How To Make A Mini Comic Book From Lunch Money

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· 8,085 ratings · 622 reviews

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Format: audio

Twelve-year-old Greg always has money on his mind. He is always looking for ways to make money. Once he finds a way that works he looks for a way to make more money. Greg realizes that school is a great place to make money, all those kids with extra lunch money. He comes up with a great idea and sells it to the kids at school, only to find out his rival has decided to copy him.

I thought the story was good, but I did not enjoy the audio. The narrator was very monotone which made the

Format: audio

I thought the story was good, but I did not enjoy the audio. The narrator was very monotone which made the story drag. I would have prefered to read the book myself.

This book would be good as a read aloud in the classroom. There is a lot of math used in this book so it could even be read the last 5 minutes of math for a couple of weeks. The students could try to figure out the problems before the answer is given in the story.

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It is a great story about creativity, comics, economics and entrepreneurship. I really enjoyed the clever ways he made money at home and at school. This story truly engaged the reader in the manner that made the reader curious has to how he was going to find a new way to make money, how he was going to work with his longtime rival and neighbor Maura Shaw. How Greg was going to make the principal understand that it wasn't just about making money, there was more value to his comic book. How Maura It is a great story about creativity, comics, economics and entrepreneurship. I really enjoyed the clever ways he made money at home and at school. This story truly engaged the reader in the manner that made the reader curious has to how he was going to find a new way to make money, how he was going to work with his longtime rival and neighbor Maura Shaw. How Greg was going to make the principal understand that it wasn't just about making money, there was more value to his comic book. How Maura and Greg were going to get the approval from the school board to sell the comic books. The characters in this book found a way to learn from each other and support each other through the hurdles to be successful. They embraced real world situations that made the story more believable. The plot carried the reader into the challenging situations that required problem solving skills. The story left the reader thinking that if you put your mind to something and work as a team it is possible to resolve any conflict. It presented challenging situations with humor and adventure and incorporated both Greg and Maura in the same situation with courage and determination.

Grade: 3-4
Ages: 8-12

2008 Maud Hart Lovelace Award Nominated book
Bank Street Best Books of the Year
CBC/NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book
Charlie May Simon Honor Book (AR)
Garden State Children's Book Award (NJ Library Association) (Categories: Easy to Read, Easy to Read Series, Non-Fiction, Fiction) (four categories, four winners)
Golden Archer Award Master List (WI)
Grand Canyon Reader Award Nominee (AZ)
KSRC Intermediate Titles - TOP PICK
Maud Hart Lovelace Award Master List (MN)
Nene Award Master List (HI)
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award Nominee

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Jun 04, 2016 Josh Ford rated it really liked it

Although not the BEST plot or writing, I find Andrew Clements' books so enjoyable and addictive. These books are almost a guilty pleasure for me, as there very easy to read and understand and quite cheesy, as every one of his books has a lesson that a character has learned in a blunt and comical way. Although not the BEST plot or writing, I find Andrew Clements' books so enjoyable and addictive. These books are almost a guilty pleasure for me, as there very easy to read and understand and quite cheesy, as every one of his books has a lesson that a character has learned in a blunt and comical way. ...more

Dec 03, 2009 Dapantalone rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Lunch Money
Andrew Clements

Lunch Money is by the same author as Frindle. And as that book was wonderful, this one was in my opinion, even better.

Greg Kenton is a twelve-year old middle school student who has always been interested in money. When annoying neighbor, Maura Shaw, begins to develop the same interest as Greg, that had started a rivalry.

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When Greg wanted to make some extra change, he decided to start a comic book company, called Chunky Comics. Greg decides to sell them at his sch

Lunch Money
Andrew Clements

Lunch Money is by the same author as Frindle. And as that book was wonderful, this one was in my opinion, even better.

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When Greg wanted to make some extra change, he decided to start a comic book company, called Chunky Comics. Greg decides to sell them at his school, and when Maura sees what he is doing, she decides to create her own comic book company, An Eentsy, Beentsy Book.

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I thought that this book was an amazing fiction book and a very good comedy for children ages 7-11. It always kept me at the edge of my chair, and the pages literally turned themselves. Andrew Clements is an amazing writer, and that really shows in Lunch Money, Frindle, The Report Card, and all of his other books. I would rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars. It was an excellent adventure story, and is good for people who love excitement and adventure.

-Delaney Pantalone

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Plot: In this book, Greg discovers the art of making money. Once figuring out how to make some extra cash, Greg teams up with his rival, Maura, to make a comic book series. Once gaining permission from the school board, they sell their comic books at school to help benefit the education of their peers.

Characters: Greg is a young boy who is in grade school; he has red hair and freckles. Maura is Greg's neighbor, from across the street, who starts out as Greg's rival, but slowly they build up the

Characters: Greg is a young boy who is in grade school; he has red hair and freckles. Maura is Greg's neighbor, from across the street, who starts out as Greg's rival, but slowly they build up their friendship by going into business together.

Setting and impact: The setting of this book mainly takes place at Ashworth intermediate school. The time is during the present day. In order for there to be a conflict, the story had to take place at school, because otherwise, there wouldn't be a problem.

Who and Why: I would recommend this book to a highschooler. I would recommend this book to a highschooler, because in order to grasp the whole picture of the story, one would need to be able to comprehend it.

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This was the 15th book by Andrew Clements that I have read this year. But as an author with over 100 distinct works on Goodreads I have barely scratched the surface. Clements is one of two authors I have discovered in the last year that I have been completely enthralled with, the other is Chris d'Lacey. I have focused mostly on Clements middle grade offerings, and most of the ones I have read are what I would classify as realistic fiction. These are stories you could actually expect to see happe This was the 15th book by Andrew Clements that I have read this year. But as an author with over 100 distinct works on Goodreads I have barely scratched the surface. Clements is one of two authors I have discovered in the last year that I have been completely enthralled with, the other is Chris d'Lacey. I have focused mostly on Clements middle grade offerings, and most of the ones I have read are what I would classify as realistic fiction. These are stories you could actually expect to see happen, nothing paranormal, supernatural, magical or that would require a big suspense of belief. They are good down to earth stories that teach lessons, but in a subtle way, in essence they are just great reads. And that is how I would sum up all of the standalone books by Clements that I have read, this one included, it is another great read.

This book is illustrated by Brian Selznick, now of Hugo Cabret fame. This book is illustrated differently than a number of Andrew Clements books. Rather than a number of full page illustrations this book a far more illustrations but they are all smaller almost thumbnail drawings. The drawings in this book are in many ways indicative of the style used by Greg and Maura in their mini books, their chunky comics. So one can only assume this is intentional. They look like rough pencil sketches but fit the story well.

As is easily deduced by the title this book has a central theme of money, but not in the way that you would first suspect. Greg Kenton forgets his lunch, and he is short of what he would need to buy lunch at school. When his teacher refuses to lend him the $0.50 he needs to buy lunch she asks the class if someone will help him and a plan is hatched. For Greg realizes that most students have at least 25 cents or more discretionary money at school each day. But is not as simple as being enterprising, and having access to startup money, his first two ideas get squashed pretty quickly. Then He has a great idea and spends a good part of the summer preparing for it. He has plans for a Chunky Comic empire. But Soon things turn sour again when he and his rival, Maura Shaw from across the street end up coming to accidental blows.

This was another great read by Clements. It was especially interesting following the mind and thinking of a young man slightly obsessed with money, and following the entrepreneurship shown and the economics of scale. It was fun also reading about the long standing rivalry and eventually a possible resolution to hostilities.

It is another good read from Andrew Clements and I can honestly say it is well worth the read.

Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Andrew Clements.

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Oct 24, 2012 Trey A. rated it really liked it

I recently read Lunch Money by Andrew Clements Lunch Money is about a boy who has been collecting money since he was about 5. When he was older his dad told him he should start a bank account (because he had a bunch of money in different spots in the house) so you don't lose your money, and you will get a $100 when you stay there for a year. The boy thinks about it and decides to start one. But one day he made a comic book and someone wanted to buy it from him, and a light went in his head...... I recently read Lunch Money by Andrew Clements Lunch Money is about a boy who has been collecting money since he was about 5. When he was older his dad told him he should start a bank account (because he had a bunch of money in different spots in the house) so you don't lose your money, and you will get a $100 when you stay there for a year. The boy thinks about it and decides to start one. But one day he made a comic book and someone wanted to buy it from him, and a light went in his head......
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Feb 21, 2017 Marylei rated it it was amazing

This book is about Greg who is 12 years old. He loves to save money and He already saved about 8,000. He is very smart, athletic, artistic & knows how to save money. His two obsessions are making money and his long-standing competition with his annoying neighbors. It's a good book and i would recommend this book to middle school kids because the main character is about their age. This book is about Greg who is 12 years old. He loves to save money and He already saved about 8,000. He is very smart, athletic, artistic & knows how to save money. His two obsessions are making money and his long-standing competition with his annoying neighbors. It's a good book and i would recommend this book to middle school kids because the main character is about their age. ...more

Apr 06, 2021 Sarah rated it really liked it

My twelve year old daughter "assigned" this to me, saying it's her favorite Clements book, and it was excellent! Interesting and fun. My twelve year old daughter "assigned" this to me, saying it's her favorite Clements book, and it was excellent! Interesting and fun. ...more

Personal response: I really liked the book, "Lunch Money," by Andrew Clements because of the story line, and I thought it was funny at times. I enjoyed reading the conflict of Greg and Maura they would always have to be better than one another. I really liked how the author used good imagery in every scene.

Plot: Greg Kenton has always had a love for making money. In fifth grade Greg figures out that everyone has some extra quarters at lunch. With this in mind he starts selling comic books and li

Plot: Greg Kenton has always had a love for making money. In fifth grade Greg figures out that everyone has some extra quarters at lunch. With this in mind he starts selling comic books and little toys at lunch to make some money. Chunky Comics is a hit, all of the kids love them. Maura Shaw started giving Gregg a run for his money by making her own comics. They team up after an incident in math class where Maura punched Gregg in the nose on accident. At first the school would not let them sell their comic books at school. With hard work and some good convincing to Mrs.Davenport, she lets them sell them at school.

Characterization: Greg Kenton is the main character in this book and he loves to make money. Some of his peers say he is obsessed with it. Maura Shaw is his next door neighbor and his only competition for making money. Greg's family is very supportive of Greg and Maura. Mrs. Davenport is the school principal and she is all about learning and only learning. Mr.Z is the math teacher who has been with Greg and Maura trying to sell comic books. The characterization in this book was very good. I could relate to Greg because we both want to make money and get rich.

Impacts of setting: The setting is at a middle school in today's time because of the technology that the kids use to make the comic books. The characters in the book are twelve years old sixth graders. The book would be much different if it took place anywhere else because then he wouldn't have the conflict of not being able to sell them. I think the time and setting of the book well-suited the story line and I cannot see it working in any other setting or time.

Thematic connection: The theme I picked out in this book was not to be greedy and to enjoy the simple things in life. Greg would only focus on his money and wouldn't worry about making friends. When Maura came into the picture he became interested in being her friend but also beating his competition.

Recommendation:I would recommend this book to boys and girls in middle school and high school. I do not believe this book is gender specific because the main characters are a boy and a girl. It was very easy to comprehend and it's also a quick and easy read.

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Jun 28, 2017 Yaqueliné rated it it was amazing

Not going to lie, at first I thought I was going to greatly dislike this books since it will mostly be about money (which in truth - it is, but that's not the point) and money and I don't get along very well since I haven't mastered the art of money such as Greg. But to my surprise this books excel my expectations! The writing is simple and goes straight to the point, the characters -Greg and Maura- were fantastic to read and how their relationships blossoms throughout the books, and the story i Not going to lie, at first I thought I was going to greatly dislike this books since it will mostly be about money (which in truth - it is, but that's not the point) and money and I don't get along very well since I haven't mastered the art of money such as Greg. But to my surprise this books excel my expectations! The writing is simple and goes straight to the point, the characters -Greg and Maura- were fantastic to read and how their relationships blossoms throughout the books, and the story is simply a fun read.

Now, let's talk about what I was mostly was excited about this book - Greg and Maura. That's right ladies and gentlemen those two kids were a blast to read. I really like (as I said before) how their relationship blossoms from enemies to friends and who's to thank for that miracle? Well money of course! (At least to an extent.) Greg and Maura have known each other since they could remember and they have always been competitors in everything and tried to challenge who can better such as riding bikes or who can sell the most of comic books or should I call them chunky comics? That's right. Comics helped the two competitors to unite and end their feud - well somewhat end their feud.

The part that sold me was in the very last chapter in the end when there was "one awkward attempt of holding hands." I literally squealed from delight and the cuteness! Can you say what?

Mr. Andrew Clements, you just won a reader and I cannot wait to read more of your books since this was my first book that I have read from you!

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Boring, stereotyped, awkward, and reinforces rape culture.

The middle school teacher tells the boy that all teachers can tell which boys the girls like because the girls are mean to those boys. I know using the phrase "rape culture" seems melodramatic, but here I am reading it in June of 2014, in the context of a U.S. culture with prolific sexual assault in the military and in colleges, and with many of these cases being dismissed - often blamed on the girl's "mixed messages." There's a need for weeding out books that reinforce this. I understand it's an older book, so I know Clements wasn't as enlightened as we are now about the effects of convincing boys that girls who fight with them actually like them. But this book was one of many that was recommended by elementary schools and librarians to kids who were 10 in 2005, who are now 20. It's a dangerous sentiment, and it's everywhere, and it shouldn't be in books for kids.

If it was otherwise a good book, then you could maybe recommend the book be read with a note of qualification. However, the book is not good. The plot and writing was very procedural, with an obvious lesson. The book teaches about economics and small businesses, but without the good writing that would integrate it into an interesting story. Kids would be better off reading an instructional book about how to start your own business.

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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Personal Response
I really enjoyed the book Lunch Money because Greg was always looking for a way to make money. I also liked this book, because it showed how someone can make a friend even if they don't think they like them. Another thing I liked about this book, was Greg and Maura finally got to sell their comic books in the school after all their hard work. I thought the book was good because it showed how someone can make a friendship out of pretty much nothing.

Plot Summary
The beginning of

Personal Response
I really enjoyed the book Lunch Money because Greg was always looking for a way to make money. I also liked this book, because it showed how someone can make a friend even if they don't think they like them. Another thing I liked about this book, was Greg and Maura finally got to sell their comic books in the school after all their hard work. I thought the book was good because it showed how someone can make a friendship out of pretty much nothing.

Plot Summary
The beginning of Lunch Money was very interesting because it was showing all the ways a kid can make a little bit of money around a small neighborhood, and Greg did it quite successfully. Everything seemed like it was going great until Greg started selling his comic books at school to make a little bit more money. The reason everything went south, was that halfway through the day someone walked up to Greg and showed him a ripoff book of his comic book. Greg got very upset and he knew exactly who had made it; Maura Shaw. Knowing that he had her in his next hour, he charged into the room and started yelling at each other about whose idea it was. Eventually, the argument turned into Maura accidentally hitting Greg in the nose and giving him a black eye. After that incident, they both had to talk with Mr. Z. after school. Something seemed different when they went to the meeting after school because Maura was nice to Greg. From that point on, Maura was nice to Greg. They even started to write their comics together. Next, came the big problem; they created a very nice comic book but were not allowed to sell it at school. They went to the school board meeting, with very good information, about how they should be able to sell at school. Surprisingly, the school board approved of it.

Characterization
Greg was the main character of this book. He was always determined to make some money and was willing to work for it. Greg had some people who always got in the way of what he wanted to accomplish. Towards the end of the book, Greg overcame his downfalls and made money and some friends too.

Maura also had a big impact on the book because she was one of the people always in Greg's way of making money. Maura was always trying to be friends with Greg, but he did not realize until they started writing comics together. I think Maura was always jealous of Greg, and that was why she always copied his ideas.

Impact of setting
Lunch Money took place during the start of the school year right after summer. Another place the book took place, was at Greg's house usually after school. The reason the school year was so important to the book was, that was where Greg always was making his money. The reason Greg's house was so important to the book was, that was where he and Maura worked on their comics together.

Recommendation
I would recommend this book to any gender because it was always leaving me wondering what was going to happen next. I would also recommend this book to middle school and above, so they could fully understand what the book is about. Lastly, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys making money because that is what Greg is always working for.

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Oct 16, 2017 Logan Kicherer rated it really liked it

Personal response
I personally didn't like this book, Lunch Money, that much. The main reason why I did not like it was because it is kind of a middle school aged book. This book kept on changing, for example, when the two characters hated each other on one page,but then the next page they were best friends. This book was really boring. I did not like how they would talk about the same thing over and over. I thought that Greg was really good at drawing but it took him 60 hours just to draw the p Personal response
I personally didn't like this book, Lunch Money, that much. The main reason why I did not like it was because it is kind of a middle school aged book. This book kept on changing, for example, when the two characters hated each other on one page,but then the next page they were best friends. This book was really boring. I did not like how they would talk about the same thing over and over. I thought that Greg was really good at drawing but it took him 60 hours just to draw the pictures. I did not get how a girl named Mura, copied his ideas. She did not even go to school with him. How did she not get in trouble when she punched him in the face?

Plot
In the book, Lunch Money, a girl named Mura, and a guy named Greg are arch enemies. Greg was the inventor and seller of Chunkey comic books. He sold them for 25 cents each and he made good money. Then Mura moved to Greg's school. Ever since they where kids Mura liked to take his ideas. So, Mura stole Greg's idea on Chunkey comics, but sold her's for 50 cents and Greg got mad and stormed into class one day and told her up. Then the math teacher stood up and said, "What is going on here?" Greg said, "She stole my ideas on my book!" He showed the math teacher Mura's book then she went to grab at it.Greg pulled away and she hit him in the face. Greg's nose instantly started to bleed.They were sent to the office and then after that they became good friends. Greg still did not want to tell her that her that her comic book was actually pretty good.

Characterization
Greg, who is a main character, likes to make and sell comic books. He is only in sixth grade and has a arch enemy, Mura. He also likes to ride on his hog bike that he got when he was a kid. He also likes to sell lemonade on days when it is hot.

Mura who is also a main character likes to steal Greg's ideas For Example, when Greg was selling lemonade she had to sell lemonade too. When greg got a bike she had to get the same bike and do the same thing he did. Mura did this because she liked Greg and wanted to do the things he did. She was too shy to tell him so, she would just be mean and act like she hated him.

Then there is the math teacher, Mr. Zenith, who solved the problems between Greg and Mura. He even told Greg that Mura likes him. Also, when Mura hit Greg in the face the math teacher was the one who brought him to the nurse's office.

Mrs. Davenport is the principal and also is the one who made Greg move classes so he did not have to see Mura. Mrs. Davenport banned the selling of anything in school and suspended Greg for not listening to her rules.

Impact Settings
This book takes place in Calhoun, Georgia and at Ashworth Intermediate School. The book does not say a specific time, but it takes place throughout a school year. Most of the story happens outside in Greg and Mura's neighborhood where they competed on selling lemonade, riding bikes, and selling other merchandise. This impacted their life because Greg always got ripped off by Mura who would take his idea and sell it for double. This resulted in them hating each other.

Recommendation
I would recommend this book, Lunch Money, to boys and girls age 13 and up. The content is meant for younger kids. If people do not like romance, this book is not for them. There is not much action in this book. If people want action, they should choose a different book. If people just want a quick book to read, this is a book for them.

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Not Bad, but A Bit Long with Poor Illustrations

I just finished reading this book to my daughter for her/our first time, and I thought it was fine. I recently re-discovered Frindle and was really hopeful that this book would live up to it, but I'm afraid that it just didn't deliver quite as well. Still, though, my daughter enjoyed it! Here are some key points:

BRIEF SYNOPSIS: The story follows the money-making exploits of two sixth-graders, Greg Kenton and Maura Shaw. Greg is an especially savvy y

Not Bad, but A Bit Long with Poor Illustrations

BRIEF SYNOPSIS: The story follows the money-making exploits of two sixth-graders, Greg Kenton and Maura Shaw. Greg is an especially savvy young entrepreneur, and the first part of the book details his moneymaking history. The plot largely focuses on Greg and Maura (longtime rivals) establishing an unlikely alliance to produce and market their homemade comic books to the children at their school, with the help of their math teacher and to the consternation of their principal.

Starts off Strong: I really did like the first few chapters of the book, in which Greg is introduced and his money-making endeavors are explored. It's got some fun bits of math and financial advice tucked into it, and there's no way for a kid (including my 5-year-old daughter) to read it without them getting a little starry-eyed at the prospect of starting up their own lawn-mowing business and striking it rich. :)

Too Long: The book is 222 pages, more than twice as long as Frindle, and it thus doesn't really retain readers' attention nearly as well. I lost steam after the first 100 pages myself, but powered on through to the end.

Hasn't Aged Too Well: The book is a little heavy on tropes that have fallen out of favor and that we don't want to share with our daughter, including the old lines that "she's mean to you because she likes you" and "girls won't really be interested in reading these comics about dinosaurs."

Illustrations Lacking: Ironically, for a book that focuses so much on the high-quality illustrations of the two protagonists, the book's art is really lacking. They're full of low-quality sketches that don't hold a candle to the pages of Frindle. Big bummer.

Bottom line: The book was fine for one read-through, but I don't know if I'll ever read it again. I suggest you read Frindle or The Landry News instead!

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Apr 14, 2019 Bryce Davis rated it really liked it

Wow! This book was an excellent commentary on the problems with uncontrolled capitalism and the importance of student voice in public education. Throughout my entire education, I have heard so many amazing things about Andrew Clements, but I did not decide to read any of his books until I stumbled across this one. This book is a must read! My only problem with this book was the lack of motivation from the antagonist, Mrs. Davenport. I understand that she did not like comic books at all, but I wa Wow! This book was an excellent commentary on the problems with uncontrolled capitalism and the importance of student voice in public education. Throughout my entire education, I have heard so many amazing things about Andrew Clements, but I did not decide to read any of his books until I stumbled across this one. This book is a must read! My only problem with this book was the lack of motivation from the antagonist, Mrs. Davenport. I understand that she did not like comic books at all, but I was confused about why her passion was so intense. Clements attempted to make up a story for this during the last ten pages of the book, but it felt out of place and unconventional. Give this book a go and it will not disappoint. I'm looking forward to reading another one of his books in the near future. ...more

Jun 16, 2020 Mary Elisabeth rated it really liked it

This is such a cute book. I always grew up reading Andrew Clements books and I will always love them. Lunch Money is one of my favorites as I love the characters drive. Looking back I did major in business and I am hoping to work in publishing....wonder if this made more of an impact than I thought? Lol. Also the illustrations are done by the fabulous Brian Selznick, which I only realized during this reading of the book. For those of you don't know Selznick has written and illustrated several bo This is such a cute book. I always grew up reading Andrew Clements books and I will always love them. Lunch Money is one of my favorites as I love the characters drive. Looking back I did major in business and I am hoping to work in publishing....wonder if this made more of an impact than I thought? Lol. Also the illustrations are done by the fabulous Brian Selznick, which I only realized during this reading of the book. For those of you don't know Selznick has written and illustrated several books of his own including Wonderstruck and The invention of Hugo Cabret. Go check those out too! ...more

What kind of low-level, casual genius witchcraft is this? The clarity of the writing; the re-immersion in flipping fifth grade with all its unpleasantness; the distractable adults who care about children, of course they do, but also have a lot else going on in their heads; the instruction on how to discuss problems calmly and make compelling presentations; the economics lessons; the ethical nuance; the humor, oh God, the humor. When Greg goads Mr. Z a little bit, just a little, while he's lying What kind of low-level, casual genius witchcraft is this? The clarity of the writing; the re-immersion in flipping fifth grade with all its unpleasantness; the distractable adults who care about children, of course they do, but also have a lot else going on in their heads; the instruction on how to discuss problems calmly and make compelling presentations; the economics lessons; the ethical nuance; the humor, oh God, the humor. When Greg goads Mr. Z a little bit, just a little, while he's lying on the floor with his blood phobia; when Mrs. Davenport reads comic books for the first time; this book is damn funny. I've also read The Last Holiday Concert because Clements is an easy audio download that doesn't eat all the memory in my iPhone 4 or take a million years to get through a mediocre narrative (I just finished The Road to Little Dribbling and didn't want something else to take three weeks of "...errrrr, should I stop listening to this? This is supposed to be good and it isn't."), and The Last Holiday Concert was a bit better but both are a firm five stars. ...more

This was a good, quick read. I loved the story involved. It can help teach younger kids that at times you need to put aside your deferences, and get to know each other before you hate each other. I may read this one day again in the far future, but as of right now, I think I'll leave it in the past.

Aug 31, 2020 Carmen Imes rated it really liked it

Andrew Clements' stories are always a lot of fun. This one features an entrepreneurial 6th grade boy and his rival neighbor girl. It reminded me so much of my childhood -- finding ways to make money at recess and fighting the perceived injustices from the school administration. Great ending! Andrew Clements' stories are always a lot of fun. This one features an entrepreneurial 6th grade boy and his rival neighbor girl. It reminded me so much of my childhood -- finding ways to make money at recess and fighting the perceived injustices from the school administration. Great ending! ...more

Jan 05, 2018 BOBBY Z (Robert) rated it it was ok

Recommends it for: People who like books by Andrew Clements

Recommended to BOBBY Z by: I

I'm not really done, I didn't like this book, so I ditched it (before the break). Any suggestions on what I should read? I'm not really done, I didn't like this book, so I ditched it (before the break). Any suggestions on what I should read? ...more

Apr 21, 2019 Emilee rated it really liked it

Cute story. Good opportunity to discuss basic economics, work ethic, and greed with your kids/students.

Jul 20, 2017 Marilee rated it liked it

This is middle grade fiction, a story about an industrious 6th grader and his adventures in money making. He finds a formidable foe in Maura, the girl across the street. One of my favorite moments of the book involve the two of them when they are around four, racing their big wheels down the sidewalk. It's a cute story, one that I'll recommend to my kids. This is middle grade fiction, a story about an industrious 6th grader and his adventures in money making. He finds a formidable foe in Maura, the girl across the street. One of my favorite moments of the book involve the two of them when they are around four, racing their big wheels down the sidewalk. It's a cute story, one that I'll recommend to my kids. ...more

May 01, 2020 Laken Cooke rated it it was amazing

Very cute read for elementary scholars. Will use as a read aloud again in the future.

Dec 14, 2018 Michael S rated it really liked it

Personal Response:
Lunch Money was a very good book that I enjoyed reading. This book was about a boy named Greg Kenton and a girl named Maura Shaw. They reminded me of my sister and me because we used to fight a lot and we were the only two who knew how to save our money. It also had some action in it when Greg and Maura got into a fight about who had the right to sell comic books, but later on they became a team.

Plot Summary:
Lunch Money was about two young kids named Greg Kenton and Maura Shaw.

Plot Summary:
Lunch Money was about two young kids named Greg Kenton and Maura Shaw. Greg always had ideas on how to make money and how to run little businesses. Maura Shaw always wanted to compete with Greg whenever he did something to make money to see if she could do better. Eventually, Greg started doing his own mini-comic books, but then so did Maura. They argued because Greg thought she was stealing his customers at school. After a bunch of arguing and a talk with the principal and a teacher, they decided to team up and create a business together. They worked well together, but they had some fights over little things. They sat down and made a compromise so everybody stayed happy, then they would get back to work.

Characterization:
Greg was just a young boy who loved money. He loved to make it and he loved to work to earn it. When he was young, he loved to do his brother's chores for money. He would go around and shovel people's driveways in the winter, and during the summer he would sell lemonade. He was just a hardworking boy who also had a competitive side, which started with Maura.

Maura was a young girl who lived across the street from Greg. She did not like money as much, but she did like to compete with Greg in everything he did. If Greg sold lemonade so would she. She was very competitive but also wanted help from Greg when she did her own comic.

Setting:
The setting was during the summer on Maple Avenue. That is where Greg and Maura lived and where their feud started. It was also the spot where they started their comic book building. Greg and Maura also went to Ashworth Intermediate school. Greg started his bigger businesses at the school selling toys to the other kids and Maura wanted to also. Their comic book business started at the school and it really took off from there.

Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to anybody from the age of fourteen and up who would want to learn a little bit about saving money. This book is good for both genders because they can equally relate to each main character. This book helped me think of different ways to make money and ways to save my money. This book is going to make me think before just buying something like I normally do. I gave this book four stars because it started a little slow in the beginning. Once the author got past introducing everybody, then it got good. I thought this was a good book to read and would definitely read it again in the future.

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Love books by this author. Another winner. Highly recommend for upper elementary or early middle school

Mar 10, 2015 Sam Schoenick rated it really liked it

For my second book of the semester I read the book "Lunch Money" by Andrew Clements. I really enjoyed this book. I feel that I have learned some very important things like anything is possible. This is a great read and I really enjoy Andrew Clements as an Author. This has some comedy in it and some really cool statistics. My favorite part of this book is when Mr. Z and Greg are both laying on the floor with bloody noses.

This book is all about a boy named Greg who likes to earn money. He does a l

This book is all about a boy named Greg who likes to earn money. He does a lot of things to make money. He makes way more money than a kid in the sixth grade should ever make. Greg will do things like shovel a driveway, rake leaves, and sell things. Greg has a small problem though when he wants to sell a comic book he made. The problem is that he wants to sell them in school but the school does not allow him to sell his comics. So Greg and his friend, but enemy Maura at the time, decide to make a plan to speak about what they want to do with their comics. The only problem is they have to try and explain this all to Mrs. Davenport the principal. Mrs. Davenport does not like the fact that Greg wants to make money off of his comics by selling them to his peers. With hard work and dedication Greg and Maura get to sell comics in school. It benefits the school quite a bit also.

The main character of this book is Greg Kenton. Maura Shaw is another main character. Greg's family plays an important role in this book also. Mr. Z is a Math teacher that helps Greg and Maura get their comics sold. Mrs. Davenport is the school principal and she plays a role in it too. Greg and Mrs. Davenport do not get along very well in the beginning. Character descriptions is well described in this book and that makes it a very easy book to follow along with.

The time period of this book takes place in the 2000s. Most of the books setting is spent at Ashworth Middle School. Most of the conflicts occur at Ashworth Middle School also. The impact of the setting is a lot bigger than what you would think. If this book did not take place in a school Greg would be able to sell his comics anywhere he wanted. The schools rules about selling things makes it a problem for Greg.

I would recommend this book to anybody eighth and beyond. I would not recommend this book to an older adult. I would give this book a star rating of four. It is very easy to keep along with and has good detail. Both genders would enjoy this book because both main characters are male and female.

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Jul 25, 2017 Bryan rated it liked it

The story of Greg and his rival from across the street is a quick enjoyable read. It takes place at a middle school with middle school kids. It is the story of how one young man learns that there may be more to life than money.

Dec 19, 2016 Gressa rated it really liked it

December Book Review
Lunch Money
Andrew Clements

Greg Kenton faces a lot of challenges trying to get his comic books out on the market for good. Greg Kenton was always good money. Ever since he was a little kid he understood money. He understood how to spend money, save money, and increase his money. One day Greg decided he could make a few extra bucks by selling items at his school. He started by selling candy and gum, that turned out to be a bust. Then, he sold toys, which also didn't turn of so well. Greg couldn't think of what else he could sell at school. Suddenly, it finally hit Greg, he could sell comic books. They were books weren't they? The school had books all of over the place. What was the harm in selling them? Greg started selling the comic books whenever he could at school. He called them Chunky Comics. Sales were running smoothly until Greg found out that his nemesis was selling comic books as well. Her name is Maura Shaw. She had always stole Greg's ideas as a child. Greg was fed up with Maura. In math class that day Maura got into it will Greg and socked him right in the nose. The two fought about comics for much longer until the principle of Maura and Greg's school said that they could no longer sell comic books in the school. The reason being is the comics were inspiring other students to write more violent comics of their own to bring to school. Maura and Greg give the story an unexpected twist by doing something no one thought they would do to help get their comic books back on the market.

Greg's teacher uses his life to show Greg that money isn't everything and that people don't need a ton of money to be happy. All throughout the book the character Greg is obsessed with this idea of becoming rich. One day after having a conversation with his math teacher Mr. Z, that all changes. Greg listened to his math teacher talk about how he doesn't get paid much but that doesn't bother him because he loves what he is doing and is happy with his life. Greg then realizes that money isn't everything and people don't need a whole lot of it to be happy.

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Feb 24, 2017 Olivia rated it really liked it

I liked it. The events in this story were surprising.

I was born in Camden, New Jersey in 1949 and lived in Oaklyn and Cherry Hill until the middle of sixth grade. Then we moved to Springfield, Illinois. My parents were avid readers and they gave that love of books and reading to me and to all my brothers and sisters. I didn't think about being a writer at all back then, but I did love to read. I'm certain there's a link between reading good books an I was born in Camden, New Jersey in 1949 and lived in Oaklyn and Cherry Hill until the middle of sixth grade. Then we moved to Springfield, Illinois. My parents were avid readers and they gave that love of books and reading to me and to all my brothers and sisters. I didn't think about being a writer at all back then, but I did love to read. I'm certain there's a link between reading good books and becoming a writer. I don't know a single writer who wasn't a reader first.
Before moving to Illinois, and even afterwards, our family spent summers at a cabin on a lake in Maine. There was no TV there, no phone, no doorbell—and email wasn't even invented. All day there was time to swim and fish and mess around outside, and every night, there was time to read. I know those quiet summers helped me begin to think like a writer.
During my senior year at Springfield High School my English teacher handed back a poem I'd written. Two things were amazing about that paper. First, I'd gotten an A—a rare event in this teacher's class. And she'd also written in large, scrawly red writing, "Andrew—this poem is so funny. This should be published!"
That praise sent me off to Northwestern University feeling like I was a pretty good writer, and occasionally professors there also encouraged me and complimented the essays I was required to write as a literature major. But I didn't write much on my own—just some poetry now and then. I learned to play guitar and began writing songs, but again, only when I felt like it. Writing felt like hard work—something that's still true today.
After the songwriting came my first job in publishing. I worked for a small publisher who specialized in how-to books, the kind of books that have photos with informative captions below each one. The book in which my name first appeared in print is called A Country Christmas Treasury. I'd built a number of the projects featured in the book, and I was listed as one of the "craftspeople"on the acknowlegements page, in tiny, tiny type.
In 1990 I began trying to write a story about a boy who makes up a new word. That book eventually became my first novel, Frindle, published in 1996, and you can read the whole story of how it developed on another web site, frindle.com. Frindle became popular, more popular than any of my books before or since—at least so far. And it had the eventual effect of turning me into a full-time writer.
I've learned that I need time and a quiet place to think and write. These days, I spend a lot of my time sitting in a small shed about seventy feet from my back door at our home in Massachusetts. There's a woodstove in there for the cold winters, and an air conditioner for the hot summers. There's a desk and chair, and I carry a laptop computer back and forth. But there's no TV, no phone, no doorbell, no email. And the woodstove and the pine board walls make the place smell just like that cabin in Maine where I spent my earliest summers.
Sometimes kids ask how I've been able to write so many books. The answer is simple: one word at a time. Which is a good lesson, I think. You don't have to do everything at once. You don't have to know how every story is going to end. You just have to take that next step, look for that next idea, write that next word. And growing up, it's the same way. We just have to go to that next class, read that next chapter, help that next person. You simply have to do that next good thing, and before you know it, you're living a good life. ...more

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Ellen Oh is an award-winning author of middle grade and young adult novels such as Spirit Hunters, The Dragon Egg Princess, and A Thousand...

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