Goldie Blox Rules the School by Stacy McAnulty - ADVISABLE

Goldie Blox Rules the School by Stacy McAnulty, illustrated by Lissy Marlin, 124 pages. CHAPTER BOOK. Random House, 2017.  $13. 

Language: G (0  swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL – ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Goldie’s small school, owned and operated by her mother, has been closed by the mayor due to safety concerns after Goldie accidentally sent the top floor into orbit. After spending just a few days at a new school known as HiBo, Goldie has disastrous encounters with three students and decides she must figure out a way to reopen her mom’s school as soon as possible. By enlisting help from her BFFND Li (best friend from next door) and these same three students (they are the ones most interested in having her leave), Goldie devises a plan that will work only if they pool their expertise. But it doesn’t work out like she, nor her helpers, expect. 

Different ethnic groups are represented by the friends, as well as different STEM skills, such as inventing and computer programming. While this is definitely a chapter book with a straight-forward storyline and uncomplicated characters, it contains lots of outrageous fun as well as moments of honest interactions, and a plot that will keep new readers moving along. Don’t let the fact that this series is based on a line of successful STEM toys scare you away from recommending it widely to your younger or more reluctant readers. 

P. K. Foster, teacher-librarian