BenBee and the Teacher Griefer

The Kids Under the Stairs

By: K.A. Holt

Narrated by: Caroline Hewitt

From the author of Rhyme Schemer, House Arrest, and Knockout!

The Kids Under the Stairs: BenBee and the Teacher Griefer is a funny, clever novel-in-verse series about Ben Bennet—who failed the Language Arts section of the Florida State test—and three classmates who get stuck in a summer school class.

But these kids aren't dumb—they're divergent thinkers, as Ms. J tells them: they simply approach things in a different way than traditional school demands.

• Each chapter is told through the perspective of one of the four students, who each write in a different style (art, verse, stream of consciousness).
• Celebrates different types of intelligence
• A heartwarming, laugh-out-loud novel-in-verse

Soon, the kids win over Ms. J with their passion for Sandbox, a Minecraft-type game. The kids make a deal with Ms. J: every minute they spend reading aloud equals one minute they get to play Sandbox in class. But when the administration finds about this unorthodox method of teaching, Ben B. and his buds have to band together to save their teacher's job—and their own academic future.

The first in a series of complementary storylines, this is an honest, heartfelt book about friendship, videogames, and learning to love yourself.

• Features a distinct and engaging cast of characters
• Encourages even the most reluctant reader to embrace their own "divergent" self
• Perfect for parents of kids age 10 and up who love Minecraft, educators and librarians, middle grade readers, new readers of poetry, and fans of videogames
• Add it to the shelf with books like Ghost by Jason Reynolds, Patina by Jason Reynolds, and Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan.

Critic reviews

BenBee and the Teacher Griefer is one of those rare novels that ache with honesty: it is about discouragement and hope, about sad lonesomeness and glad community, about listening and being heard, about the fear of vulnerability and the absolute joy of being known. It is, in other words, about life-and like life, it demands our attention. You won't, you really won't stop turning the pages!"-Gary D. Schmidt, Newbery Honoree, Printz Honoree, and National Book Award Finalist for Okay for Now

Fantastic!

What a great book! And an terrific interpretation by the narrator. Lots of energy and pathos, I could totally visualize every bit of the story. Give us more of this author/narrator pairing.

Such a fun book to follow!

Personally, I can't imagine playing the computer games that kids play. I love working on the computer but the language needed to communicate seems beyond me. But this book and especially the way the narrator is able to portray that communication..... it actually made sense to me. Due to the narrator's ability, I also fondly hold onto my pleasure felt as the kids grew throughout the book.

Celebrate Divergent Learners!

I see my students in these characters; they’ll see themselves and others in it too (mirrors and windows y’all I ordered a couple copies for my classroom library and will be adding the title on a wishlist for our school library. 🥰