Jake Drake, Teacher's Pet

By Andrew Clements and Dolores Avendaño

The end of third grade turns into a disaster for Jake when he inadvertently becomes the teacher's pet, and no matter how hard he tries, he can't shake the image.

Mrs. Snavin looked right past all those waving hands. She looked right at me and she smiled and said, "I think I'll have Jake take it." Then Mrs. Snavin said, "but be sure to hurry right back, Jake, because we're going to work on our number-line project, and you have to be my special computer helper, okay?" And I could feel every kid in the class looking at me. They weren't saying anything. They weren't even whispering. But right then, I heard what they were thinking anyway. They were thinking, teacher's pet.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
• Release date: Jul 24, 2012
• ISBN: 9781442462465

Andrew Clements

Andrew Clements (1949–2019) was the author of the enormously popular Frindle. More than 10 million copies of his books have been sold, and he was nominated for a multitude of state awards, including a Christopher Award and an Edgar Award. His popular works include About Average, Troublemaker, Extra Credit, Lost and Found, No Talking, Room One, Lunch Money, and more. He was also the author of the Benjamin Pratt & the Keepers of the School series. Find out more at AndrewClements.com.

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Reviews for Jake Drake, Teacher's Pet

[Shami · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It had the right touch of funny and real school life...I loved it!

[PETRIT MULAKU · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

its hard to understand and need more work i mean i think if it would be longer it would be better

[alebarbu · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Third-grader Jake has a problem: he is a teacher’s pet. It all starts when he helps Mrs. Snavin, his teacher, with a computer program. Then, it gets worse when his art teacher thanks him for cleaning out art supplies, and his gym teacher points him out to the class for not complaining when he got hit first in six games of dodgeball. But the absolute worst happens when the principal praises him in front of the entire lunch room. The next day, it seems that every teacher and even the bus driver is giving him a special nice treatment whereas the school kids are giving him a special mean treatment. In an attempt to make it all stop, Jake decides to start misbehaving, but the results are not quite what he had expected, and he has to take a different approach: be true to himself.

This is an unassuming little book that accurately portrays the difficulties that a child might encounter if he were to be treated specially by teachers and other adult school personnel. Elementary school students will recognize the school atmosphere that is depicted, and the first-person narration effectively puts the reader in Jake’s shoes. Jake is a credible character, and the story is written in accessible language that could be that of a fourth-grader (which is the grade Jake is in when he recounts this story). Some quirky details lend a humorous undertone to the story, which does not take away from Jake’s dilemmas. The few pen and ink illustrations add vividness to the story. Recommended for grades 2 to 5.

[adamjohn_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Jake Drake's teachers think Jake is so sweet. Every class Jake goes in, his teacher and treat him special. But, in the cafeteria things get embarrassing when the PRINCIPAL gets involved... Can Jake prove it is all a big mistake?

[bibliophile26 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The worst thing ever happens to Jake…all the teachers love him, which makes all the other students hate him. Cute, but the writing is very simple.