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The Secret Life of Ms. Finkleman Kindle Edition

by Ben H. Winters (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 16 ratings
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Ms. Finkleman is just our boring old music teacher. Or is she?

It all starts with a Special Project in Mr. Melville's Social Studies class: Solve a mystery in your own life. For seventh grader Bethesda Fielding, one mystery is too tempting to ignore: Ms. Finkleman.

Bethesda is convinced that her mousy Music Fundamentals teacher is hiding a secret life, and she’s determined to find out what it is. But no one is prepared for what she learns. Ms. Finkleman used tobe . . . a rock star? Soon the whole school goes rock crazy, and a giant concert is in the works with none other than timid Ms. Finkleman at the helm!

But the case isn’t quite closed, and the questions continue to swirl forBethesda. Could there be even more to the secret life of Ms. Finkleman than she already revealed? With the help of her rock-obsessed classmate Tenny Boyer, Bethesda won’t stop until she solves the real mystery of Ms. Finkleman once and for all!

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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    8 - 12 years
  2. Print length
    260 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    3 - 7
  5. Lexile measure
    910L
  6. Publisher
    HarperCollins
  7. Publication date
    September 21, 2010
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  12. ISBN-13
    978-0061965432
  13. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 4-7–Given a class assignment to find a mystery and solve it, seventh-grader Bethesda Fielding sets out to discover the true identity and personality of Ms. Finkleman, her seemingly ordinary music teacher. The woman is so ordinary that she is practically invisible to students and staff alike. This changes when Bethesda unearths some 1990s rock music paraphernalia and puts the pieces together (so she thinks), to find that Ms. Finkleman used to be Little Miss Mystery, in the band The Red Herrings. Bethesda is in a quandary after the project becomes the school's obsession. There is a rock star among them and so the choral corral that Ms. Finkleman was planning for a multischool competition will now showcase rock and a performance by her, instead of the 16th-century English folk ballads she had hoped the students would deliver. It is safe to say that Ms. Finkleman shuns the sudden fame and the attention it garners her. This story is part mystery, part friendship novel, part school story. There are twists and turns, but what is most enjoyable is the effect that learning and playing rock music has on the teacher's students. Everyone seems to discover their true inner selves through music, and that includes the not-so-mysterious-after-all Ms. Finkleman.–Tracy Karbel, Chicago Public Libraryα(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist

Ms. Finkleman, a mild-mannered Music Fundamentals teacher, is a completely anonymous figure at Mary Todd Lincoln Middle School. She is such a nonentity that ace student Bethesda Fielding determines there must be more to her—a secret history that needs to be uncovered. When Bethesda discovers her teacher’s punk-music past, the repercussions are hilarious, revolutionary, and TWR (“Totally Way Rock”). Bethesda is a lovable nerd and heads a cast of characters who are clearly types yet still believable, and their dialogue is authentic. This title touches on intriguing issues about identity, the way teachers connect with their students, and second chances, all of which could open up lively discussions. This is also a just-plain-fun read that culminates in a wholly satisfying ending, and it will easily appeal to fans of Andrew Clements and Gordon Korman, as well as anyone who ever watched School of Rock or High School Musical and imagined putting on the best show ever. Grades 5-8. --Kara Dean

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B003VIWO1Q
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins; Reprint edition (September 21, 2010)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 21, 2010
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5258 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 260 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 16 ratings

About the author

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Ben H. Winters

Ben H. Winters

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Ben H. Winters is the author most recently of the novel The Quiet Boy (Mulholland/Little, Brown, 2021). He is also the author of the novel Golden State; the New York Times bestselling Underground Airlines; The Last Policeman and its two sequels; the horror novel Bedbugs; and several works for young readers. His first novel, Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, was also a Times bestseller. Ben has won the Edgar Award for mystery writing, the Philip K. Dick award in science fiction, the Sidewise Award for alternate history, and France’s Grand Prix de L’Imaginaire. Ben also writes for film and television; he was a producer on the FX show Legion, and on the upcoming Apple TV+ drama Manhunt. He has contributed short stories to many anthologies, as well as in magazines such as Lightspeed. He is the author of three “Audible Originals”– Inside Jobs, Q&A, and Self Help — and several plays and musicals. His reviews and essays have appeared in Slate and in the New York Times Book Review. Ben was born in Washington, D.C., grew up in Maryland, educated in St. Louis, and then grew up a bunch more, in various ways, in places like Chicago, New York, Cambridge, MA, and Indianapolis, IN. These days he lives in LA with his wife, three kids, and one large dog.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
16 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Anon Ymous
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and Suspense! (Child's Review)
Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2013
Verified Purchase
As an assignment, Bethesda Fielding's seventh grade social studies teacher asked her students to solve a mystery in their lives. Bethesda decides to investigate her boring band teacher, Ms. Finkleman, because she suspects there is more to her than meets the eye. Is she really just a plain band teacher, or has she been hiding a secret life? But when Bethesda thinks she has solved the mystery, an even bigger one unfolds, transforming the way the whole school thinks of Ms. Finkleman.

This book is full of surprises. Mr. Winters can turn ordinary school activities into intriguing events. Twists and turns in the story will keep you on the edge of your seat. I highly recommend The Secret Life of Ms. Finkleman to readers of all ages.
2 people found this helpful
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DAC
4.0 out of 5 stars Some Serious Goodness
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2010
At Mary Todd Lincoln Middle School, Mr Meville the social studies teacher is know for his special project. They can be given at anytime and have nothing to do with the curriculum. The students love them. For the newest special project- Mr. Meville ask his 7th grade students to solve a mystery in their own lives.

Bethesada Fielding decides to solve the mystery that is Ms. Finkleman, the band and chorus teacher.

Bethesda stood and addressed the other kids at the table as if she were making a big closing argument in a courtroom. "This woman is a part of our lives!" She's a part of our community. We take music with her every single day." (Which wasn't true, since music and art alternated, plus there were weekends and everything, but nobody interrupted. Bethesda was on a rool.) "And yet we don't know the first thing about her! Ms Finkleman is a walking, talking mystery, right in our midst.

Bethesada uncovers a secret of Ms. Finkleman. Word quickly spreads that the band and chorus teacher was a rock star. When Principal Vreeland hears about Ms. Finkleman's musical background, she demands that the seventh grade class put on a rock concert for the All County Choral Corral musical competition. Ms. Finkleman doesn't want to but she has no choice.

Bethesda and Ms. Finkleman share the main character spotlight with Tenny who isn't doing well in school. Ms. Finkleman works out a great deal with the two, so Tenny is producing the show. The only thing that can hold Tenny's attention is rock music.

Tenny's mind always drifted back to rock and roll. By the time Melville had let him off the hook and moved on to the next kid, Tenny was already drawing on his shoe. But then the music started. That girl with the glasses, Bethesda was playing a record on a beat up turntable. Tenny dropped his marker and sat straight up, eyes wide open, trying to figure out what song it was. What band even. It was punk, definitely early nineties punk, but who was it? Whatever it was it was awesome. The song was built on a thundering four-four beat, straight up and down with a galloping, snare-rolling drum figure and a really sweet, slippery eighth note bass line. And the vocal - the vocal was insane. The lyrics were garbled and buried in the mix, further distorted by the record player's tinny old speaker. But it didn't matter what this girl was singing. The way she was singing it was out of control. The vocal was delicious, a serious of mad whoops, passionate and atonal and intense.

I picked up this book because of the great cover. As good as the cover is it doesn't hint at the musical goodness that's inside. It all begins with Tenny though by the end all the seven graders rock out. Even Kevin Mckelvey a classically trained pianist who wears a suit to school.This book was some serious fun. I loved it. Winter's writing is fun and clever. The author even sneaks a little heart into the story.
4 people found this helpful
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Nadine Harris
2.0 out of 5 stars Bigoted and simple-minded
Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2017
Verified Purchase
Hated it. Puts down viciously anyone who is different. Condescending and horribly oversimplified view from a tower. .. way up there
One person found this helpful
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Mary
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2015
Verified Purchase
Great read and a great mystery . I would recommend this book for a summer reading project. Great Book to take to camp.
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Dee Van
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2015
Verified Purchase
great
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Beverly L. Archer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Classroom Read A Loud
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2011
Summary from Booklist: Ms. Finkleman, a mild-mannered Music Fundamentals teacher, is a completely anonymous figure at Mary Todd Lincoln Middle School. She is such a nonentity that ace student Bethesda Fielding determines there must be more to her--a secret history that needs to be uncovered. When Bethesda discovers her teacher's punk-music past, the repercussions are hilarious, revolutionary, and TWR ("Totally Way Rock")

Mr. Melville is notorious for assigning "special projects" in his social studies class. Who knew his assignment "to solve a mystery" would turn the quiet mouse-like music teacher's life upside down.

Students who enjoy Andrew Clements' (Frindle, No Talking, etc) style of writing. It is a quick, engaging read that will also serve as an introduction to mysteries. The characters are well developed and the plot moves along at a good pace. Students will enjoy the musical references. Would make a great read a loud for the classroom.

Mrs. Archer's rating: 5 of 5
4 people found this helpful
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Kathleen Glazier
5.0 out of 5 stars Rock On!
Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2014
This Is a cute story of middle school kids coming into their personalities. From insecurities to confidence. It was a delightful story.
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Karin
5.0 out of 5 stars It was so awesome
Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2014
It was very enjoyable one of the best books I've read. My favorite character is Bethesda fielding even know her special project wasn't correct she was still awesome !
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