Synopses & Reviews
Ms. Finkleman is just our boring old music teacher. Or is she?
It all starts with a Special Project in Mr. Melville's Social Studies class: Solve a mystery in your own life. For seventh grader Bethesda Fielding, one mystery is too tempting to ignore: Ms. Finkleman.
Bethesda is convinced that her mousy Music Fundamentals teacher is hiding a secret life, and shes determined to find out what it is. But no one is prepared for what she learns. Ms. Finkleman used tobe . . . a rock star? Soon the whole school goes rock crazy, and a giant concert is in the works with none other than timid Ms. Finkleman at the helm!
But the case isnt quite closed, and the questions continue to swirl forBethesda. Could there be even more to the secret life of Ms. Finkleman than she already revealed? With the help of her rock-obsessed classmate Tenny Boyer, Bethesda wont stop until she solves the real mystery of Ms. Finkleman once and for all!
Review
“Witty narration and entertaining characters enliven this already intriguing premise. Readers seeking an engaging school story with a rockin twist will enjoy this offering.” Bulletin of the Center for Children & #8217;s Books
Review
“With ‘The Secret Life, Winters applies a light touch that fuses youthful, scholarly exuberance with the inspirational power of rocknroll. A fast paced and unjaded book that is sure to delight.” Los Angeles Times Book Review
Review
“Every now and then a book comes along that reminds me why I love writing about middle school. Ms. Finkleman rocksin every sense of the word.” Gordon Korman, New York Times bestselling author
Review
“A fast-paced, funny, and highly original story.” Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Review
“Most enjoyable is the effect that learning and playing rock music has on the teachers students. Everyone seems to discover their true inner selves through music, and that includes the not-so-myterious-after-all Ms. Finkleman.” School Library Journal
Review
“This is a just-plain-fun read that culminates in a wholly satisfying ending, and it will easily appeal to fans of Andrew Clements and Gordon Korman, as well as anyone who ever watched School of Rock or High School Musical and imagined putting on the best show ever.” Booklist
Review
“Liberally laced with humor and featuring an upbeat heroine, unexpected friendship and rock-music trivia. Readers will rock with laughter.” Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
Ben H. Winters is an author and educator who has written plays and musicals for children and adults, as well as several books in the bestselling Worst-Case Scenario Survival Guide series. He is also the author of The Secret Life of Ms. Finkleman, Bedbugs, and the parody novels Android Karenina and the bestselling Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. He lives in Indianapolis.