Election Madness (Nikki and Deja Series #4)

by Karen English, Laura Freeman (Illustrator)

Overview

Will Nikki and Deja's friendship survive a race for student body president?

When the students in Nikki and Deja’s class find out that their school is going to hold its first-ever election for student body president, some kids are more excited than others. But none is as excited as Deja, who figures she’s a shoo-in for the third grade nomination.

Deja decides that Nikki will be her campaign manager, of course, and puts her to work right away. But will Deja’s tendency to rush into things and boss people around alienate her best friend when she needs her most, and spoil her chances of becoming president of Carver Elementary?

This is a charming new entry in a chapter book series praised for its humor and authentic characters.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780547850719
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	09/04/2012
Series:	Nikki and Deja Series , #4
Pages:	108
Sales rank:	113,111
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.60(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Karen English is a Coretta Scott King Honor Award-winner and the author of It All Comes Down to This, a Kirkus Prize Finalist, as well as the Nikki and Deja and The Carver Chronicles series. Her novels have been praised for their accessible writing, authentic characters, and satisfying storylines. She is a former elementary school teacher and lives in Los Angeles, California.

Laura Freeman has illustrated several books for young readers, including the Nikki and Deja and Carver Chronicles series, and Natalie's Hair Was Wild, which she also wrote. Laura grew up in New York City, and now lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and two children. www.lfreemanart.com Instagram: @laurafreemanart Twitter: @LauraFreemanArt.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"New readers can happily meet the girls for the first time here and then go back to fill in the picture, while fans will be glad to see them back in fine form."—Bulletin

Editorial Reviews

"New readers can happily meet the girls for the first time here and then go back to fill in the picture, while fans will be glad to see them back in fine form." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

From the Publisher

Gr 1–3—Deja desperately wants to be student body president of Carver Elementary. Ready to pull out all the stops, the third grader immediately enlists her friend Nikki as her campaign manager. Soon Deja is consumed with the idea of winning, even if that means browbeating classmates into choosing her or baking 140 cookies that say "Vote 4 Deja." It doesn't even occur to her that Nikki could use her friendship, as her mom and dad are fighting. Can Deja gain control of her competitive ways or will she be her own greatest obstacle in winning the election? Deja is a confident and smart character, but her inability to be a good friend is never resolved. The occasional full-page black-and-white illustrations add a nice touch, especially when Deja is delivering her speech to the class; this particular picture captures her first thread of uncertainty and self-doubt perfectly. Consider for purchase if the series circulates.—Elizabeth Swistock, Jefferson Madison Regional Library, Charlottesville, VA

School Library Journal

Best friends Nikki and Deja are back in a tale of school elections and friendship.

Confident Deja is excited when Ms. Shelby tells the class that third graders will be allowed to run for student-body president, imagining herself in the role and doing everything she can to make it happen. Nikki is worried about the silent treatment her parents are giving each other, but Deja can only see as far as the election and appoints the reluctant Nikki as her campaign manager. After she insults Nikki, Deja is on her own to make posters and write the speech that has to be delivered in front of the whole student body. Deja's self-absorption threatens to take over this slight story, making Deja less and less likable as the story progresses. It's hard to see why Nikki remains friends with bossy Deja. She forces Nikki to hide forbidden candy; she tattles to her teacher about every little thing; she only thinks of herself.When Deja flubs her poorly conceived speech, though, Nikki steps in to help with the last day of the campaign, pumping a little life into it. Freeman's occasional black-and-white illustrations capture the dramatic tension between the girls and Deja's terror as she faces the microphone.

While beginning chapter books with African-American characters are rare and usually welcome, this particular installment in a usually sunny series falls flat.(Fiction. 6-9)

Kirkus Reviews