The Report Card

The Report Card is a 2004 middle grade novel by prolific children’s author Andrew Clements that tells the story of a young genius who has kept her intelligence a secret for her entire life. Nora Rowley has never worried about report cards, but by fifth grade, she realizes the negative impact of grades and test scores on her classmates—especially her best friend, Stephen Curtis—and decides to do something about it. The story explores themes about the importance of grades, the responsibilities around using intelligence well, and the beauty of the ordinary. Clements taught in public schools north of Chicago for seven years before becoming a full-time writer, drawing inspiration from his education experience. He has since published over 80 books, including Frindle (1996) and No Talking (2007), Things Not Seen (2002), The School Story (2001) and has received several awards and accolades. In 2005, The Report Card won the William Allen White Children’s Book Award, a student-voted award in the state of Kansas. This guide references the 2012 Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Reprint e-book edition of the novel.