Benny Whitley has been having trouble in school. While his fifth grade classmates' skills improve, Benny is terrified when his teacher calls on him to read aloud. Frustrated by his inability and humiliated by his outcast status, Benny feels increasingly left behind. His mom and dad, though supportive, attribute his academic troubles to laziness. Bubbed "Stupid Benny" by his peers, Benny envisions the upcoming football tryouts as a way to win some respect and admiration - a way to prove that he can succeed. When an understanding coach and a perceptive teacher finally diagnose him with dyslexia, Benny and his family are faced with a new challenge: how to accept that Ben will need special help to reach his full potential. -Back cover.