LUNCH MONEY
by Andrew Clements
illustrated by Brian Selznick
Simon & Schuster
ISBN-10: 0689866852
ISBN-13: 9780689866852
Ages 8-12
224 pages

LUNCH MONEY is a character-driven middle grade novel that centers on two richly drawn characters. From the first page the reader gets a sense of Greg Kenton's entire motivation in life: money. He is driven to earn it, save it, and spend it. His nemesis, Maura Shaw, also has a head for business and has been competing with Greg since they were toddlers.

At the end of his fifth grade year, Greg discovers that his fellow classmates have a lot of spending power. He notices that each of them has an extra quarter or two every day to spend at lunch on pencils, ice cream sandwiches and cookies. Greg is determined to get a piece of the action. All he needs is the right product to sell to them. Candy and toys won't go over big with the teachers and principal, but who could complain if he sold books to the kids?

Soon Greg's Chunky Comics business is born. Greg writes, illustrates and produces the comics at home. His business takes off and he is getting rich quick. But obstacles soon get in the way of Greg's thriving business and threaten to shut him down. Will he be able to overcome these hurdles and grow his business?

In this age of commercialism and consumerism, Andrew Clements --- the author of FRINDLE and a number of popular school stories --- will have readers thinking about what it means to be a success in life. Greg Kenton learns a thing or two about success, and readers will too. I wish Andrew Clements success with this delightful middle grade novel.

   --- Reviewed by Renee Kirchner (renee.kirchner@usa.net)

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