Class president / Johanna Hurwitz ; illustrations by Sheila Hamanaka.

The fifth-grade class election is shaping up as a close contest between class clown Lucas Cott and one time teacher's pet Cricket Kaufman. It's just possible that the student with the greatest leadership ability is Julio Sanchez, but Julio's too busy running Lucas's campaign to notice. Or is he? And how can Julio throw his hat into the ring without betraying his best friend?

Johanna Hurwitz introduced Julio, Cricket, and Lucas in Class Clown and Teacher's Pet, earning a ringing vote of confidence from Publishers Weekly: "Hurwitz masterfully demonstrates why she is one of the premier practitioners of the humorous school story genre."In Class President, she has backed these delightful characters with a winning ticket of humor and insight.

Reviews (5)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 3-5-- Hurwitz scores again with the continuing story of the children first introduced in Class Clown (Morrow, 1987), now in the fifth grade and getting acquainted with a new teacher. Julio, known up to now as the class athlete, is the focus of this story, developing new talents as the tale unfolds. Mr. Flores announces that an election for class officers will be held, and the students begin choosing up sides. Julio is immediately interested, but promotes the candidacy of an unenthusiastic Lucas for president instead. As Julio strives on his friend's behalf, his own leadership qualities become more apparent. He organizes a class fund raiser, acts as spokesperson during an interview with the principal, and even respectfully challenges Mr. Flores on how class money is to be spent. These kids live in a well-mannered, harmonious world. Adversity is only hinted at, as when readers discover that Julio's father is ``no longer alive.'' Miscreants are understood and forgiven, and virtue is recognized and rewarded in just the way it always should be. Gently thoughtful and cheerfully humorous, this will make a good read-aloud as well as a satisfying read-alone. --Ruth Semrau, Lovejoy School, Allen, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publisher's Weekly Review

The characters first met in Hurwitz's Class Clown and Teacher's Pet return here, with the spotlight on Julio Sanchez and the upcoming fifth-grade election. Julio would like to be president, although he lacks the confidence to run. But almost in spite of himself, he demonstrates his ability to lead--rallying his peers to raise money to replace a classmate's broken glasses; convincing the principal that a new rule is unfair--and these efforts are recognized on election day. A few of the novel's events have a facile, fabricated tinge, and for all of Julio's demurrals the election's results seem a foregone conclusion from the start. But even with these weak aspects, Hurwitz's breezy, humorous touch, her feel for the details that matter to grade-schoolers and her focus on a strong Hispanic character carry the day. Ages 7 - up. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Horn Book Review

Unassuming Julio would love to be president of his fifth grade but settles for campaigning for a friend instead. Details of school lunches, recess games, and schoolroom squabbles provide a familiar background for Julio's eventual election as class president. An encouraging school story. From HORN BOOK 1990, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Review

When the new teacher announces that the fifth grade will elect a president, Julio decides to manage his friend Lucas' campaign--even though he secretly desires to hold the office himself. Julio's not the smartest kid in class, but he shows himself to be kind, resourceful, courageous, and able to think on his feet. It's Julio's idea to have the class raise money to pay for classmate Arthur's broken glasses, and it's he who asks the principal to rescind a ban on recess soccer-playing. Though Julio doesn't have a high opinion of himself, his classmates do: in a predictable denouement, he wins the election. No surprises here, but the good humor and smoothly paced plot will strongly appeal, especially to readers who remember these likable characters from Class Clown (1987) and Teacher's Pet (1988). Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Booklist Review

Gr. 3-5. A class election looms, and Julio figures that because he has no chance of winning, he'll work to get his good friend Lucas elected. Opposing them is the smart, perfect, and popular Cricket, whose ambition is to be the first female president of the U.S. But as the story plays out, it's Julio who shows a natural talent for leadership--first by organizing a class effort to buy replacement glasses for a boy whose new pair was broken during a volleyball game and then by being nervy enough to ask the principal, on behalf of his fellow students, that a rule against further volleyball games be rescinded. When the elections commence, Julio finds himself a surprised nominee--and an even more surprised winner. Hurwitz's sure touch is evident once more in a credible story that will nudge students to think about what being a leader really means. That Julio is a Hispanic (Puerto Rican, to be precise) protagonist will be especially welcome in areas with Spanish-speaking populations. A fine companion to Hurwitz's Class Clown [BKL My 1 87] and Teacher's Pet [BKL My 1 88]. To be illustrated in black and white. --Denise Wilms

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