Leon and the Champion Chip

Allen Kurzweil

Leon and the Champion Chip, by Allen Kurzweil, is funny, unique, and a fun read. Leon, the main character, competes in a potato chip contest and takes revenge against Lumpkin the bully. In 4th grade, Leon (chip aficionado) created a sort of voodoo doll of a teacher that really worked, making her act even more unusually than ever. During the summer before 5th grade Leon attempted another doll of the bully that harasses him. Try as they might, Leon and this friends can't figure out why the doll doesn't compel the bully to do the actions they make the doll do. In comes the new science teacher who uses potato chips to teach the kids about science experiments and inspires Leon to keep trying to figure out what he is doing wrong.

Leon and the Champion Chip is a delightful tale of a student learning the scientific method via the study of potato chips. It rambles through some unexpected areas in a mildly unpredictable plot for a kids book. Unfortunately, it continues the stereotype that the unlovely can be unlovable in the bully Lumpkin. Overall though, this is a fine and funny story, perfect for a laugh. After I read the book, I realized there was a book one before this one. Although, I would recommend reading from the first book before this one, I do think the book will make sense if you read it in the wrong order.

Grade Level:

- Suggested: 3rd-6th

- Advanced: 2nd

- Genre: Realistic-fiction

- Key Elements: Potato chips, voodoo doll

- Possible Themes: Persistence

Overall Rating:5/5

Happy Reading!

-The Book Lover-

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