Queen Esther & the Second Graders of Doom

by Allie Pleiter

Teaching Sunday school at her brother's church in the Bay area was supposed to help former champion athlete Esther "Essie" Walker understand boys--the better to raise her newborn son as a stellar example of manhood. Fat chance! Enter the eight-year-old male awful jokes, disrespectful behavior and general mayhem. Essie, the queen of control, finds herself in a brand-new world of chaos.The pressure builds on all fronts--Sunday school class, husband's job, church pageant, aging parents, finances, friends secretly battling illnesses--until Queen Esther has one royal meltdown. God, it seems, has makeover plans for Essie's competitive nature. Her characteristic control is in very short supply as she gains a better understanding of the nature of imperfection, the value of motherhood and the virtues of a messy but connected life.

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2006

About the author

An avid knitter, coffee junkie and firm believer that “pie makes everything better,” Allie Pleiter writes both fiction and non-fiction working on as many as four novels at a time. The bestselling author of over fifty books, Allie has enjoyed a twenty-year career with over 1.5 million books sold. In addition to writing, Allie maintains an active writing productivity coaching practice and speaks regularly on the creative process, publishing, and her very favorite topic—The Chunky Method of time management for writers. Visit her website at www.alliepleiter.com to learn more.

Reviews

[Melissa (Always Behind) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book that really speaks to the heart of a mother--especially a sleep deprived one!

[Jessica Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

God has a funny sense of humor. Sometimes he knows that you’re sitting somewhere intimidated by that book about him that you know you should read. So then you pick up a wrapped book sitting out for your library’s “Blind Date With A Book” February program. Books are wrapped so you can’t see what they are and have to select based on just a basic overview.

This book said “Woman learns insight into boys through the 2nd graders in her classroom.”

Turns out it’s a fictional story about a woman who moves across the country with her family and new baby boy to help her pastor brother care for aging parents. She also gets assigned to lead the second grade boys Sunday school class also known as the “Doom Room” and hilarity ensues.

I enjoyed this quick read sprinkled with reminders of prayers and god’s plan for our lives.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light, entertaining read about a young mom who moves, with her husband and new baby from the
East Coast to the West Coast to help care for her aging parents. Along the way she begins teaching a class of second grade boys at the church her brother pastors, and tries to find a way to fit in with the women in the church. Laugh out loud moments as well as frustrations surface as this young family tries to find their way in a new church, new community, new state and trying to make new friends!

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a hilarious book about a new mom who just moved to California and began teaching Sunday School for a class of second grade boys. Esther’s adventures as she learns to make friends and manage her Sunday school class often reminded me of something I could see happening to me.

[Kerry · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little preachy at time, but overall a cute book... I particularly enjoy the part where Ester, trying to teach her Sunday School class about miracles, ends up getting into a discussion on weather Jesus Christ does or does not have x-ray vision with a bunch of superhero loving 2nd grade boys.

[Becki]

Cute.\n\nThis was a mildly entertaining book although I definitely skimmed parts of it. Essie was a just a bit too good character for most parts of the book. And the job solution at the end was a bit too pat. \n\nBut entertaining.

[Jas]

From Porterville Library

[Pattie · Rating 4 out of 5]

VERY CUTE

[Ratforce]

This is the most lighthearted, humorous selection we have found for you. It centers on a Sunday School teacher who is surrounded by rambunctious second-grade boys.