''The Last Holiday Concert'' is a 2004 children's novel written by

Andrew Clements Andrew Elborn Clements (May 29, 1949 – November 28, 2019) was an American author of children's literature. His debut novel ''Frindle'' won an award determined by the vote of U.S. schoolchildren in about 20 different U.S. states. In June 2015, ...

and illustrated by Brian Selznick. The book concerns a boy who is in charge of the middle-school chorus. Based on a 2007 online poll, the

National Education Association The National Education Association (NEA) is the largest labor union in the United States. It represents public school teachers and other support personnel, faculty and staffers at colleges and universities, retired educators, and college stude ...

listed the book as one of its "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children."

Plot summary

Hart Evans was the most popular kid at Collins Elementary School and is on his way to owning that title again at Palmer Intermediate. So when he unintentionally shoots a rubber band at his chorus teacher one afternoon, he expects it to be laughed off. After all, it was an accident. Mr. Meinert, the chorus teacher, is wound so tight that he blows up at Hart and the entire class. In a huff, he announces that he is stepping down, and they are now responsible for planning their entire holiday concert themselves. The whole class is surprised and elects Hart as the new Chorus director. He declares Music Class as a free period until Mr. Meinert tells him that they've got a full 30 minutes for their show. Hart then realizes that they need to get down to work. After assembling committees and coming up with lists of songs, Hart finally thinks he has everything running on track. But then his classmates get mad. Why is Hart, their friend, acting so strict and like a teacher? It takes a heart-to-heart with Mr. Meinert to learn what it takes to be a friendly and fair, yet strict, chorus director.

Reception

Reviews of the book were mixed. One reviewer described it as a "belabored tale." A second reviewer felt that the book left the reader "with both good feelings and the idea that both young people and adults are sometimes guilty of underestimating each other." A third reviewer praised the book's "engaging characters."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Last Holiday Concert 2004 American novels American children's novels Novels about music Books by Andrew Clements Novels set in elementary and primary schools Novels set in high schools and secondary schools 2004 children's books