The Next Great Paulie Fink

Seventh-grader Caitlyn joins a small rural middle school in Vermont as the new student, only to find her classmates fixated on the mysterious absence of Paulie Fink - a legendary prankster and class clown who vanished over the summer. The class convinces Caitlyn to organize and judge a competition to find "The Next Great Paulie Fink" among the remaining students. While managing the increasingly complex competition, Caitlyn must also navigate her role as an outsider in this tight-knit school community. Her city perspective clashes with the unusual dynamics of Mitchell School, where grades are mixed together and goats roam the grounds. Through interviews with teachers and students about the real Paulie Fink, Caitlyn pieces together the impact one student had on the entire school community. The story alternates between present-day competition events and past accounts of Paulie's legendary exploits. The novel explores how stories and memories shape communities, and questions what it means to truly see and understand others versus the versions we create in our minds. It examines the roles we play in school and how these identities both define and limit us.

Readers describe this middle-grade novel as a creative take on finding one's place in a new school environment. Many reviews note the book's humor and authenticity in portraying middle school social dynamics. Readers appreciated: - Complex characters who feel real and flawed - Integration of Greek philosophy concepts in an accessible way - The Vermont rural school setting - Multiple narrative formats (interviews, lists, transcripts) Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in the first third - Too many side characters to track - Some found the philosophical elements heavy-handed Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (90+ ratings) Common Sense Media: 4/5 Several teachers noted using it successfully in classroom discussions. Parent reviewers highlighted its handling of bullying and inclusion themes. Multiple readers compared it favorably to "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli in terms of exploring nonconformity and acceptance.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli A nonconforming student turns a middle school upside down, forcing others to question identity and acceptance through the lens of an outsider who changes their community.

Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson Six middle school students form bonds and share their stories in a special room at school, creating a space for truth and transformation.

Wonder by R. J. Palacio A fifth-grade boy with facial differences enters a mainstream school, sparking a community-wide journey of empathy and understanding.

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt A sixth-grade girl with dyslexia discovers her voice and worth when a new teacher helps her see past her learning differences.

Posted by John David Anderson When cell phones are banned at their middle school, students begin using sticky notes to communicate, leading to unexpected consequences and revelations about friendship and belonging.

📚 Author Ali Benjamin was inspired to write this story after moving to a small town in Massachusetts and observing how different rural school dynamics were from urban ones. 🏆 The book explores themes from Plato's "Republic," making complex philosophical ideas accessible to middle-grade readers through a fun, contemporary story. 🎭 The story's structure was influenced by the documentary format, featuring multiple perspectives through interviews, transcripts, and lists. 🌟 The protagonist Caitlyn's previous school in NYC had 748 students in her grade alone—while her new school in Mitchell, Vermont has only 11 students total in her class. 🏫 The one-room schoolhouse setting in the book reflects real rural Vermont schools that still operate with mixed-age classrooms and small student populations.