Danny and Calvin are friends but they are very different. Danny follows the rules at school but Calvin likes to break them and see what he can get away with. Danny likes baseball and Calvin likes doing strange experiments like the big jelly bean experiment. Danny thinks Calvin is weird, but as their friendship grows, Danny gets to appreciate that Calvin is odd and different and that's okay.

My son and I were looking forward to reading this cute chapter book sprinkled with doodle illustrations. We liked the doodling, but as we read one chapter after another we found ourselves a little bored. My son especially, to the point where he didn't want to finish the book. He didn't find it funny, and although the characters were in the fourth grade just like him, he said he didn't find it was realistic and he couldn't relate. We did end up finishing the book, but my son's opinion didn't change.

There is some mystery surrounding Calvin's father, and we liked that Danny did not make fun of Calvin's behaviour. The book has a very positive message that my son acknowledged, however we were nonetheless disappointed with this book and were expecting more from this experienced author.  

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