As a parent of children who were avid Minecraft players while I was basically ambivalent about the game, I found this book to be delightful. The scene where the kids get frustrated because Mrs. J takes forever to make her "avatar", made me laugh out loud as that reflected my own experiences with my own gaming kids. This book has the perfect combination of humor and heart.

BenBee and the Teacher Griefer is a story of a small group of kids and their summer school teacher. These group of kids has been brought together in their common inability to pass their state testing and read proficiently. All of them are smart students, but they all bring pain and heartache to the realization that they are not reading like their peers. Each kid's perspective is shared in this story. As the story unfolds, the children in the room will switch and take turns offering their insight into life at summer school.

As a teacher, I thought this story was very insightful. It really gave me a peek into what my struggling students may be feeling when they aren't finding success.

In terms of KA Holt's writing, this book didn't hit the levels I have seen from her in the past. Her last book, Redwood and Ponytail, was so powerful and raw that I just felt this book didn't hit that same passion or level. It was a little bit of a let down for me. However, it was still done well. It just lacked KA Holt's intensity.

I am a huge fan of K. A. Holt's writing, and I couldn't wait to read BenBee and the Teacher Griefer. This story follows a group of 4 kids who have failed a reading assessment. Before retaking it, they must complete summer school with Ms. J. As a teacher, there were a few aspects that I thought were inaccurate in the book (having to retake an assessment, forcing kids to read out loud to practice reading, etc.). I did enjoy getting to know each of the characters in the book. It was obvious the kids and their teacher formed a special relationship. I am sure that readers will enjoy this title!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.