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About The Book

“A thoughtful next step for readers of Andrew Clements.” —BCCB

Multiple points of view lead to multiple theories about what really happened after one kid turns a punishment into a protest in this hilarious novel from Michele Weber Hurwitz.

Perennial good kid Ethan Marcus has just done the unthinkable: refuse to stay seated during class. He’s not causing a riot; he’s not wandering around; he’s just sick of sitting. But the rules aren’t designed for Ethan, and so he is sent to the principal’s office.

When Ethan’s sentence results in a Reflection Day—McNutt Middle School’s answer to detention—his faculty advisor suggests that Ethan channel the energy that caused his “transgression” by entering the school’s Invention Day Competition. Ethan is not exactly Mark Zuckerberg, so he doubts his ability to make anything competition-worthy. That’s the department of his slightly older sister Erin. But as Ethan and his buddy Brian get into the assignment, they realize they might actually have something.

Enter Romanov, the resident tech whiz, who refuses to give them tips. But Erin is furious at her formally slacker—now traitor—brother. Meanwhile, Erin’s friend Zoe is steering clear of Erin’s drama after realizing that she may be crushing on Ethan. Then there’s Brian who has bigger things to worry about, and finally loner kid Wesley, who may know more than others realize…

Told in the perspectives of multiple students, discover what really happened on the day that one kid decided to take a stand against sitting down.

About The Author

Photograph by Sadie Teper

Michele Weber Hurwitz is the author of several books for young readers. The Summer I Saved the World…in 65 Days was nominated for a 2015–16 Pennsylvania Young Readers’ Choice Award. Calli Be Gold was nominated for a 2015–16 Minnesota Youth Reading Award and was on the 2014 Bluestem Readers’ Choice Award nomination list in Illinois. It also was named a starred Best Book by the Bank Street College of Education. She is also the author of Ethan Marcus Stands Up and Ethan Marcus Makes His Mark. She lives in the Chicago area.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Aladdin (September 19, 2017)
  • Length: 272 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781481489270
  • Grades: 3 - 7
  • Ages: 8 - 12
  • Lexile ® 600L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®

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Raves and Reviews

Readers with siblings will appreciate this story about rivalry.

– School Library Journal

The shifting narration (among Ethan and Erin, their two best friends, and the outcast who joins Ethan in Reflection) is smartly effective at giving insight into the friction between brother and sister over the science fair and beyond, and the point that you can’t externally see what drives people is a helpful nudge to empathy. . . . a thoughtful next step for readers of Andrew Clements.

– BCCB

Awards and Honors

  • Illinois Reads List
  • Sunshine State Young Readers' Award Jr. Nominee (FL)

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More books from this author: Michele Weber Hurwitz