Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally)

by Lisa Yee, Dan Santat (Illustrator)

Overview

With the hilarious adventures of Bobby Ellis-Chan, Lisa Yee and Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat bring their gifts for finding the funny (and the truth) in everyday situations to chapter-book readers.

All of Bobby Ellis-Chan's problems in life can be summed up in one word: GIRLS.There's his sister Casey, who has a weird obsession with Bobby's goldfish, Rover.There's Jillian Zarr, who gets mad every time a boy even looks at her.Most of all, there's Holly Harper, Bobby's ex-best friend. Who is now, for some reason, Jillian's best friend. She used to like frogs and rolling down the hill; now she wears dresses and straightens her hair. Holly's running against Bobby for Student Council representative. She knows all his secrets -- and she just might spill.It's Bobby vs. Holly, boys vs. girls, in the biggest battle ever to rock Rancho Rosetta!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545279116
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	02/24/2015
Sold by:	Scholastic, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	900,401
Lexile:	650L (what's this?)
File size:	37 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Lisa Yee's novels include Millicent Min, Girl Genius; Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time (an ALA Notable Book); the Bobby chapter book series, and most recently, Warp Speed. She is also the author of the American Girl books Good Luck, Ivy!, Aloha, Kanani and Good Job, Kanani. Please visit her website at www.lisayee.com.
Dan Santat is the New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, which won the prestigious Randolph Caldecott Medal in 2015. He is also the creator of the acclaimed graphic novel The Aquanaut, and his graphic memoir, A First Time for Everything, was the 2023 National Book Award Winner for Young People's Literature. His art is featured in numerous children's books, including Dav Pilkey's Ricky Ricotta series as well as picture books by Henry Winkler and Jake Gyllenhaal. Dan lives in Southern California with his wife, two kids, and pets. Visit him online at dansantatbooks.com.

Read an Excerpt

From BOBBY VS. GIRLS (ACCIDENTALLY):They decided to hop all the way to Chess's house in hopes of breaking the world record for hopping. But their attempt came to a quick end when they ran into Jillian Zarr and Holly hogging the sidewalk. "Move," Chess said."You move," Jillian Zarr shot back. "We were here first.""We're breaking a world record," Bobby said as he hopped up and down. It was getting tiring and they hadn't even gone one block."Really?" said Holly. She looked intrigued. "Are you going to move or not?" Chess asked. He was out of breath."Or not," Jillian Zarr said. "Holly and I aren't budging, are we, Holly?""I guess not," she said, sounding uncertain.Bobby's backpack was starting to get heavy. "Come on, Holly, move or else." "Or else what?" Holly asked.

Editorial Reviews

When Bobby enters fourth grade, he learns that it's more important than ever to keep his longtime friendship with Holly a secret (“We used to be sorta-best friends, only these days she's my enemy,” he admits to his goldfish). Using humor and relatable situations, Yee (Absolutely, Maybe) shows how the two friends manage to support each other, despite peer pressure. Hurtful accidents—like when Holly lets it slip that she's seen Bobby wearing curlers, and when Bobby's picture of Holly with horns and a mustache appears on the classroom wall—add tension to the already strained relationship. But when Bobby and Holly run against each other for student council rep, their loyalties prove stronger than their grudges. Santat's expressive b&w illustrations evoke the energy of Saturday morning cartoons, and Yee's occasional inclusion of some over-the-top moments (several nervous parents hide in the bushes on the first day of school to see their kids off) only drives the feeling home. The bright prose, concise chapters and gratifying resolutions are likely to please even reluctant readers. Ages 7–10. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

Gr 2–4—Fourth-grader Bobby Ellis-Chan definitely has some things working against him. His father, an ex-linebacker for the Los Angeles Earthquakes, attracts the attention of fans everywhere they go. It's embarrassing. His parents adore his bratty little sister, his asthma makes it impossible to have a pet with fur, and the family dryer causes him to suffer from static cling—funny to others but not to him. There are some good things about his life, though. He has a goldfish that he's taught to do tricks and, although it isn't considered cool to have a friend of the opposite sex, he and his best friend, Holly, are able to hide their friendship from peers who are deeply entrenched in the "girls vs. boys" mindset. Funny and smart dialogue describes perfectly the interaction that makes the battle of the sexes ring true. Bobby unwittingly plays into the boys' plan to one-up the girls every time, and in the process distances himself from Holly. Kids will identify with much of this interplay since Yee's situations and clever text are so accurate. The friendship issue works itself out as Holly's and Bobby's true feelings for one another rise above the game-playing. Although this is lighthearted fare, the author adds a somber note with the loss of Bobby's beloved pet goldfish and the family's sensitive handling of it. This element may provide an opportunity for discussion for families reading the story aloud.—Tina Martin, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, IL

School Library Journal

Fourth grade was supposed to be the best year ever, but when do events ever go according to plan? Usually starting with good intentions or, at the least, blind thoughtlessness, Bobby careens from one disastrous mess to another. Many of these situations involve the boys-against-girls mentality that makes for normal behavior in nine-year-olds. He and his best friend Holly know that they can't be seen walking to school together, and they are pulled further apart by peer pressure, even running against each other for class office. Add to these woes a working mom, a famous dad who cooks inedible meals and a pet goldfish who can do tricks. Yee really understands children's thought processes and presents them with tact and good humor. Bobby's dilemmas and adventures, however wild and out of control, remain totally believable. Santat's drawings manage the fine line between cartoon and realism and add dimension to the events. Readers will recognize themselves and learn some gentle lessons about relationships while they are laughing at the antics. (Fiction. 7-10)

Kirkus Reviews

Praise for Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally)"Those clamoring for fiction with nonwhite or biracial characters in which race is not the focus will welcome nine-year-old Bobby Ellis-Chan.... While Yee remains loyal to the boy point of view for a large portion of the story, both boys and girls will find much to relate to here." — Horn Book, starred review"Yee really understands children's thought processes and presents them with tact and good humor. Bobby's dilemmas and adventures, however wild and out of control, remain totally believable. Santat's drawings manage the fine line between cartoon and realism and add dimension to the events. Readers will recognize themselves and learn some gentle lessons about relationships while they are laughing at the antics." — Kirkus Reviews"Using humor and relatable situations, Yee shows how the two friends manage to support each other, despite peer pressure. . . . Santat's expressive black and white illustrations evoke the energy of Saturday morning cartoons. . . . The bright prose, concise chapters and gratifying resolutions are likely to please even reluctant readers." — Publishers Weekly"Funny and smart dialogue describes perfectly the interaction that makes the battle of the sexes ring true. . . . Kids will identify with much of this interplay since Yee's situations and clever text are so accurate." — School Library Journal"Yee, author of Millicent Min, Girl Genius, deftly navigates the dynamics of a late elementary boy/girl friendship; Bobby and Holly are both fully developed characters, and the details of their friendship (and its failures) are both thoughtful and believable. . . . A solid ending and a strong male point of view . . . make this a good selection for the middle-grade set." — Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

From the Publisher