President of the Whole Fifth Grade

Brianna Justice plans to become president of her fifth-grade class as the first step toward her ultimate goal of owning a cupcake business empire. She models herself after her idol, celebrity chef Rose Braxton, and has already mastered her grandmother's cupcake recipes. The campaign proves more challenging than expected when a new student enters the race and begins winning over their classmates. Brianna must navigate changing friendships, family dynamics, and her own assumptions about leadership while staying true to her ambitions. This middle-grade novel follows Brianna's experiences at Orchard Park Elementary as she balances academics, baking, and her presidential campaign. The story charts her growth through successes and setbacks in both the election and her personal relationships. Through Brianna's journey, the narrative explores themes of authenticity, the true meaning of leadership, and the balance between pursuing goals and maintaining connections with others. The book addresses the complexity of pre-teen social dynamics while celebrating entrepreneurial spirit and self-discovery.

Readers highlight the realistic portrayal of middle school dynamics and family relationships. Many parents note their children relate to protagonist Brianna's ambitions and struggles with confidence. Liked: - Strong messages about perseverance and goal-setting - Positive representation of African American characters - Natural integration of STEM interests with other pursuits - Authentic pre-teen voice and dialogue Disliked: - Some found the pacing slow in the middle sections - A few readers felt the resolution was predictable - Minor complaints about secondary characters being underdeveloped Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (280+ ratings) Scholastic: 4.5/5 (150+ ratings) "Perfect for kids who want to lead but aren't sure how," wrote one teacher reviewer. A parent noted: "This book helped my daughter understand that setbacks don't equal failure." Several reviews mention re-reading the book multiple times.

Class President by Johanna Hurwitz A middle school student learns to navigate friendship challenges while running for class president against her former best friend.

The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies Two siblings compete to earn the most money from rival lemonade stands during summer break, incorporating business principles and mathematics.

Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks Two fifth-grade boys from different cultures form an alliance to stop the class bully while dealing with school politics and identity.

Front Desk by Kelly Yang A young immigrant girl manages the front desk of a motel while pursuing her dreams of becoming a writer and fighting for social justice.

The Great Greene Heist by Varian Johnson A middle school student uses his strategic mind to run a complex campaign to help his friend win the school election against a corrupt opponent.

🏫 The main character, Brianna Justice, is inspired by the career path of real-life entrepreneur Cathy Hughes, who became the first African American woman to head a publicly traded corporation. 🧁 Throughout the book, Brianna bakes cupcakes using her grandmother's secret recipes - author Sherri Winston actually includes some of these recipes at the end of the book. 📚 Author Sherri Winston worked as a journalist for 16 years before becoming a children's book author, writing for the Detroit Free Press and the Sun-Sentinel in South Florida. 🗳️ The book accurately portrays the complexity of school elections, showing how campaigns can involve making promises, forming alliances, and dealing with unexpected challenges - similar to real-world politics. 💫 This book is the first in a series, followed by "President of the Whole Sixth Grade" and "President of the Whole Sixth Grade: Girl Code," continuing Brianna's journey through middle school.