Recess Rules by Jill Vialet (Children's, 9 years +, 8/10E)

 (It's all about saving time to play between classes)

Themes: school life, bullies, having a few friends, not caring about people, being motivated, learning new games, interacting with people you don't know/like, team games, learning organisation skills, a mischievous angel, adults not thinking about what's really important

Content: A little bullying and violence, lots of humour, tissues are needed

Summary from Playworks

After losing her parents in a car crash at age 8, life just hasn't been the same for Cassie Murphy. Now a fifth grader at Magruder Elementary, Cassie and her three friends, Zee, Toni and Bryant, have been trying to make the best of the same old routine of school, but somehow all the fun has been sucked out of it, and especially at recess. Between a dwindling number of students on the blacktop and Marcus Mackey’s need to bully away any games that might be had, Cassie and her crew are on the verge of giving up on their formerly beloved recess. The four friends get help from an unexpected place when an “angel-on-probation” named Clarence is sent to earth to help them fix recess. Clarence’s crusade gains new importance along the way, as Cassie learns that it’s alright to take the risk and care enough to try to change things for the better.
Recess is just starting to be fun again when the Superintendent visits and unveils his plan to eliminate recess altogether. Cassie and her friends are devastated, but they realize they have just one shot to convince the Superintendent that recess is important. Determined as they are, a bizarre set of events including two suspensions, a visit from a news crew, and a food fight threaten to derail their plans and ruin recess for good. Will Cassie and her friends be able to convince the Superintendent that it's worth the risk to care about recess, too?
- See more at: http://www.playworks.org/about/media/news/recess-rules#sthash.vOSB5QVs.dpuf

After losing her parents in a car crash at age 8, life just hasn't been the same for Cassie Murphy. Now a fifth grader at Magruder Elementary, Cassie and her three friends, Zee, Toni and Bryant, have been trying to make the best of the same old routine of school, but somehow all the fun has been sucked out of it, and especially at recess. Between a dwindling number of students on the blacktop and Marcus Mackey’s need to bully away any games that might be had, Cassie and her crew are on the verge of giving up on their formerly beloved recess. The four friends get help from an unexpected place when an “angel-on-probation” named Clarence is sent to earth to help them fix recess. Clarence’s crusade gains new importance along the way, as Cassie learns that it’s alright to take the risk and care enough to try to change things for the better.

Recess is just starting to be fun again when the Superintendent visits and unveils his plan to eliminate recess altogether. Cassie and her friends are devastated, but they realize they have just one shot to convince the Superintendent that recess is important. Determined as they are, a bizarre set of events including two suspensions, a visit from a news crew, and a food fight threaten to derail their plans and ruin recess for good. Will Cassie and her friends be able to convince the Superintendent that it's worth the risk to care about recess, too?

 

After losing her parents in a car crash at age 8, life just hasn't been the same for Cassie Murphy. Now a fifth grader at Magruder Elementary, Cassie and her three friends, Zee, Toni and Bryant, have been trying to make the best of the same old routine of school, but somehow all the fun has been sucked out of it, and especially at recess. Between a dwindling number of students on the blacktop and Marcus Mackey’s need to bully away any games that might be had, Cassie and her crew are on the verge of giving up on their formerly beloved recess. The four friends get help from an unexpected place when an “angel-on-probation” named Clarence is sent to earth to help them fix recess. Clarence’s crusade gains new importance along the way, as Cassie learns that it’s alright to take the risk and care enough to try to change things for the better.
Recess is just starting to be fun again when the Superintendent visits and unveils his plan to eliminate recess altogether. Cassie and her friends are devastated, but they realize they have just one shot to convince the Superintendent that recess is important. Determined as they are, a bizarre set of events including two suspensions, a visit from a news crew, and a food fight threaten to derail their plans and ruin recess for good. Will Cassie and her friends be able to convince the Superintendent that it's worth the risk to care about recess, too?
- See more at: http://www.playworks.org/about/media/news/recess-rules#sthash.vOSB5QVs.dpuf

After losing her parents in a car crash at age 8, life just hasn't been the same for Cassie Murphy. Now a fifth grader at Magruder Elementary, Cassie and her three friends, Zee, Toni and Bryant, have been trying to make the best of the same old routine of school, but somehow all the fun has been sucked out of it, and especially at recess. Between a dwindling number of students on the blacktop and Marcus Mackey’s need to bully away any games that might be had, Cassie and her crew are on the verge of giving up on their formerly beloved recess. The four friends get help from an unexpected place when an “angel-on-probation” named Clarence is sent to earth to help them fix recess. Clarence’s crusade gains new importance along the way, as Cassie learns that it’s alright to take the risk and care enough to try to change things for the better.
Recess is just starting to be fun again when the Superintendent visits and unveils his plan to eliminate recess altogether. Cassie and her friends are devastated, but they realize they have just one shot to convince the Superintendent that recess is important. Determined as they are, a bizarre set of events including two suspensions, a visit from a news crew, and a food fight threaten to derail their plans and ruin recess for good. Will Cassie and her friends be able to convince the Superintendent that it's worth the risk to care about recess, too?
- See more at: http://www.playworks.org/about/media/news/recess-rules#sthash.vOSB5QVs.dpuf

Nayuleska's thoughts

Recess - or break as it's known here in the UK - is an integral part of the school day.It is time to let off steam - and give brains a break. I can see how the knowledge and ability to play games with people may be an issue these days especially with the advances in technology. In truth I only really remember playing games at primary school, as my medical condition meant I was usually inside at break,  often in the library as I couldn't be too energetic. The only real experience I have of what break is like now is what I hear from friends and colleagues. 

I think the book raises the point that children may need to be taught how to play team games, but, as Cassie and her friends learn and show their teachers it is an investment that benefits everyone and is worth spending money on. Most schools won't have a meddlesome angel called Clarence to create bedlam! But I'm sure they have children who with a little encouragement can make break/recess a positive experience.

I was choked up in several places because of what Cassie and her friends experience and learn. I liked how the games are explained at the end of the book. However, they were explained during the book and I found my eyes glazing over through the explanations. I know the games are important but my interest wandered at those points. Also it felt like the plot could have picked up the pace in a few places too.

Find out more on Jill's website.

Suggested read

Another school themed book is School for Stars: First Term at L'Etoile by Holly & Kelly Willoughby (Children's, 9 years +, 9/10E)