Millicent Min, Girl Genius facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Lisa Yee |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English Or Spanish (there are different versions.) |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Arthur A. Levine Books |
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Publication date
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October 1, 2003 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 256 pp (hardcover) |
| ISBN | 0-439-34257-0 |
| OCLC | 51009159 |
| LC Class | PZ7.H62964 Ki 2004 |
Millicent Min, Girl Genius is a children's novel written by Lisa Yee. It was first published in 2003. This book tells the story of Millicent Min, a super smart 11-year-old girl. She lives in a made-up town called Rancho Rosetta, California.
Millicent is a true genius. She goes to high school even though she is very young. But being so smart makes it hard for her to make friends. To make things even more tricky, she has to play volleyball. She also has to help her "enemy," Stanford Wong, with his schoolwork.
Then, Millicent meets Emily Ebers, a friendly girl she connects with at volleyball. Millicent really wants to be friends with Emily. She thinks she has to hide how smart she is to keep Emily as a friend. The story follows Millicent as she tries to keep her secret. She also deals with her grandma moving away. And she has to handle Stanford, especially when he becomes friends with Emily too!
You can read more about this story from other characters' views. Check out the companion books: Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time and So Totally Emily Ebers.
Contents
About the Story
Millicent's Big Summer Plans
Millicent Min is not your average 11-year-old. She has skipped many grades in school. She has even been on TV shows and in TIME Magazine. She won a math competition and appeared on Jeopardy. Millicent is looking forward to a quiet summer. She plans to take a college poetry class. She hopes to be the top student in her high school class. She also wants to earn a scholarship for college.
But Millicent's mom has other ideas. She wants Millicent to make friends. So, she signs Millicent up for volleyball. She also gives Millicent a job. Millicent has to tutor Stanford Wong. He is a basketball player who needs help with his English. On top of all this, Millicent's grandma, Maddie, is leaving. Maddie is Millicent's best and only friend. She is going to England to study feng shui.
Making New Friends and Keeping Secrets
At volleyball, Millicent meets Emily. Emily is a very outgoing and friendly girl. Millicent quickly becomes friends with her. But Millicent worries that Emily will not like her if she knows how smart she is. Millicent believes that if Emily knows she is a genius, she will treat her differently. So, Millicent decides to hide her high IQ. She even pretends that she is homeschooled.
One day, Emily sees Millicent and Stanford at the library. They are supposed to be having a tutoring session. To keep her secret, Millicent pretends to be the student who is struggling. She makes Stanford look like the smart tutor.
Stanford's Secret and the Big Lie
Stanford agrees to go along with Millicent's plan. He has a crush on Emily. He thinks that if he acts smart, Emily will like him. So, he pretends to be the genius tutor. This shared secret brings Millicent and Stanford closer. They are both lying to Emily. Emily talks a lot about Stanford.
When the Truth Comes Out
During a sleepover at Millicent's house, Emily discovers the truth. She finds out that Millicent is actually a genius. Emily gets very angry that Millicent hid this from her. She storms out of the house. Emily also rejects Stanford. She realizes that he was lying to her too.
Family Troubles and Happy Endings
Millicent also faces some problems at home. Her dad does not have a job. Her mom seems to be sick. But it turns out her mom is not sick. She is actually pregnant with Millicent's new sibling!
Eventually, Millicent decides to face Emily. She apologizes sincerely. They quickly become friends again. Millicent also makes up with Stanford. He was able to pass his English class. As summer ends, Millicent says goodbye to her grandma at the airport. She finds out her dad got a new job. Her grandma Maddie will also come back to meet the new baby. Millicent finally feels happy, even with all the changes.
Awards and Recognition
Millicent Min, Girl Genius has won many awards. These include the Sid Fleischman Humor Award in 2004. It was also named a Publishers Weekly Flying Start. The book was chosen for the International Reading Association Children's Choice list. It was also nominated for several state book awards. These awards show that many readers and experts loved this book.
