The flunking of Joshua T. Bates / Shreve, Susan Richards

Joshua's teacher Miss Goodwin is probably the world's most surprising teacher. Who would have believed how easy it was to learn to read or how hard it was to leave her.

Until Joshua met Miss Goodwin, he thought he might never learn to read well enough to get out of the third grade.

Driving home from the beach on Labor Day, Joshua receives some shocking news from his mother: he must repeat third grade.

Driving home from the beach on Labor Day, Joshua receives some shocking news from his mother: he must repeat third grade.

Driving home from the beach on Labor Day, Joshua receives some shocking news from his mother: he must repeat third grade.