FICTION

Mason Dixon

Fourth-Grade Disasters
by Claudia MILLS
Mason Dixon: Fourth-Grade Disasters. Bk. 2. illus. by Guy Francis. 158p. CIP. Knopf. 2011. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86874-0; PLB $15.99. ISBN 978-0-375-96874-7; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89959-1. LC 2010048721.
COPY ISBN
Gr 3–5—Mason Dixon is now starting fourth grade—the grade everyone looks forward to because it means joining the Plainfield Platters chorus. Mason, haunted by a kindergarten assembly embarrassment, does everything in his power to avoid participating. He and his parents strike a just-try-it-out deal, and he comes up with the idea of serving as the one-man stage crew. Surprisingly, the plan flies, but Mason finds himself in the spotlight—singing—in the end, coming to his best friend's rescue when Brody freezes up during a solo. Hilarious yet believable twists (Mason's dog eats the school mascot, a plush dragon) and deadpan humor make this glimpse into fourth-grade life a treat.-Amanda Moss Struckmeyer, Middleton Public Library, WI —
Mason is an only child who likes his room clean, his socks brown, and his food plain. His parents have other ideas about what's good for him, and he's nudged further out of the box by his enthusiastic best friend, Brody. The stories' conflicts involve bullies, art projects, choir practice, and hurt feelings. Both books are entertaining, if a little bland. Review covers these titles: Mason Dixon: Fourth-Grade Disasters and Mason Dixon: Pet Disasters.
Readers will sympathize with Mason’s trepidation upon beginning a new school year. Claudia Mills convincingly conveys a fourth grader’s perspective on topics such as best- and second-best friends, school concerts, and the sometimes inexplicable behavior of parents and teachers. Mason’s self-awareness is charming and often amusing: “He wasn’t the type of person who pumped his fist into the air, any more than he was the kind of person who sang in front of other people. He just wasn’t.” Mills captures Mason’s feelings in an authentic and entertaining way, especially concerning the school chorus. Mason, while watching a concert, thinks: “It was sad in a world where so many people wanted to sing, somebody who didn’t want to should have to do it, anyway.”

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