The Phantom Tollbooth
Norton Juster
This whimsical story features a young protagonist who embarks on an imaginative adventure, exploring themes of identity and the importance of words.
No Cover
The Name Game!
by Marissa Moss
Two short, funny school stories about a fourth grader whose everyday worries, from a mangled name to a costume-day dilemma, feel just right for newly independent readers.
What It's About
This volume collects two stories about Daphne, a fourth grader with strong opinions and a habit of turning small problems into big ones. In the first, a new teacher keeps getting her name wrong, and Daphne, who already has mixed feelings about the name, has to work out what it says about her. In the second, the whole school seems obsessed with vampires. When a costume day is announced, Daphne sets out to be the most impressive vampire around and learns that what counts as cool versus nerdy is harder to judge than she expected.
Marissa Moss is best known for Amelia's Notebook, and the Daphne stories aim at a similar audience: kids around seven to ten who like a chatty, first-person-feeling heroine and situations taken straight from the classroom. The appeal is in Daphne's voice and her exaggerated reactions rather than in elaborate plots. Both stories are short and episodic, which keeps the pace brisk for readers still building stamina.
Reading it feels like spending time with a slightly dramatic classmate. Young readers will likely recognize the embarrassment of being misnamed and the pressure to get a costume exactly right. Parents and teachers get light, low-stakes material for talking about identity, fitting in, and peer opinion, without anything heavy-handed. The two-in-one format also makes it a good value for a child who finishes one story and immediately wants another.
Read this if you…
- have a seven- to ten-year-old who loves funny school stories with a spirited girl narrator
- enjoyed Amelia's Notebook, Judy Moody, or Clementine
- want a light read that opens conversations about names, identity, and fitting in
Skip it if you…
- want a strong plot with adventure, mystery, or high stakes
- are looking for a spooky vampire book; the vampires here are a playground trend, not a scare
Key Ideas
- 1
A name as part of who you are
The first story treats a familiar childhood annoyance seriously. Having a teacher repeatedly fumble her name pushes Daphne to think about whether she likes her name at all, and why it still matters when others get it wrong. It's a gentle way for young readers to consider how names connect to identity and how it feels to be seen, or not seen, correctly.
- 2
Chasing cool and fearing nerdy
The vampire story is really about social pressure. Daphne wants to ride a popular trend and come out on top, but the rules of what is impressive keep shifting. Kids who worry about being judged by classmates will recognize her uncertainty, and the story uses humor rather than lectures to explore it.
- 3
Big feelings, small stakes
Daphne reacts to ordinary events with outsized emotion, which is both the comedy and the point. The problems are the size of real fourth-grade life, so readers can laugh at Daphne's drama while quietly recognizing their own. This makes the book reassuring rather than stressful for sensitive children.
- 4
Short stories for growing readers
Pairing two brief, self-contained adventures suits kids moving from early readers to chapter books. Each story offers a complete arc in a manageable length, giving a sense of accomplishment and an easy stopping point, while the recurring heroine encourages them to keep going.
Limitations
These are slight stories, and readers expecting much plot or character growth may find them thin. Daphne's exaggerated drama is charming to some children and grating to others. The territory, a misbehaving teacher moment and a costume-day contest, is well covered by many similar series, so the book doesn't break new ground. The vampire craze it references feels tied to a particular moment, though the underlying worry about fitting in remains timeless. Information on this specific edition is limited, so check format and illustrations before buying.
Questions Readers Ask
- What age is The Name Game! by Marissa Moss for?
- It suits roughly ages seven to ten, especially kids in second through fourth grade. The heroine is a fourth grader, the stories are short, and the situations come from everyday school life, so it works well for independent reading or as a read-aloud for slightly younger children.
- Is it similar to Amelia's Notebook?
- It comes from the same author and targets a similar audience: kids who like a lively girl at the center of everyday school dramas. Amelia's Notebook is more famous for its handwritten, scrapbook-style pages. If your child loved Amelia, Daphne is a natural next try, though the two series are separate.
- What should my child read next if they like this?
- Good follow-ups include Judy Moody by Megan McDonald, Clementine by Sara Pennypacker, Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows, and Moss's own Amelia's Notebook. All feature funny, strong-willed young heroines navigating school, friends, and family at a similar reading level.
- Published
- 2011
- ISBN
- 9781442426764
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Category
- Children's Books
Book details and cover from Google Books.
Ready to read The Name Game!?
Get your copy on Amazon, or listen to it on Audible. We earn a commission if you buy through these links.
You Might Also Like
Otis Spofford
Unknown Author
Ramona's experiences with her name and school life resonate with Daphne's struggles and self-discovery.
Frindle
Andrew Clements
This book tackles the power of names and creativity in a school setting, much like Daphne's adventures with her own name.
Matilda
Roald Dahl
Matilda's journey of self-acceptance and her relationship with her identity mirror Daphne's challenges with her name.