A Level Playing Field

Dear Know-It-All #3

by Rachel Wise

A middle-school star reporter has a tough time taking a stance on a story when her cowriter is also her crush.

Samantha really enjoys writing for her school newspaper, particularly when she’s assigned to write with Michael Lawrence, who happens to also be her crush. She’s thrilled to work with him—but less thrilled to realize they disagree on how the article should be written. The topic is whether students should pay for extracurricular activities, such as sports, and Samantha thinks it’s a good idea. After all, baseball isn’t as important as math or language arts, she argues. But try telling that to the star pitcher on the school’s baseball team! Maybe Samantha’s headline should be Trouble in the Newsroom !
All’s not fair in love and journalism in this newsworthy addition to a tween-savvy series.

160 pages, Paperback

First published September 25, 2012

Reviews

[Nam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This caused me to think about the issue. I had to agree with Michael somewhat. I wasn't on any sports teams in middle school, but I did run cross country. In high school, we had options to buy all of the equipment including sports bags (free equipment was available if you couldn't pay). I had a widowed mother and was on Children's Medicaid. I was also taking free school lunches because I could not afford it. I think no program should be excluded based on cost, but optional expenses should be added on. Why can't tickets cost a couple of dollars? Or why does the school newspaper have to be free? It would cost a lot in paper and ink to print so many copies. Just charging 400 students a quarter each would bring an extra 200 a month. Even I could have afforded that. Michael was correct when he said that it would help financially to adjust the thermostat by just one degree (average 3% off of their heating bill for homes). Schools are big buildings; they cost a lot to heat and cool. I don't know about Cherry Valley, but many schools have the habit of leaving their computers on all day (some even overnight), that costs money that would be better used elsewhere. I agree with Sam that the healthy food option should be available without cost, but how about a free food program for those on that low an income? Why not include a gardening class or club to have students take care of landscaping? It could even be held as something that would give kids extra credit. I got given the option of community service for extra credit, so why not "better your school" for extra credit. There's no reason to take away programs if you just use your head creatively.

I have to give this book 5 stars as it had me thinking hard about an issue that effects lots of children in real life.

[Littlebrandreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

its a really nice and exciting book, iwasnt a book reader but now because of f it I am.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like how this book is written, it always makes me want to read more!

[Buzzbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is when sam had disagree with her fellow writing patner. overall this is quite a good book to read and gives a lot of useful advice

[kiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good but not as good as the other ones in the series

[Ming Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to read this book.

[Gina]

Finished 1/4/17