Yee, Lisa. Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time. Scholastic Paperbacks (2007). ISBN-10: 0439622484

Plot Summary

Stanford Wong's life passion is basketball. He is unable to go to summer basketball camp because he flunked English. Not only did he flunk English, but his report card, with a big red F, is posted on the refrigerator. Stanford’s dad is furious with him about his grades. So, his parents hire a tutor, of all people, Millicent Min! Stanford thinks Millicent is “a jerk and poster girl for Chinese geekdom.” Stanford ends up sneaking to summer school because he doesn’t want his basketball friends to know that he has flunked English. Stanford’s summer takes a turn for the better when he meets a friend of Millicent’s, the beautiful Emily Ebers. In trying to improve his looks and impress Emily, Stanford decides to go to a fancy hair salon instead of “Super Fast Cuts” to get his hair done. Stanford is used to paying $12.00 at Super Fast Cuts and when he is told he owes one-twenty for his new style he almost dies.

Critical Evaluation

Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time is Lisa Yee’s second novel, and it is hilarious! Lisa Yee’s use of language and nicknames are very funny. For example, Stanford nicknames himself SSSSpy for “Super Stealth Stanford Spy” as he ducks from cover on the way so school. Stanford’s nickname for Mr. Glick, his summer school teacher, is “Teacher Torturer.” And, Millicent’s nickname for Stanford is “Stanj-turd.” Another example of Yees funny play on words is when Stanford is talking about what Millicent is making him read: “The Mixed-up files of Ms. Franks and Beans, or something like that.”

Reader's Annotation

Stanford Wong earns and F in English and later discovers that Millicent Min, the social out cast, is going to be his tutor.

About the Author

Growing up, Lisa attended Alhambra High School in California, and she was on the debate team and a member of the honor society. At USC, she majored in English and Humanities. During her time at USC, Lisa interned at KCET, the L.A. PBS station, and she worked on an interactive kid’s magazine. After college, Lisa held numerous positions, some including: copywriter, associate director of a creative think tank, account executive for 7-Up Foods, and writer/producer for Walt Disney World.

Today, Lisa Yee is the author of Millicent Min, Girl Genius, Stanford Wong Flunks Big Time, So Totally Emily Ebers, and Good Luck, Ivy! Her novels have received numerous honors. Her first novel, Millicent Min, Girl Genius, won the Sid Fleishchman Humor Award.

Genre

Realistic Fiction (humor)

Curriculum Ties

Language Arts

Booktalking Ideas

Poor Stanford! After earning an F in English, Stanford’s parents hire Millicent Min to be his tutor. But, Millicent and Stanford despise each other! Stanford, however, has big worries.

Will he be able to pass summer school, handle Millicent Min, and impress Emily Ebers? Will Stanford be able to deal with his angry father who is up for a promotion and does nothing but work and fight with his mother? And, to top it off, Stanford’s perfect sister Sarah is coming home over the Fourth of July holiday! Find out what happens with Stanford Wong in Lisa Yee’s Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time. This book will have you laughing out loud in no time!

Reading Level/Interest Age

Grades 4-7

Reason for Book Selection

This books is the follow-up to Millicent Min: Girl Genius. Because I laughed so much in the first book, I thought I ought to read the second. I’m glad I did!