Third Grade Angels (2012) is a middle grade novel by renowned children’s author Jerry Spinelli. The story unfolds as Suds begins the third grade and navigates the challenges of school life, aiming to earn the coveted halo prize awarded for exemplary behavior each week. Through Suds’s experiences and interactions with his classmates and teachers, Spinelli explores themes of friendship, kindness, and self-discovery, inviting reflection on the significance of integrity and empathy amidst the ups and downs of elementary school life.

This guide refers to the Kindle e-book edition published in 2012 by Arthur A. Levine Books.

Plot Summary

Suds Morton eagerly anticipates starting third grade, inspired by the schoolyard rhyme that elevates third graders to “angels”: “First grade babies! Second grade cats! Third grade angels! Fourth grade rats!” (1). Mrs. Simms, the new teacher, warmly greets the students as they arrive, initiating a reward system in which students earn yellow cardboard halos for demonstrating positive behavior.

During recess, new student Joey Peterson questions the idea of being labeled an “angel” and reveals Suds’s feelings for his classmate, Judy Billings. At home, Suds tells his mother that his secret has been exposed, finding solace in her reassurance despite feeling upset.

As students look for opportunities to demonstrate good behavior, Mrs. Simms witnesses a commotion during recess when a baseball cap blows onto the playground. Students rush to retrieve it, causing it to tear. Mrs. Simms holds all students accountable, emphasizing equal responsibility for onlookers. At dinner, Suds bickers with his sister, Amy, causing her to accuse him of always wanting to be first in everything he does. Later, Suds struggles to sleep as he reflects on the truth of his sister’s comment. He acknowledges this trait within himself, especially concerning the competition for the first halo; he worries that he may not be chosen.

Suds and his classmates attempt to make amends for the hat incident by leaving various items on Mrs. Simms’s desk as apologies. Mrs. Simms responds with laughter upon seeing the gifts, emphasizing the importance of earning rewards through good behavior rather than bribery. She clarifies that such gifts do not contribute to earning the halo and encourages the students to focus on genuine acts of kindness.

Suds meticulously strives for perfection in all his endeavors, seeking acknowledgment from Mrs. Simms even outside of school. His mother’s fabricated tale about Mrs. Simms’s network of spies prompts Suds to reconsider his interactions with his sister, Amy. From then on, Suds’s belief in the possibility that he is being monitored compels him to refrain from retaliating against his sister. However, Suds’s mother urges him to show genuine kindness rather than simply ignoring his sister, and this prompts Suds to perform small acts of kindness for Amy while eagerly awaiting the opportunity to receive his first halo.

Suds becomes increasingly competitive, striving to demonstrate kindness at every opportunity. He diligently maintains his schoolwork while also performing acts of kindness such as holding doors open for classmates and assisting with litter cleanup. However, his relentless pursuit of excellence leaves him feeling overwhelmed and inadequate. Suds also witnesses his classmates engaging in inappropriate behavior and struggles to comprehend their lack of effort. His mother suggests that Suds may be placing too much importance on earning the halo compared to his peers. Misinterpreting his mother’s advice, Suds becomes excited at the prospect of being the sole competitor for the halo.

At recess, Suds confides in Joey about Mrs. Simms’s network of spies, but Joey rejects the idea, claiming that Suds’s mother invented it. During a bus ride home, Suds becomes irritated with his sister and decides to disembark early. While walking home, he saves a runaway dog from an oncoming car, later writing a letter to Mrs. Simms, detailing his heroic deed. When he delivers the letter to her desk, he sees another envelope there, which leaves him unable to focus in class.

Suds wakes up late on the day of the halo announcement, feeling reluctant to attend school. Despite his mother’s insistence, Suds arrives at school, and Judy expresses her confidence in his victory. Suds daydreams about receiving the halo and a kiss from Judy, reflecting on his mother’s advice about graciousness in defeat. However, Suds’s hopes are dashed when Mrs. Simms names Constantina Pappas as the first halo recipient. Suds confides in his mother about feeling inadequate after losing the halo competition. Although he congratulated Constantina, he hesitated when she offered him the halo afterward, feeling conflicted about his desire to keep it. Suds admits to his mother that he believes his kindness was only surface-level.

Mrs. Simms’s surprise visit to Suds’s home offers clarity, as she acknowledges Suds’s disappointment and assures him that he will receive his halo soon. Mrs. Simms explains that Constantina wrote her a letter praising Suds’s heroic act in saving the stray dog and advocating for him to receive the halo first. This act of kindness and selflessness touched Mrs. Simms, leading her to choose Constantina as the winner. Touched by Constantina’s gesture, Suds’s mother sees Mrs. Simms to the door. Before leaving, Suds jokingly asks Mrs. Simms about her spies, and they all laugh.