Egg-Drop Blues

Judge is desperate. His mother has threatened to send him to a different school next year—away from his twin brother and “posse” of friends. To prove he can succeed at his current school, Judge needs to bring up his grades. After weeks of hard work—all while dealing with his sometimes difficult brother, his dyslexia, and the news that his divorced father has decided to remarry—Judge’s hopes depend on winning a science competition. Soon it all comes down to the egg-drop . . .

Twelve-year-old Judge Jenkins has a low science grade because of his dyslexia, so he convinces his twin brother Jury to work with him in a science competition in order to earn extra credit.

Judge is desperate. His mother has threatened to send him to a different school next year—away from his twin brother and “posse” of friends. To prove he can succeed at his current school, Judge needs to bring up his grades. After weeks of hard work—all while dealing with his sometimes difficult brother, his dyslexia, and the news that his divorced father has decided to remarry—Judge’s hopes depend on winning a science competition. Soon it all comes down to the egg-drop . . .

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6-A fun, entertaining novel about Judge and Jury, twins involved in a science project. Judge, the quieter and more sensitive of the two, is dyslexic. He is eager to participate in the Einstein Rally held at a local college because it would bring up his science grade. His mother is thinking about moving him to a private school so he can experience some different teaching methods, but he does not want to be separated from his friends and hopes the egg-drop event will save him. Jury is more interested in playing ``pom-pom tackle'' than in working on the project, but his love for his brother shines through in his teasing and his willingness to finally pitch in. The story, told by Judge, moves along rapidly as he and Jury try to determine the best way to cushion a raw egg so it will not break when dropped off a tall building. This is a special story that fills a need for well-written books about African American children. An added plus is that the subject of dyslexia is presented sensitively and authoritatively.-Jan Shepherd Ross, Dixie Elementary Magnet School, Lexington, KY

Jacqueline Turner Banks is the author of three previous young adult novels, Project Wheels, The New One, and Egg-Drop Blues, all of which feature the animated exploits of the Posse. Formerly a teacher, Ms. Banks now devotes herself full-time as a writer and literary agent. She lives with her family in Sacramento, California.