Lunch Money, a novel by Andrew Clements (2005), is a realistic story about an ordinary child making extraordinary achievements. The story illustrates how a hardworking boy can have as much effect on the world as any adult—even when adults try to stand in his way.
Someday Greg Kenton is going to be rich. He has a talent for money, and he has worked hard at earning money since he was in preschool. First he makes money doing household chores and recycling. Later he branches out into several pursuits around his neighborhood, such as lawn mowing, snow shoveling, and dog walking. Greg loves just having money but he also likes spending it, once in a while, on special possessions.
Because Greg is so good with money, he acts as a banker for his family. He lends money to his parents for free as long as they pay it back. If his older brothers, Ross and Edward, want money, they have to return it with interest. The older boys make fun of Greg for this, but it does not stop them from using “the First Family Bank of Greg.”
Shortly after Greg finishes fourth grade, his dad finds some of Greg’s money hidden in a book. The two of them have a talk, and Greg agrees to put his money in the bank where it will be safe and grow by earning interest. When Greg adds up all his money, his dad is shocked to learn he has over three thousand dollars.
One day in fifth grade, Greg forgets his lunch. A school lunch costs two dollars, and Greg only has a dollar fifty with him. He asks his teacher, Mrs. McCormick, if he can borrow fifty cents. Mrs. McCormick says no, but she asks the class if anyone can lend Greg the money. More than half of the kids have two quarters to spare. After Greg borrows the fifty cents he needs, he goes to lunch thinking about how much he likes quarters. Then he realizes half the kids in his school seem to have a quarter or two to spare. He does the math in his head and concludes that hundreds of dollars of extra money come into his school every week.
Shortly after Greg finishes fourth grade, his dad finds some of Greg’s money hidden in a book. The two of them have a talk, and Greg agrees to put his money in the bank where it will be safe and grow by earning interest. When Greg adds up all his money, his dad is shocked to learn he has over three thousand dollars.
One day in fifth grade, Greg forgets his lunch. A school lunch costs two dollars, and Greg only has a dollar fifty with him. He asks his teacher, Mrs. McCormick, if he can borrow fifty cents. Mrs. McCormick says no, but she asks the class if anyone can lend Greg the money. More than half of the kids have two quarters to spare. After Greg borrows the fifty cents he needs, he goes to lunch thinking about how much he likes quarters. Then he realizes half the kids in his school seem to have a quarter or two to spare. He does the math in his head and concludes that hundreds of dollars of extra money come into his school every week.
Explanation:
