If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period

Gennifer Choldenko's young adult novel If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period is the story of two middle school students:  Kirsten and Walker.  Kirsten is a fat girl with a self-deprecating sense of humor.  Walker is an African-American boy who has been transplanted from his city school to attend a hoity-toity all-white private school.  The novel is narrated by both Kirsten and Walker in alternating chapters.

Choldenko writes with the bitter honesty that is middle school.  She especially has a keen sense of how bitterly adolescent girls treat each other.  As a formerly plump teenager (now, I'm no longer a teen, but still plump!), I have felt that cruelty.  Kirsten's feelings are palatable.  I enjoyed reading the novel through Kirsten's eyes as I saw a bit of myself.

Walker's chapters were equally well-narrated.  It is impressive to me that Choldenko speaks as well for a young man as she does for a young lady.  However, the story itself is a bit contrived.  Up until the secret is revealed, the story was plausible.  I felt the story fell apart after that point.

All in all, I would definitely recommend If a Tree Falls, if merely for the bully aspects.  The scenes created will provide excellent talking points in the classroom.  I may even decide to use this story as one of my read alouds.