
A parent might reach for this book when their child is navigating a competitive friendship or showing a spark of entrepreneurial spirit. Twelve-year-old Greg Kenton is obsessed with making money, and his latest idea to sell miniature, homemade comic books at school is a sure winner. That is, until his classmate and rival, Maura Shaw, launches a competing comic book business. This funny, fast-paced story explores themes of rivalry, creativity, and collaboration. It's perfect for readers 8 to 12, as it models how two competitors can become successful partners, learning valuable lessons about business and friendship along the way.
This book does not contain significant sensitive topics like death, divorce, or violence. The central conflict revolves around business ethics and interpersonal rivalry. The approach is secular and realistic, with the conflict resolved through mediation by a school authority figure, leading to a hopeful and productive outcome.
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Sign in to write a reviewThe ideal reader is a 9 to 11-year-old who enjoys realistic school stories and has a creative or entrepreneurial streak. It is particularly well-suited for a child who is highly competitive by nature and may be dealing with a rival at school, offering a positive model for channeling that competitive energy into collaboration.
No specific preparation is needed; the book can be read cold. Parents might want to be ready to discuss basic business concepts like profit, competition, and marketing, as the book introduces these ideas in an accessible way. The conflict between Greg and Maura is entirely school-appropriate. A parent might seek this book after hearing their child complain about a classmate who "copied" their idea or is always trying to one-up them. It's also a great choice when a child shows interest in starting their own small business, like a lemonade stand or selling crafts, and needs encouragement and a dose of realism.
A younger reader (8-9) will enjoy the humor, the idea of kids making money, and the clear rivalry. They'll root for Greg and enjoy the comic book creation process. An older reader (10-12) will better appreciate the nuances of the business challenges, the ethical questions around competition, and the character development as Greg and Maura move from adversaries to respected partners.
While many books deal with school rivalries, this book stands out for its detailed and practical focus on kid-led entrepreneurship. Andrew Clements masterfully blends a compelling character-driven story with a mini-guide to starting a small business, covering product development, production costs, and marketing. It makes the concept of business feel exciting and achievable for young readers.
Sixth-grader Greg Kenton is a natural entrepreneur, always looking for a new way to make money. His latest venture is creating and selling pocket-sized comic books to his classmates. The business is an instant success until his longtime rival, Maura Shaw, creates her own, very similar line of comics. Their competition escalates into an all-out war that lands them in the principal's office. Faced with a school-wide ban, the principal challenges them to find a way to work together. Reluctantly, Greg and Maura combine their artistic and business skills, discovering that their collaboration produces a much better product than either could make alone.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.