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The Best Man
The Best Man | Richard Peck
63 posts | 41 read | 23 to read
Newbery Medalist Richard Peck tells a story of small-town life, gay marriage, and everyday heroes in this novel for fans of Gary Schmidt and Jack Gantos Archer Magill has spent a lively five years of grade school with one eye out in search of grown-up role models. Three of the best are his grandpa, the great architect; his dad, the great vintage car customizer,; and his uncle Paul, who is just plain great. These are the three he wants to be. Along the way he finds a fourthMr. McLeod, a teacher. In fact, the first male teacher in the history of the school. But now here comes middle school and puberty. Change. Archer wonders how much change has to happen before his voice does. He doesn't see too far ahead, so every day or so a startling revelation breaks over him. Then a really big one when he's the best man at the wedding of two of his role models. But that gets ahead of the story. In pages that ripple with laughter, there's a teardrop here and there. And more than a few insights about the bewildering world of adults, made by a boy on his way to being the best man he can be.
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WineAuntKK
The Best Man | Richard Peck

“When did you decide to be gay, Uncle Paul?“
“ Being gay isn't a decision. How you live your life is a decision.“

2 likes1 stack add
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WineAuntKK
The Best Man | Richard Peck

Great book about a young boy navigating through life.

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WineAuntKK
The Best Man | Richard Peck
Pickpick

Contemporary realistic. Newberry award medal book written by Richard Peck is about a young boy who is in two weddings. It talks about small town life, gay marriage, everyday heroes, and male role models. Written from the perspective of the main character it is a good, fun, lighthearted read.

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erinhannahs
The Best Man | Richard Peck
Pickpick

Peer discussion done in class.

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Jhill24
The Best Man | Richard Peck
Mehso-so

Relatable book for kids today, positive role models , and comedy

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katifurrey
The Best Man | Richard Peck
Pickpick

contemporary realistic fiction

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kierstenkaplan
The Best Man | Richard Peck
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Kristin‘s book

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Cgulan
The Best Man | Richard Peck
Mehso-so

A book talking about growing up and become there for your biggest influences.

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Emitalski
The Best Man | Richard Peck
Mehso-so

A coming of age story dealing with death, life, and role models. It is focused on positive male role models in a young males life. A good choice for middle school boys.

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peytonfleming
The Best Man | Richard Peck
Mehso-so

Review: The Best Man by Richard Peck, 2016, is a realistic fiction chapter book about a young sixth grade boy who gets to experience his uncle marry another man and his journey through it all.
Blurb: This book is a good example of realistic fiction because it sheds light on same sex marriage, which many students may be familiar with at home but don't get to see a lot of in their books.
Quote: ““You saved my butt“ I still tell her.“

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Abby_Karagory
The Best Man | Richard Peck

“Dad, uncle paul, Mr.Mcleod, the three I wanted to be. And grandpa still there in our hearts, except for about a tablespoon of him in Wrigley field.“

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Abby_Karagory
The Best Man | Richard Peck

I enjoy how the book brings puberty and changes to light. A lot of kids (including myself at that stage in life) never wanted to talk about all the changes we were undergoing which made things even more awkward. This is why people think back on middle school and cringe- because these kinds of topics aren't normalized for this age group.

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Abby_Karagory
The Best Man | Richard Peck
Pickpick

Published in 2016, The Best man is a great read for those in the classroom who are able to understand more 'growing-up' topics. A great story of Archer who is transitioning into middle school, and has heavy male influences in his life. The book is written in a light manner and kind of like a diary/documenting style. Touches on important topics like same-sex marriage, puberty, and bullying.

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carlypabin
The Best Man | Richard Peck
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carlypabin
The Best Man | Richard Peck

A great book for 5/6-7/8 graders! It tackles puberty & family issues & so many things kids have to deal with these days. It definitely will make kids realize other people go through similar issues and be easy for children to relate to.

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carlypabin
The Best Man | Richard Peck
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Pickpick

The Best Man by Richard Peck (contemporary fiction, published 2016) is a really good book! It‘s an easy read but portrays a lot of real problems for the targeted audience. It tackles puberty and transitioning to middle school and losing a family member and gay marriage and much more. But the way it is told makes everything lighthearted and it rings with humor.

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lauren_rese
The Best Man | Richard Peck
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lauren_rese
The Best Man | Richard Peck

A good book for some inspiration of who you want to be like and for 3-6th graders to read

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lauren_rese
The Best Man | Richard Peck
Pickpick

Everyone has a role model they look up to in life. In this book, Archer has three role models he wants to grow to be, to be the best they can be. A fourth role model comes along and a surprise of being a best man in two of his role models weddings. People try to do there best in everything but given this opportunity, Archer can be the best man those whose who he finds to be the best role models. Genre: Realistic Fiction; Published: 2016

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misshawksbooklist
The Best Man | Richard Peck
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This bottom section is how I hope teachers respond to situations like this for their students. I hope there is anger but help provided for this kids and I hope justice is achieved.

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misshawksbooklist
The Best Man | Richard Peck
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I thought this little part was funny and a great way to make children laugh and draw them into the book before even reading!

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misshawksbooklist
The Best Man | Richard Peck
Pickpick

Published in 2016, this realistic fiction book is packed with relatable moments of a young boy who is trying to figure out his way in life as he matures and grows older. It‘s a transition book in which children can relate to when they go from elementary to middle school. It also incorporates the controversial topic of sexuality and dealing with it in a school setting.

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OrangeMooseReads
The Best Man | Richard Peck
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Thank you @Mommamanzi for the book! Can‘t wait to read it.

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TracyReadsBooks
The Best Man | Richard Peck
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Just heard from a friend that Newbery Award winning author Richard Peck has passed away. He was a prolific author and, according to my friend who met him a couple years ago at BEA, a delightful man. The tagged book is a wonderful story about a boy in middle school, and all of that fun, who finds himself serving as best man for two of his role models at their wedding. A funny, heartfelt MG book I really enjoyed.

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johnnie_cakes
The Best Man | Richard Peck
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Pickpick

I bought this from Avid Bookshop after they were told to remove it from a school book fair, so they pulled out of the event. What a beautiful book. It's funny, touching, and beautiful in the simplicity of its message. That love is important, and worth celebrating. It's great to read a MG book with LGBT representation that's not about coming out. It's about getting to know the people in your life and looking up to them. I was completely charmed.

21 likes2 stack adds
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CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian
The Best Man | Richard Peck
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Mehso-so

This wasn't bad, but it felt like it didn't really have any focus or a strong story arc. What the synopsis describes as the main narrative only happens in the last third of the book. And it never really had any conflict? I'm always happy to have more middle grade books with LGBTQ characters though! And solid audiobook performance.

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rebecca_lib
The Best Man | Richard Peck
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Pickpick

Richard Peck is one of my favorite authors and I'm just tickled that he's written one of the most relevant and best reviewed lgbt books of late! Not bad for an octogenarian! I was thrown off by the modern suburb that reads suspiciously small town, like many of his previous books. But overall, great company on the Mass Pike. (Just don't tell my library I disassembled this copy pls!)

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MrsWickhamSC
The Best Man | Richard Peck
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Panpan

Not a huge fan of this one. The story reads like one long summary of someone's journal, but not in the fun, epistolary way. More in the "I can't remember all of the good bits but here's some stuff I guess" way. The time period also isn't real- book was praised for including social media, and yet it feels like 1950s white-washed America wherein the schools don't even take attendance electronically. Hard pass.

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Emily92Bibliophile
The Best Man | Richard Peck
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Pickpick

It's April 6th and I realized I hadn't put up my March Stats! My favorite goes to The Best Man- laugh out loud hilarious and witty throughout. Wires and Nerve comes at a close second because of sentimental reasons- It being Iko's story and is part of the Lunar Chronicles which I dearly miss and wish I could read for the first time again.

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Emily92Bibliophile
The Best Man | Richard Peck
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Pickpick

5 ⭐🎉! Great story, and very hilarious. ✅ Litsy A to Z Reading Challenge and ✅Litsy Reading Challenge 2017 📖

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EmilyChristine
Best Man | Richard Peck
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Pickpick

Loved this book! Preteen going through 5th and 6th grade finds out his uncle is dating his teacher. Super cute story. Loved his friend Lynette. #lgbtq #audiobook

13 likes1 stack add
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EmilyChristine
Best Man | Richard Peck
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Needed something to listen to this morning while getting some #exercise in. I had heard about this book already and a friend just finished it. Luckily my library had it available on audio. So far it's pretty good.

bookishkai I loved this, I thought it was hilarious! 8y
14 likes1 comment
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monalyisha
Best Man | Richard Peck
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Mehso-so

"The Best Man" deals with important topics - homosexuality, gender roles, bullying - and does fairly well. Unfortunately, the protagonist's voice is a little bit off. 12-year-olds don't typically say things like, "I can't turn on a dime." While the issues are modern & contemporary, the tone is not. I felt uneasy with the way most of the female characters are portrayed. There are some real nuggets of wisdom here, but it's a far-from-perfect work.

JanuarieTimewalker13 Your bunny is so cute!! 8y
monalyisha @JanuarieTimewalker13 Thanks! I think so, too. 😉🐰 8y
6 likes2 comments
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monalyisha
Best Man | Richard Peck
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"We took our time. It was a great, dappled day."

#lifegoals #everydayliving

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monalyisha
Best Man | Richard Peck
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"'We all need goals,' he said. 'Here's one: Stay away from people who don't know who they are but want you to be just like them. People who'll want to label you. People who'll try to write their fears on your face.'"

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monalyisha
Best Man | Richard Peck
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The Best Man calls for the best doughnut.

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ShelfAddiction
The Best Man | Richard Peck
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I'm enjoying my journey into MG #audiobooks. Finishing up the last 5 minutes with my morning #coffee. #audiobook #currentlylistening #audiobooklistening

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Reita325
The Best Man | Richard Peck
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Wonderful. Touching. Good family story about a boy with a nonconformist family and his gay uncle.

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TirzahPrice
The Best Man | Richard Peck
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Pickpick

This was really funny and sweet, but quite rambling and light on plot. It helps to know that the book is from the pov the 13 year old MC looking back at the previous 7 years, but I kept hoping for more of a build. Still, this is a really great, quick read by a master.

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DogMomIrene
The Best Man | Richard Peck
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Pickpick

Finished The Best Man with my best man. Loved this middle grade story about Archer's adventure from elementary school to middle school. Strong family. Funny dialogue. An author who pokes fun of standardized testing, which I appreciated. And gay characters who were a seamless part of the story and not token characters. I did tear up a little at the end. Totally worth reading!

KarenUK 🐶💗💗💗 8y
15 likes1 comment
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TirzahPrice
The Best Man | Richard Peck
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I laughed aloud. Boy, do I remember that.