Dorko the Magnificent

Dorko The Magnificent by Andrea Beaty, 213 pages

Robbie Darko is a fifth grade magician. Unfortunately, although his tricks usually work, something often seems to go wrong during his performance. Like his principal being deathly afraid of salamanders, or his rabbit escaping, or fires. But Robbie won’t give up. He’s planning a great performance for the fifth grade talent show. He needs to do something to make up for the fact that times are rough at home. His dad lost his job and only recently found a new one so his family doesn’t have much money. His mom had to go to work to help out and his dad’s new job means he has to travel a lot so they aren’t home as much. Now, his Grandma Melvyn has to move in because she needs a knee operation and can’t stay by herself until it’s done and the insurance company hasn’t decided if it will pay for the operation. Grandma Mervyn is a scary, short woman who looks at people with her Wicked Wobble Eye. Never laughs, and calls everybody Trixie. Not only is she staying with Robbie’s family but she’s taken over his room How is Robbie supposed to plan a great act for the talent show with all of the disruption in his home? This was a really great true life story for later elementary kids.