Addison Addley hates math.
He hates public speaking too. Actually, he hates anything that involves work, but he only has a couple of weeks to write and memorize his grade five speech. The problem is, he can't think of a single topic. When he finally comes up with an excellent idea for a speech, it almost writes itself, but it's his poor math skills that make speech day unforgettable.
"An excellent read for young children...Young boys will be able to relate to Addison."
– Resource Links
"Addison is a likable character who manages to be both sweet and maddening at the same time...The author does a good job of twisting things at the end of the story."
– SouthWest Ohio and Neighboring Libraries (SWON)
"McMillan has aptly drawn on her teaching background to create a believable, imaginative boy who loves fishing and video games but is struggling with school...Her word choice and descriptive language blend to create a pleasurable read-aloud story for the classroom."
– CM: Canadian Review of Materials
"McMillan's story touches on real aspects of grade five, from speech writing to dealing with math fractions, from bullies to stage fright...Readers will enjoy [Addison's] antics and I'm sure that many a student will be able to relate to Addison's take on life."
– Canadian Teacher Magazine
Forest of Reading Silver Birch Fiction Award | 2009 | Nominated
Resource Links, The Year's Best Books | 2008 | Commended
Download the Addison Addley and the Things That Aren’t There Teacher Guide.