Shells, Smells, and the Horrible Flip-Flops of Doom
Author: Rachel Vail
Illustrator: Matthew Cordell
Book 2 in the Justin Case series
Pages: 192
Published: 2012
Age: 7+
Justin is going to start fourth grade—but first, he has to survive the summer. He "gets" to go to camp every day on a bus. He "gets" to experience all sorts of new things: Bugs. Mess hall food. Flip-flops (they hurt the space between his toes and they’re hard to walk in). And (gulp!) swimming.
Justin's little sister, Elizabeth, seems to deal with camp just fine. So do his friends. Justin is trying very hard not to be a worried kid anymore, especially when it comes to making friends at camp, including a new kid who is kind of . . . rough. After all, Justin is going to be in fourth grade. It's time to be brave. Right?
About the Justin Case Series
Books in series order
- 1.School, Drool and Other Daily Disasters(2010)
- 2.Shells, Smells, and the Horrible Flip-Flops of Doom(2012)
- 3.Rules, Tools, and Maybe a Bully(2014)
Reading age: 7+ years
This series should be read in order.
The diary of a third-grade year, as told by a loveable worrywart.
It's the start of the school year, and nothing feels right to Justin. He didn't get the teacher he wanted, he's not in the same class as his best friend, and his little sister, Elizabeth, is starting kindergarten at his school. Elizabeth doesn't seem nervous at all. Justin is very nervous about third grade. And to top it off, he's lost his favorite stuffed animal, but he can't tell anyone, because technically he's too old to still have stuffed animals. Right?
Here is third grade in all its complicated glory – the friendships, the fears, and the advanced math. Acclaimed author Rachel Vail captures third grade with a perfect pitch, and Matthew Cordell’s illustrations are both humorous and touching. As Justin bravely tries to step out of his shell, he will step into readers' hearts.