SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Book Discussion
  • Heavy Medal Mock
  • Process

November 20, 2019 by Annisha Jeffries

Operation Frog Effect by Sarah Scheerger

November 20, 2019 by Annisha Jeffries   1 comments

Author, Sarah Scheerger has written a timely relatable story told in diary form with eight diverse students writing their experiences as the school year advances.
That story begins at White Oak Elementary School. Ms. Graham is a teacher with unconventional teaching methods; one of them involves having a class frog named Kermit. The pacing is the story never strays, and Scheerger addresses situations that middle school kids face every day: family life, friendship drama, and hideous homework. (YUK!)
What is impressive is the way each student writes their individual journal entries in diverse compositions. Blake is the artist, so his journaling in graphic novel format. Henry writes in a script dialogue style. These different structures in the story will engage a wide variety of readers.
Topical social issues intertwined into this middle-grade novel, such as immigration and homelessness, keep the story in perspective.
Throughout the book, the kids learn how they can make a difference in the world and are not afraid to face life’s hurdles. The students make some mistakes in the middle of the story, and one of their blunders has vital repercussions. When the students decide to go on an unapproved trip to a homeless shelter, chaos ensues, Ms. Graham blamed for authorizing without the parents’ permission and placed on administrative leave. Students have to live the consequences, and they work together to make things right. Readers will find OPERATION FROG EFFECT uplifting till the very end. The story was a marvelous read.

Filed under: Book Discussion

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
Children's BooksNewbery 2020

About Annisha Jeffries

Annisha Jeffries is the head of the youth services department at Cleveland Public Library. She was a member of the 2007 ALSC Board and served on several selection committees, including the 2018 Caldecott Committee. A 2000-2001 Spectrum Scholarship recipient, Jeffries is currently the Chair of the Norman A, Sugarman Children's Biography Award. She can be reached at annishamj@gmail.com

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

January 2023

Who Will Win? 2023 Newbery Predictions

by Annisha Jeffries

January 2023

Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Finalist: THE LAST MAPMAKER by Christina Soontornvat

by Annisha Jeffries

January 2023

Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Finalist: BERRY SONG by Michaela Goade

by Annisha Jeffries

January 2023

Mock Newbery Finalist: ATTACK OF THE BLACK RECTANGLES by Amy Sarig King

by Annisha Jeffries

January 2023

Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Finalist: AIN'T BURNED ALL THE BRIGHT By Jason Reynolds

by Annisha Jeffries

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

2023 Books from Pura Belpré Winners

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Newbery / Caldecott 2024: Spring Prediction Edition

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Pardalita | Preview

by Brigid Alverson

Heavy Medal

March suggestions: early Mock Newbery possibilities

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Why Teens Should Read Hard History, a guest post by Lesley Younge

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey Try Something New

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Ringing in the Newbery (and Caldecott): An awards-trivia smackdown with Betsy Bird and Travis Jonker

2021 Youth Media Awards Winners

Susan Cooper on her Wartime Childhood and How Writing Is "Fed by My Unconscious" | The Newbery at 100

Linda Sue Park: Children Love Books with "Fierce Adoration" | The Newbery at 100

Children’s Publishing World Reacts to Michaela Goade's History-Making Caldecott Medal, Rest of the YMA Winners

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Virginia Pratt says

    November 23, 2019 at 11:00 pm

    I agree with you about this title. I found it to be accessible to many types of readers specifically because each of the characters address the “audience” in their own unique ways. The story includes well-developed characters and addresses topics/issues that students will have been exposed to but may not know a lot about yet. I think this would make a great class read-aloud and would bring up lots of discussion.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • Other Mock Newbery Sites

    • Anderson’s Bookshops
    • For Those About to Mock
    • Good Reads Mock Newbery
    • Northport-East Northport PL
    • Rhode Island OLIS
  • Resources

    • Jen J's Starred Reviews Spreadsheet
    • Newbery Manual
    • Newbery Medal & Honor Books
    • Newbery Terms & Criteria
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023