A Safe Read for Young Readers: Radio Fifth Grade by Gordon Korman

Radio Fifth Grade by Gordon Korman

Humor/Adolescent

If you're looking for a squeaky clean read for a youngster, look no further.  Radio Fifth Grade is a book that should highly appeal to boys in grades 4 or 5.  It's got humor, but not potty humor.  The kids are in control of the plot the whole time with no outside interference from adults.  There is a "bad guy" of a new teacher (who can't relate to that) and three protagonists who remind me a bit of Hermione, Ron, and Harry Potter.

One is a genius, one is a smarty (the girl, like Hermione), and one is a comic relief.  The three friends run a student radio show.  Their sponsor is the local pet shop and they have been given the task of "selling" a mascot on their show each week.  However, the non-talking parrot is giving them a bit of trouble so they are determined to teach him to talk.  Misadventures ensue and the trio has to keep their radio show afloat whilst dealing with a new teacher who's a bit crazy and a schoolyard bully who's a whole lot of crazy.

I didn't love this book, but wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to young readers, especially those who are bit immature.  It has some great messages and there's nothing in it that would cause alarm for any parents.  Even the bullying is handled is in a productive way.