The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary

A group of fifth-grade students share their thoughts and feelings about their school, friendships, and the threat of their school being torn down.

4.0/5 Goodreads · 1,864 ratings

272 pages· 19,930 words· Est. 3 hour read

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Bookroo's summary

In a year of change, Ms. Hill's fifth-grade class faces the threat of their school closing. With bulldozers poised to demolish, these eighteen students must find their voices and rally together to save their beloved school. As they write poems and form new friendships, they learn the power of speaking up and standing together. Will their efforts be enough to stop the bulldozers and preserve their community? This novel-in-verse captures the spirit of resilience and the transformative power of words.

From the publisher

An award-winning, big-hearted time capsule of one class’s poems during a transformative school year. A great pick for fans of Margarita Engle and Eileen Spinelli. Eighteen kids, one year of poems, one school set to close.Two yellow bulldozerscrouched outside, ready to eat the buildingin one greedy gulp. But look out, bulldozers.Ms. Hill’s fifth-grade classhas plans for you.They’re going to speak up and work togetherto save their school. Families change and new friendships form as these terrific kids grow up and move on in this whimsical novel-in-verse about finding your voice and making sure others hear it. Honors and Praise: Winner of a Cybils Award in Poetry Winner of an Arnold Adoff Poetry Honor Award for New Voices An NCTE Notable Verse Novel A Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Book of the Year An ILA-CBC Children’s Choice Nominated for the Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award, the Wisconsin State Reading Association Children’s Book Award, the Rhode Island Children’s Book Award, and the Great Stone Face Award (New Hampshire), Lectio Book Award Master List “This gently evocative study of change in all its glory and terror would make a terrific read-aloud or introduction to a poetry unit. A most impressive debut.” –School Library Journal “Sure to inspire the poet in all of us, young and old.” –Mark Goldblatt, author of Twerp