“Seventh Grade” – Gary Soto

Summary

In Seventh Grade, Victor starts his first day of school hoping to impress Teresa, the girl he likes. He tries to act cool and even pretends to speak French in class, which ends up embarrassing him. Surprisingly, Teresa is impressed, and Mr. Bueller chooses not to expose Victor’s bluff. In the end, Victor feels good about himself and hopeful for the school year.

 

Character

- Victor – A seventh-grade boy who wants to impress a girl at school.

- Teresa – The girl Victor has a crush on.

- Michael – Victor’s best friend who tries to act cool by scowling.

- Mr. Bueller – The French teacher who notices Victor’s mistake but kindly doesn’t embarrass him.

Plot element

Exposition - Victor is excited and nervous for the first day of seventh grade. He wants to impress Teresa, a girl he likes, and hopes they’ll be in the same classes.

 

Rising action - Victor tries to act cool, talks with Teresa, and signs up for French because she’s in the class. During French, he pretends to know the language and speaks nonsense in front of the class.


Climax - Victor embarrasses himself in French class by making up fake French words, but Teresa thinks it’s impressive and asks him for help studying.

Resolution - Mr. Bueller realizes Victor is pretending, but instead of calling him out, he lets it go. Victor is happy and confident, excited about the rest of the school year.


Analysis & Feelings

This story was funny and sweet. It really showed what it feels like to be in middle school – trying to fit in, impress others, and deal with awkward moments. I liked how Mr. Bueller understood Victor’s situation and helped him out without saying a word. Victor’s courage to try (even if it was a little silly) made me smile. I felt happy for him in the end, and the story reminded me that sometimes, being yourself and showing confidence is enough. 

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