2011, Juvenile Fiction
WISE Score
Daphne is navigating the fourth-grade gauntlet of a new retainer and a teacher who can't seem to remember her name is not 'Doffy.'
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A solid, dependable pick for a kid who likes 'slice of life' school stories. It is not going to blow anyone's mind with high-concept plotting, but it handles the very real micro-stresses of childhood—like a teacher who won't listen and a mouth full of plastic—with a lot of heart.
It is exactly the kind of book that helps a kid feel seen during those transition years. If your fourth grader is dreading the first day or just got their first piece of dental hardware, put this in their hands.
Perfect for the 7-10 crowd. It is written specifically for that middle-elementary sweet spot where school social dynamics and 'who am I?' questions start to matter.
It is a grounded, relatable school story about identity and small-scale social friction. It models self-advocacy and navigating the awkwardness of being ten years old without any edgy or mean-spirited content.
While it is realistic fiction rather than a fantasy world, it explores the internal life of a child and how names shape our sense of self.
This is a standard juvenile fiction book from a major publisher. There is zero risk of inappropriate content, violence, or mature themes beyond the typical stress of the first day of fourth grade.
Excellent for building empathy and teaching kids how to handle authority figures who make mistakes. It also normalizes common childhood experiences like getting dental hardware.
There is a specific kind of invisibility that hits when you're nine or ten. You're old enough to have a strong sense of self, but you're still entirely at the mercy of the adults in the room. The Name Game! captures this perfectly through Daphne's struggle with her teacher. It is a small conflict, but for a kid, a teacher getting your name wrong feels like they're getting you wrong.
The addition of the retainer is a nice touch of realism. It adds a layer of physical self-consciousness that many kids in this age bracket are starting to feel. It is not just about the name; it is about how Daphne presents herself to the world when the world seems determined to see her as someone else (like 'Doffy').
This is a great 'bridge' book. It is more substantial than a first chapter book but less heavy than the angst-ridden middle-grade novels that start appearing in sixth grade. It stays in its lane as a gentle, encouraging story about standing up for the basics—like your own name.
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