The Year of Billy Miller

I hate to be a dissenting opinion, but reading some of this book to my 7-year-old was one of the biggest mistakes I ever made.

I thought if my son heard about how a kid's worries worked out well in a story, he wouldn't be anxious about starting 2nd grade. I believe this book contributed to his anxiety, and he ended up very anxious during the first month of the school year. In each chapter, Billy has a new worry. As soon as it is somewhat resolved (although not really fully resolved) by the end of the chapter, a new worry replaces it. It just seems like worry after worry, and the kid isn't able to look on the bright side or point out things he is happy about (which I can't blame him considering all his worries).

I wish the content, problems, and worries were presented better. My kids are very optimistic, they like to look on the bright side, and when they have a problem, they like to discuss options for solving the problem. I don't see Billy doing much problem solving. Perhaps Billy's problems are all solved in the end of this book, but we never made it to the end. My sons (7 and 6) asked me to stop reading it half way through.

I have been reading novels to my kids for years. They have never asked me to stop reading one before this one. I'm glad other kids seem to like this; unfortunately, mine did not.

The writing quality is excellent, and that's why I gave it 2 stars, but that is the only reason. I would give the writing 5 stars if I could review writing quality by itself.

There are lots of great books out there for middle graders and older elementary schoolers. There are lots of fun and interesting pre-school and very early reader books. Whole franchises have been built around simple chapter books. And, there are certainly some fine books for adventurous second grade readers. But, most of those second grader books are introductory level fantasy/adventures or semi-frantic sort-of-zany school daze tales. Then we have "The Year of Billy Miller". It would be easy to rhapsodize about this book and I certainly wouldn't fault anyone for doing so. It is calm, gentle, sweet and knowing, but for all that it takes considerable risks.

Billy is entering second grade and has doubts about his ability to handle it. On top of that, as the story progresses, he has concerns about a variety of other problems that can plague 7 year olds - like whether his new teacher likes him, how to address his parents in a more "grown up" manner, how to deal with anger at his younger sister, nightmares, and the list goes on. Now, this isn't a "problem" novel or a disguised parenting manual. It is an engaging sort-of-stream-of-consciousness novel in which an appealing decent kid expresses his hopes and fears and joys in an honest and authentic fashion. The author's genius is in expressing all of those thoughts in a convincing and not at all precious manner, in avoiding or at least completely refashioning all school story clichés, and then in arranging the action and developing the plot in such a way that Billy's various issues are addressed and resolved in a satisfying and usually touching way.

Treatment of all of the characters is generous. Billy's Momma and Papa are well rounded; sister Sal is alternately annoying and lovable; the teacher Ms. Silver is ideal; friends and classmates are just sketched in, but with nice, telling details. Each episode is developed just enough to allow for some resolution and then we move on to the next event, so young readers can enjoy and identify with the action and then move on. The result is that the read is touching and insightful and yet also brisk and manageable. It's not cartoonish and it's not Henry James, but is, rather, honest well-written second grade literature. What a nice find.

Hello there, I am a second-grade teacher in Connecticut. Two of my students read and wrote a review for this wonderful book.
Below are their reviews.

I loved reading The Year of Billy Miller in school. It is an awesome book. It has 20 chapters. I love long books so much. There are four parts to this book; Teacher, Father, Sister, and Mother. I wonder if Billy Miller is REAL! If he was, I would like him in my class for the third grade. Read Billy Miller now! Read, Read, Read!
Eli Grade 2

The Year of Billy Miller is a Newberry Honor and is a great book. In the different parts of the book (Teacher, Father, Sister, and Mother) there is a burst of joyfulness, and excitement! Billy is very humorous, which I like. For example, he called Emma "Hamster" instead of "Emster." I definitely could imagine him as a kid in my class. The Year of Billy Miller is really good, and I hope you read it.
Charlotte R. Grade 2

Billy Miller is nervous about going back to school. After suffering a concussion over summer vacation, he’s worried that he may not be smart enough for the second grade! On top of the stress that comes from meeting a new teacher, Billy’s struggling to get along with his little sister, his parents, and his friends. It seems like there’s always something going on at the Miller household, and Billy’s usually right in the middle of the action!

One thing I liked about this chapter book was how the reader gets the chance to follow Billy through the entire school year. It’s not a minute-by-minute, day-by-day account, but rather an in-depth look at some of the more memorable events as Billy sees them. Mr. Henkes gives a lot of attention to the simple things, like Billy’s diorama project and his class’ poetry recital. These might not be major societal issues that we’re talking about, but they’re certainly huge milestones for a second grade student!

This one is a little bit longer than the traditional chapter book, but it’s nicely broken down into shorter sections so that even the most methodical reader will be able to make steady progress. Not only is this book a great story about a very cool kid, but it’s a strong choice to prepare young men for the longer novels that they’ll see in upper grades. Keep a copy of this book on hand and I guarantee, it won’t be long until all the pages start looking dog-eared and worn!

I will be eternally grateful to Mr. Henkes for writing this book. My son, a bright little thing with a whirlwind mind and eye that finds every bug in his radius, is struggling mightily with school. He was recently placed on an IEP but in the meantime, he has lost confidence in himself and in school, especially with reading. As a writer/journalist myself, I know to surround him with reading he likes, even if that means endless nights of Adventure Time and Calvin and Hobbes.

I read Billy Miller for my own pleasure this summer and, when done, wondered what my son would think. I didn't expect much - there are no explosions or fart jokes or bratty sisters or any of the things we're told boys gravitate to. I read one chapter and he begged for the next and then the next and then the next. I almost wondered if he was doing that just to please me but he genuinely was distressed when we stopped reading each night.

Then, miracle of miracles, he took a few risks. Of his own accord, he tried to read the section and chapter titles. He spontaneously pointed out sight words he recognized. And when we finished the book, he asked if we could read it again which, of course, we will.

I know how powerful it is when a child (or an adult) falls in love with a book. This is the one my son fell on love with. In some ways, it's inexplicable. There are few illustrations and no clearly identifiable "boy hooks.". My son said he just likes Billy Miller and the problems he has to solve. He thinks that Billy wears glasses.

So thank you, Mr. Henke, for writing this deceptively simple tale of Billy Miller and his year. And for anyone out there with struggling readers, try everything! One never knows which story, novel, comic book or graphic novel might be The One.

I was pretty curious about The Year of Billy Miller because I’ve long been a fan of Kevin Henkes’s picture books and because I don’t see very many books written about or for children of this age (second grade). On the whole, I found the novel to be a really warm, gentle, and satisfying read.

The Year of Billy Miller follows Billy for a year. Billy is a little insecure going into the second grade because he hit his head pretty hard during his summer vacation and doesn’t know if there will be any negative effects. Billy, it is soon clear, though, is a hardworking and warm-hearted kid who wants to please, and not much is going to hold him back.

Even though the motif of a “year” recurs throughout the novel, really the book is structured around the key relationships in his life. The novel focuses on how Billy grows, and especially in his appreciation for his teacher, his father, his little sister, and his mother. The events of the novel are certainly not high drama—he tries to make the teacher like him after he thinks he’s offended her, he tries to stay up all night with his sister’s help, he tries to write a poem for class, etc. These events are, however, all amusing and human moments that highlight the charms of Billy and the people around him.

Really, the simplicity of the novel is what I enjoyed most about it. The Year of Billy Miller is a little tribute to a good kid with a good family and what a good life they have together. It’s a total pleasure to read.

This book was my second grader’s assigned summer reading. He loves to be read to and usually stays awake and attentive when I read to him. He will also choose to read books and really gets into them. That was not the case with this book. Every member of the family agreed that reading this poorly written and exceedingly dull book was drudgery. Nothing of any interest occurs in this book. I kept waiting for something, and continued to be disappointed. We only finished the book because it was assigned. Please, if you are trying to engender love of reading in a young mind, chose a book with an ounce of imagination. Reading about Billy Miller was like watching reality television, inexplicable entertainment without thought or talent.

Summary: The story, which follows Billy from the first day of second grade to the last, is divided into four parts: Teacher, Father, Sister, and Mother. Each part focuses on Billy’s life in relation to that particular person. For instance, in part one, he sees Ms. Silver, his second grade teacher, watching him as he’s fooling around, and is afraid she thinks he’s making fun of her. He comes up with a plan to apologize to her, which results in a conversation between the two that is both sweet and full of the ring of truth.

Pros: Kevin Henkes is a genius at capturing childhood. While I prefer his picture books (e.g., Chrysanthemum, Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, etc.), this is a beautifully written book peopled by interesting, realistic characters. It would be a great read-aloud for first, second, or maybe third grade, allowing kids to make a lot of connections to people and situations in their lives.

Cons: I couldn’t quite figure out the audience for this book. Billy is a pretty young, innocent second grader, a bit too tame for the Wimpy Kid crowd. But at 208 pages, this book would be a pretty daunting read for the Junie B. Jones set. It seems like it would work best as a read-aloud.

This book captured the feelings of new school year jitters, jealousy of another classmate, annoyance with a younger sibling, and the regular ins and outs of a family. Billy's family is 'normal' in that mom gets tired and hot from a long day at work, dad gets frustrated when he doesn't feel like he is hitting his 'breakthrough' with his work, all the while caring for, loving, and taking care of their family. This would be a lovely read aloud to a second grade class or at the end of first grade, but it is also accessible for a strong reader in this age group. In think it is appropriate for a student to read in K- 4. ( It might be deemed too 'young' by students who are any older.)

Usually, my son will read and then completely forget about a chapter book. Not so with Billy Miller. We have read it 5 times in 2 months, cover to cover. No sooner do we finish it, but he wants to start it again. He can relate to the things that Billy is doing in class, from the poems types, to the class presentations, to the struggles with a sibling. A fantastic book that really keeps him engaged.

My second grade son and I absolutely loved this book. My son had so many connections to Billy, and had his first experience of being so bummed when a great book must come to an end. His class is doing a Kevin Henkes author study right now, so we are sending it in for the teacher to use as a read aloud! Highly recommended!

This book is about Billy Miller and his journey through second grade. This book is directed towards students third through seventh grade. Students will be able to relate to Billy and some of his experiences. This book is packed with lessons and morals, and great ideas for teachers in the classroom. This book will keep you engaged, will have a positive influence on children through the example of Billy Miller. Even though the plot was at times inconsistent this book is overall a great read for children and adults.

The book is an arguably cute story about seven year-old second grader Billy Miller, and the bump on his noggin that makes him worried about starting second grade sets the tone for the rest of the story. He's the oldest sibling in a two-child nuclear household; Dad is an artist, Mom is a teacher. So far, so good. Billy has trouble sometimes with self-expression and verbalizing his feelings, which is vastly identifiable for many children, and especially boys, and he worries at the begining of the school year about whether he has offended his new teacher, Ms. Silver. In fact, interpersonal relationships are the primary theme of the book: family, friends, unfriends, teachers. Social anxieties and lack of confidence in developing skills are prominent throughout the story. Billy's struggles are, in short, completely identifiable. Whether to call his papa 'Papa' or 'Dad'. Whether the snotty girl in the class hurts his feelings. Whether he hurts someone elses' feelings. And there's an admirable example of sibling sharing that occurs in what might be the most touching moment of the book.

My concerns with the book are as follows: Billy vacillates as to whether or not he "hates" his sister, and at one point in the very short book he fantasizes about being a bat so he can bite, poison, and kill his female nemesis in the classroom. While I understand the emotions behind the sentiments of young boys fairly well having a Billy Miller aged son, I really wish that instead of being so relatable, he'd set a good example or offered coping strategies for those feelings.

And that's another thing: Billy Miller is, perhaps, too relatable to hold the interest of a young boy. Boys in the target age range for this book love action, adventure, and fantasy; they don't necessarily want to hear a story that's exactly like their life.

If you have a long car trip or this book becomes a trendsetter, read it - it's much better than Diary of a Wimpy Kid or lots of other books out there. It just isn't as good as it could be.

The Year of Billy Miller is a very easy, relatable, and fun read for a second to third grade level reader. Length should not be a problem for students because the book is broken up into sections, each telling a different story. The book is relatable and diverse in the sense that Billy's dad is the one that stays at home while Billy's mom is at work; dad plays a role that most moms do. The humor and fun that the family has carries over into the classroom and at home.

Today, january 10th, I read, year of billy miller. I thought it was good, for 3rd to 5th graders. I am in second, it was a little bit challenging for me. Billy is a second grade boy, and his sis, sal, is three. Billy doesn't know if he is ready for second grade. He faces problems that everyone will have to face. As I already said, The Year of Billy Miller is a good book!!

As an adult and education major, there isn't much to this book. However, from the point of view of a second grader, it is very relatable and enjoyable to read. It is on level developmentally, with easy vocabulary and a simple plot line. This would be a good book for a beginning chapter book reader.

This is an amazing read aloud mentor book for second graders to start the year it has all of the first quarter components to help students start the year out for school routines, readers and writers workshop and much much more. If you teach second grade I suggest you get this book.