A Week in the Woods by Andrew Clements

Bibliography
Clements, Andrew. 2002. A Week in the Woods. Waterville: Thorndike Press.

Plot Summary
Mark was not happy about moving again but that is exactly what he had to do in the middle of his 5th grade year. Since he would attend Hardy Elementary until the end of the school year, Mark had no intention of making any friends or impressions on his teachers. Mr. Maxwell, the science teacher, assumes Mark's attitude is the result of being a spoiled, rich kid and instantly does not like him.

The annual 5th grade trip, a week in the woods, led by Mr. Maxwell was fast approaching. At first, Mark was not excited but the idea of camping grew on him and so did the trip. Mark decides to make the most of the trip. However, Mr. Maxwell still assumes that he is the spoiled, rich kid but becomes surprised by the turn of the events.

Critical Analysis
Mark is moving again. His new school, Hardy Elementary, takes the 5th grade class to an annual trip called a week in the woods. Mark is not excited about the move or this trip that is required of him. To show his discontentment, he decides not to make friends or participate in any of his classes. Mr. Maxwell, the science teacher, decides that Mark is a spoiled, rich kid and writes him off. However when Mark's attitude about school and the trip changes, Mr. Maxwell's attitude towards him does not.

Clements has done another excellent job in A Week in the Woods. Mark's feelings about moving, making new friends, and his parents constantly ignoring him are genuine and easy to relate to. The plot is believable and inspiring when Mark saves the day. A great book to open a discussion about survival or moving.

Reviews
School Library Journal: "Like many of Clements's titles, this one will be a popular choice, particularly with fans of Gary Paulsen and Jean Craighead George."

Kirkus Reviews: "Worthy-but just as Maxwell underestimates his new student, so too does Clement underestimate his readers' ability to figure out for themselves what's going on in each character's life and head."