, his parents’ strained relationship, and a new girl (Emily Ebers) who captures his attention and heart.

Stanford changes a lot over the summer. His perspective on life widens as he begins to view his family members and even his archenemy Millicent Min in new light. Before summer began, he was very self-involved and not very empathetic. He grew to understand that everybody is not always set out to impede his way of living, playing basketball, or hanging out with friends. Coach Martin gives him some advice near the end of the story: “Stanford, I’m not sure why you think the world is against you… until you start believing in yourself, nobody else will” (Yee, p242). I think a lot of tweens will be able to relate to Stanford, even if they’re not in the exact same predicament as him, as far as grades are concerned. Like a lot of kids, Stanford deals with family issues, school, a social life, and romantic feelings. Tweens, both boys and girls alike, will enjoy reading his story and how he thinks.

Genre: realistic fiction

Reading level/interest level: Tween

Similar books/materials: Millicent Min, girl genius, So totally Emily Ebers.

Reader’s advisory notes:

* i. personal thoughts: This is a fun read. I enjoyed the style of writing that Yee employed, especially the date/time diary style. It was very detailed and true to life about how tweens think.
* ii. subjects/themes: school, friendship, romantic love, self-image, family, Asian-American experience
* iii. awards:
* iv. series information: accompaniment to Millicent Min, girl genius.
* v. character names/description: Stanford Wong, sixth grader, failing English and has to re-take it during summer school; Millicent Min, girl genius, tutors Stanford, friend to Emily Ebers; Emily Ebers, girl that Stanford develops a crush on, becomes his girlfriend; Yin-yin, Stanford’s grandmother who is going senile and sent to live at a senior living facility; Mr. Wong, high-powered lawyer who is under a lot of stress to get the promotion at work, ignores Stanford, compares him to his sister Sarah; Mrs. Wong, more nurturing and pays more attention than Mr. Wong; the Roadrunners, assorted friends who Stanford likes to play basketball with, Digger is an exception.
* vi. annotation: Stanford must pass English summer school to continue playing basketball in the fall. Can he do it? Even with Millicent Min’s, a girl he despises, help?
...more

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Mar 09, 2017 Irene rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: Middle School Readers

Shelves: asian, middle-grade, culturally-diverse

This book is a clever companion book to Millicent Min, Girl Genius. It covers the same time period as Millicent Min, and sometimes the exact same events, only the story is told from Stanford Wong's perspective.

I was impressed that this book is more than just the same story from a different angle. While I pegged Millicent Min for audiences as young as "upper elementary grades", this book I would put solidly in the middle school grades. Stanford's life is somewhat more complex than Millicent's. N This book is a clever companion book to Millicent Min, Girl Genius. It covers the same time period as Millicent Min, and sometimes the exact same events, only the story is told from Stanford Wong's perspective.

I was impressed that this book is more than just the same story from a different angle. While I pegged Millicent Min for audiences as young as "upper elementary grades", this book I would put solidly in the middle school grades. Stanford's life is somewhat more complex than Millicent's. Not only is he struggling to pass summer school English, but he's hiding his summer school from his closest friends, he has a strained relationship with his parents, he has an aging grandparent who is slowly losing her mental faculties, and he likes a girl. (The book mentions "hickeys" and "second base", both in a vague manner showing that Stanford himself doesn't quite understand what those words mean.)

From a multicultural point of view, I liked that this book was about a Chinese-American boy, but while his Chinese-American-ness was central to his character, it was also clear that Stanford was just another American kid trying to make his way through adolescence. On the one hand, this book is about a kid who just happens to be Chinese-American. The main plot is that Stanford loves basketball, but has failed English, so he needs to go to summer school. I imagine he's relatable to many young readers, and he's non-stereotypical because he doesn't fit the model minority mold. On the other hand, Stanford does have a tiger dad, and his family's dynamics were a pretty realistic portrayal of a Chinese-American family. Plus, Chinese culture makes regular appearances, mostly in the way Stanford's grandmother likes to make dim sum.

Even though I rated this book 5 stars, a couple things would lead me to rate it 4 1/2 stars if possible. First, for much of the book, it really bothered me that Stanford lied so easily. While he eventually comes clean with all the big lies, I'm not sure he ever had any kind of realization that all the little lies along the way were detrimental, too, like in the way they hindered his ability to communicate meaningfully with his parents.

Also, I didn't feel like I got enough closure with Digger. He's only a supporting character, but he was fleshed out enough that we know he acts out partly - or mostly - because he does not have a supportive home life. He is not a one-dimensional bully - we see his vulnerability a couple times - and yet there is no indication that he might change for the better after we leave the characters to their imagined futures. Too bad there isn't a book from HIS perspective! ...more

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Nov 22, 2011 Carrie Wilson rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, humor, realistic-fiction, multicultural, tween

Stanford Wong is looking forward to going to a highly reputable basketball camp and being the only seventh grader to be on the A-team at school. He feels that his life is over when his English teacher, Mr. Glick, tells him he will fail sixth grade if he doesn’t take English in summer school. As if this isn’t bad enough, Stanford must miss basketball camp to take summer school. He may even be off the basketball team if he doesn’t pass. Plus, his parents are fighting, his work-a-holic father is pe Stanford Wong is looking forward to going to a highly reputable basketball camp and being the only seventh grader to be on the A-team at school. He feels that his life is over when his English teacher, Mr. Glick, tells him he will fail sixth grade if he doesn’t take English in summer school. As if this isn’t bad enough, Stanford must miss basketball camp to take summer school. He may even be off the basketball team if he doesn’t pass. Plus, his parents are fighting, his work-a-holic father is perpetually disappointed in him, and his beloved grandmother Yin-Yin is sent to a depressing nursing home. Could things be worse? Yes—Stanford must also suffer the indignity of being tutored by Millicent Min, a snotty eleven-year-old genius who is already taking college courses. He fears losing his friends and new girlfriend, Millicent’s friend Emily Ebers if they find out he is taking summer school. He and Millicent craft a lie that protects Stanford’s secret (that he struggle in school) and Millie’s secret (that she is a genius), but threatens their friendships with Emily.

Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time is an accessible and funny book about a likeable under-achiever. It is not necessary to have read Millicent Min, Girl Genius to enjoy Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time, but it is hilarious to see how different the same events look to these very different protagonists. Stanford comes across as a bit of a jerk in from Millicent’s perspective, but he is far more sensitive than she imagines. He certainly doesn’t see himself as the handsome, popular big-shot he is portrayed as. Instead, Stanford always feels on edge about his social status, which wasn’t always good. He is secret stress-knitter. He watches Sesame Street with his taciturn friend Stretch (who is so self-conscious about his voice change that he never speaks.) At the same time, Stanford is a very talented athlete with a tight-knit group of friends (and a frenemy, the mean-spirited and trouble Digger). This book may appeal more to boys, with its fart jokes and "guy" humor, but its sensitive portrayal of Stanford will also appeal to girls.

Genre: Humor, Contemporary Realistic Fiction, Friendship Fiction

Reading level: 4th grade

Interest level: Grades 4-7

Subjects: School, Grades, Basketball, Family, Friends, Parental disapproval, Self-esteem, Popularity

Read-alikes:
Korman’s No More Dead Dogs

Series information:
Millicent Min, Girl Genius
So Totally Emily Ebers
...more

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Aug 24, 2008 Patty rated it really liked it

Shelves: youth, school, family, knitting, basketball

Very readable. The chapters aren't really chapters, but a sort of a time line. You aren't committed to reading a lot at any one time. It works to your advantage at the beginning when you aren't invested in any of the characters and don't really care way happens. Later, you are so invested that the size of the chapters don't really matter.

Many themes make their way into this book. You have the whole school thing going on. Stanford isn't so much into school, but is a basketball fiend. He risks los Very readable. The chapters aren't really chapters, but a sort of a time line. You aren't committed to reading a lot at any one time. It works to your advantage at the beginning when you aren't invested in any of the characters and don't really care way happens. Later, you are so invested that the size of the chapters don't really matter.

Many themes make their way into this book. You have the whole school thing going on. Stanford isn't so much into school, but is a basketball fiend. He risks losing his place on the "A" team if he doesn't get a passing grade in summer school english. So, you have a whole learning to do your best, and you may surprised that you enjoy it subtext.

Connected, Stanford's relationship with his father isn't the best. He doesn't feel he measures up to what his father expects of him. He is tutored by the town genius who is able to carry on a conversation with his father better than he can. His older sister has a better relationship with his father because she gets good grades. No matter how hard he tries, it seems his father isn't happy with it. The author reveals where Stanford's name comes from, and it further reinforces this theme.

His father is losing touch with his family. His parents fight. Stanford's dad is going for a big promotion and risks losing touch with his family because he is spending time away from home and not listening. Stanford's grandmother Yin-yin also plays a role because he thinks she wants to run away from a retirement home. Is it really what is best for her?

Stanford also learns what makes a friend. Is it someone who is willing to buy you anything, but blackmails you? Is it someone who bullies other people including the town genius Millicent Min? Is it someone who is there for you when you need it the most? Is it a teacher who wants you to do your best. He also experiences first love. Honesty and loyalty plays a big role in even that relationship.

I love that whenever Stanford is frustrated he knits! Plus, he watches Sesame Street with his friend Stretch. He doesn't want anyone to know these things, but it shows how complex everyone is. Plus, guess what a Hee-Haw game is? ...more

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Apr 25, 2011 Arminzerella rated it liked it

Shelves: books-for-boys, reading, relationships, relationship-problems, realistic, funny, borrowed-from-the-library, juvenile-fiction, friendship, lying-deception

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Stanford is a great basketball player. He’s been picked for the A-Team, and he’s going to a prestigious summer camp to play basketball. Things look great. Unfortunately, Stanford Wong isn’t a great student by any stretch of the imagination. Even so, he’s never failed before – until now. Stanford Wong is failing English, and this has several undesirable consequences: he’s kicked off the basketball team until he brings his grade up, he can’t go to basketball summer camp, he has to go to summer sch Stanford is a great basketball player. He’s been picked for the A-Team, and he’s going to a prestigious summer camp to play basketball. Things look great. Unfortunately, Stanford Wong isn’t a great student by any stretch of the imagination. Even so, he’s never failed before – until now. Stanford Wong is failing English, and this has several undesirable consequences: he’s kicked off the basketball team until he brings his grade up, he can’t go to basketball summer camp, he has to go to summer school, and Millicent Min is going to be his English tutor. Things couldn’t be worse. Oh, except that they are, because he told his friends the reason he can’t go to camp is because his dad is making him work for him over the summer. That’s a big lie. So now Stanford has to make sure no one sees him around the school.

It’s not so bad, though. Stanford, with a little coaching from Millicent, learns to appreciate some of the books he’s reading. He even enjoys them. He improves a lot, and becomes friendly with his English teacher. He also meets Millicent’s new friend who is so incredibly perfect and funny he can’t get enough of her. Except that she can never know Millicent is tutoring him, because if she were to find out he was stupid, she’d hate him! More lying.

Of course everything falls apart in the end. Standford’s lies and Millicent’s lies get them both into trouble. But it all wraps up nicely, too. Stanford passes English, he’s back on the team, he gets the girl, Millicent gets to keep her friend, and even Stanford’s dad lightens up. There are family issues thrown in here and there, and some obvious bad stuff going on with one of Stanford’s friends that doesn’t get a lot of mention, but enough to make you wonder. Will his be the next story that gets told? Sounds like abuse. How can Lisa Yee make that one funny?

This is a companion novel to Millicent Min, Girl Genius by the same author. This was not as good as Yee’s first book about Millicent Min, which was hysterical. Stanford Wong’s voice is not as well-developed, and as with many parallel tales, you’ve already read this book from another point of view. So, not a whole lot of brand-spanking-new material here. ...more

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May 12, 2008 Jennifer Wardrip rated it really liked it

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Christian C. for TeensReadToo.com

It's the last day of sixth grade, and Stanford Wong can't wait to get out of school and go to Alan Scott's Basketball Camp, the best camp any basketball player could dream of. This is going to be the summer of his life...

...well, that is until he receives his grade for English class: a big fat F.

An F means that basketball camp is over. Stanford needs to go to summer school instead. Not only that, Stanford will be tutored by the annoying genius Milli ...more

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Feb 27, 2010 Eveline Chao rated it really liked it

I loved this! Funny and sweet and warm-hearted and adorable.

I actually started reading this more than a year ago then abandoned it, because it was hard to get into at first. It has a somewhat ADHD style and cuts really abruptly between actions and scenes, which made it hard for me to get drawn in. I think it maybe needs a few slowed-down, longer-running scenes earlier on. Like it needs to take a breather from over-strenuosly throwing plot elements at readers and let us get oriented more slowly. ...more

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Apr 15, 2018 Jazzmon Cobb rated it really liked it

Stanford Wong Flunks Big Time by Lisa Yee is a great read for young adults! Stanford Wong, a high school student who loves hanging out with his friends and basketball over studying, encounters a rude wake up call after flunking his English class. He looked forward to spending the summer at basketball camp with his best friends; however, due to his grade in Mr. Glick’s class his parents make him do summer school instead! If that isn’t enough, Stanford has to be tutored by his arch-nemesis and kno ...more

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Apr 19, 2010 Jessica rated it really liked it

Shelves: children

Like Millicent Min, Girl Genius, this book has distinctly Asian-American characters, but they are not stereotypical. For example, an Asian-American boy named Stanford Wong who is the star of his middle school basketball team and catches the attention of many girls? Not to mention the fact that he's flunking? Definitely not a stereotype (or if it were, it would be a much improved one from the usual stereotypes of Asian-American men)! This book doesn't have as many funny moments as Millicent Min, ...more

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Mar 18, 2013 Kobe Lin rated it it was amazing

The book Stanford Wong Flunks Big Time is about a boy Stanford who makes the A-Team in basketball. But he can't play for them because he flunked English. He has to start taking summer school to get his grades up. I enjoyed the book because it sounded like this could happen to any other guy. The author made the story going along with good words and had multiple conflicts in the story. Stanford not passing English really changed the plot from what would have happened if he did pass English. Becaus ...more

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Dec 20, 2016 Tajmim709 rated it it was amazing

This was a really good book! I think many people, especially boys, can relate to what the main character is facing. Stanford Wong is the main character of the book, and his conflict is that he needs to go to summer school, which means that he can't go to basketball camp. Stanford's parents seem to be very strict when it comes to grades, especially his father, he can't accept anything lower than a C in any of his classes. To make matters even worse, Stanford got a F in ELA. Stanford's mother on ...more

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Feb 16, 2008 Manshui rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Flunkers

It is difficult for a middle-schooler to be in the edge of failing sixth grade and also keeping up in the A-team for basketball. What Standford Wong does often is play basketball and that's his passion. He was the HERO in the basketball court but he couldn't risk to fail sixth grade and join basketball all summer. However, he needs to be tutored by Millicient Min (the geek) and go to summer school for English. He didn't want his basketball buddies (Digger, Stretch, Gus, and Tico) to know this. H ...more

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Apr 13, 2009 Maggie rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: Lovers of "Millicent Min, Girl Genuis"

Shelves: august-09

I was a big fan of Millicent Min Girl Genius when I first read it years back, and I just found out that Lisa Yee wrote not one, but two companions after Millicent. Being a fan, I eagerly awaited reading the companion, telling of the same story, but this time, we got to hear from Stanford's POV.

The book starts off with Stanford finding out he has flunked English, he cannot go to the basketball camp he has awaited for. Instead, he must take a summer-school course. Even then, it gets worse. Stanfo ...more

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Nov 15, 2009 Nadia rated it it was amazing

Shelves: grade-8-ir-books-betts

This book is about a boy named, Stanford Wong who's about to flunk the 6th grade. One thing about Stanford is that his whole world revolves around basketball. If Stanford doesn't pick up his grades he will be forced the quit the basketball team and risk his father getting even more disappointed in him. Another problem about this is that he has to go to summer school and be tutored by his cousin, Millicent. Another big problem about Stanford is that he can't let his friends know he's going to sum ...more

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Oct 03, 2012 K.C. Shaw rated it really liked it

Shelves: middle-grade

I'm not sure if this book or Millicent Min, Girl Genius came first. I read Millicent Min first and liked it, but I think this book is even stronger. Stanford feels like a real middle school kid and his problems seem real too. Parts of this book had me almost in tears, while in other parts I laughed out loud.

I particularly liked Stanford, who's earnest without being stuffy and worried without being a worrier. He has a lot to worry about in addition to his little problem with flunking English and ...more

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Feb 27, 2015 Louella Wan rated it liked it

Shelves: nov-14, jan15, mar-15

Stanford Wong just failed his Grade 6 English class. He has to take summer school classes and doesn't want any of his friends to know. He is the only 6th grader on the basketball team and if he doesn't pass he is off the team. Since he does no homework his parents hired him a tutor, Stanford's worst enemy Millicent Min. Stanford meets Millicent Min's friend Emily, he likes her. Stanford tries hard to pass english so he can be on the basketball team and to impress Emily. He ends up passing englis ...more

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Mar 10, 2009 Tyree added it

Shelves: 7th-grade-ir-books-rick

This book is about a boy named Stanford Wong who is being punished for flunking ( failing ) his English class. He is on the A-Team for the school's basketball team. His coach really wants him to go to some basketbalkl summer camp over the summer. But, unfortunately he can't attend t it because he is flunking English and now he is has to go to summer school to pass the class. I can connect to this book because in 4th grade I was a little non-famous model. Over the summer we took pictures to put ...more

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Jun 11, 2008 Sam rated it it was ok

Stanford Wong is an all time athelete that is a legend once he step onto the basketball court. With a future in this feild, Stanford blocks out all the other possibilities he has in life. Stanford later finds out that he is failing english (always his weakest subject) and needs to pass in order to participate in the basketball team. He has no choice but to study and get his grades up. The question is will he actually accomplish his goals by changing from a jock to a studying student.
This is an i ...more

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Jun 04, 2009 Ralphie rated it liked it

Shelves: 7th-grade-ir-books-jen

This book is about the greatest basket ball player in his school Stanford Wong.It tells how Stanford is so close to flunking the seventh grade along with being kicked off the basket ball team for the next year without any more tryouts. So then he must get a tutor who just happens to be what he calls the poster child for Asian Geekdom. So with all of this in mind he must avoid going to summer school and find a way to make himself better in school.

I can relate this to my school life because I have ...more

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Jan 23, 2010 Medeia Sharif rated it it was amazing

I read Lisa Yee’s MILLICENT MIN, GIRL GENIUS years ago. I thought this would be a sequel, but it’s actually not. The story runs parallel to Millicent’s. In the first book Millicent tutors Stanford, who flunked English and has to retake it. I thought Stanford was obnoxious in MILLICENT but with this book, which is in his point of view, I became sympathetic towards him. He lies to his friends about having a summer job, so they won’t find out he’s taking English in summer school. His tutor, Millice ...more

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About Lisa Yee

Lisa Yee

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Lisa Yee was born and raised near Los Angeles. As a kid, she loved reading, opening brand new boxes of cereal (to get the prize), and riding the teacups at Disneyland.

Lisa attended Brightwood Elementary School in Monterey Park, California where she once won an award for best decorated cake. However, Lisa cut the ribbon in half because her friend Linda had also worked on the cake, and they had agre Lisa Yee was born and raised near Los Angeles. As a kid, she loved reading, opening brand new boxes of cereal (to get the prize), and riding the teacups at Disneyland.

Lisa attended Brightwood Elementary School in Monterey Park, California where she once won an award for best decorated cake. However, Lisa cut the ribbon in half because her friend Linda had also worked on the cake, and they had agreed to split any prize they might win.

While at Alhambra High School, Lisa was on the debate team and president of the honor society. On occasion, she would ditch class and sneak off to the library. (Okay, so she never quite figured out the juvenile delinquent thing.) At the University of Southern California, she majored in English and Humanities, and she also took a bowling class.

Lisa has been an inventor, a hand model, and the associate director of a creative think tank. At Walt Disney World Lisa was a writer/producer and one time, when she was the only short person around, she got to be Mickey Mouse.

As co-owner and creative director of Magic Pencil Studios, a strategic creative company, she's written and directed creative projects for Fortune 500 clients, led creativity seminars for dairy farmers (moo), and been featured in the Wall Street Journal for her obsessive workaholic behavior. (She is now practically, totally cured of this.)

Lisa's been part of the Official Olympic Committee Torch Run Caravan (until the police requested that she leave), and she's been paid to eat chocolate. But what she likes doing most is writing. Her writing assignments have included labels for cans of refried beans and a speech for the President of the United States (The President's speechwriters rewrote the speech but they did include Lisa's immortal words, "Hello, Joan and Ben.")

Lisa has also penned her own newspaper column, written TV and radio commercials, menus that have been read by millions, jingles for waffles, and television specials for Disney.

Livesin South Pasadena, California. In her spare time, Lisa likes to read, make things out of junk, and consider taking a nap. Her HUGE collection of Winnie the-Poohs is on loan to the White River (Ontario) Winnie-the-Pooh Museum.

With the publication of Millicent Min, Girl Genius, Lisa has realized her lifelong dream of becoming an author. The winner of the prestigious Sid Fleischman Humor Award, there are over 500,000 copies of MILLIE in print. Lisa's second novel, Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time won the Chinese American Librarian Association Best Book of the Year award, and was named an American Library Association Notable Book.

Lisa was also named the 2007 Thurber House Children's Author-in-Residence. Her third novel, So Totally Emily Ebers came out in 2007 and so did Good Luck, Ivy, an American Girl historical novel.

In 2009, Lisa's first YA novel, Absolutely Maybe, debuted, as did Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally), the first of her new chapter book series, which was followed up by Bobby the Brave (Sometimes) in 2010.

2011 marks two more American Girl books, Aloha, Kanani and Good Job, Kanani, plus Warp Speed, a spin-off of the Millicent Min Trilogy. ...more

Other books in the series

Millicent Min / Stanford Wong / Emily Ebers (4 books)

Books by Lisa Yee

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Quotes from Stanford Wong Flu...

“Gus and I talk about girls a lot, but we can't figure them out. They are so confusing. Like, if you look at them, they get mad. And if you don't look at them, they get mad. And if you're nice to them, they think you like them. And if you're mean to them, they think you like them. And if you do like them, they think you hate them.” — 11 likes

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