Lunch Money

Title: Lunch Money
Author: Andrew Clements
Major Themes: School, Publishing, Comic Books, Friendship, Family Read-alouds, Books for Boys, Books for Girls
Synopsis: Greg’s main focus in life is to make money—but then Maura butts in to his money-making scheme with her own ideas!

I have been enjoying Andrew Clements’ books for many years now. I’ve read a few with or to my children, and a number more just for myself, because I enjoy them so much. When I spotted Lunch Money at a secondhand shop awhile ago, I snatched it up even though it meant adding several more ounces to my luggage to take home on an international flight! We all enjoyed it enough that the extra weight was worth taking.

Greg Kenton discovered the value of money very early in life. Before he went to school he was finding ways to earn money from his brothers (till their mother caught on!), and then he learned what money would do for him. He mowed lawns and shoveled walks and sold lemonade—and seethed when the neighbor girl, Maura, also found ways to make money. Worst of all, though, was the day in sixth grade when he discovered that she was copying another of his ideas!

Greg, in his never-ending quest to make more money, had hit on the perfect plan. He was writing, illustrating, and printing his own line of comic books. How could he stop Maura from doing the same, and get permission to sell them in school? Add in a teacher who faints when he sees blood, and this story is surprisingly exciting!

I liked this book a lot. There were life lessons taught through the story, such as getting along with others and a proper attitude about money. Greg learned some lessons about selfishness and about thinking of others. He also learned a lot about printing comic books! I like the way this author worked details about book publishing into the story. As with almost all of Andrew Clements’ books, there is a surprise twist near the end of the story—I love watching for that as I read his books!

WARNING: In chapter 6, Greg says that he hates Maura’s guts (and there is a funny side note about that saying!). In chapter 8, Greg becomes furious and the word “stupid” is used a couple of times.

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