Jake Drake, Know-It-All

Jake Drake, Know-It-All, published in 2001, is the second book in Andrew Clements’s Jake Drake series. In this middle grade novel, protagonist Jake Drake competes in his elementary school’s first science fair, hoping to win a fancy new computer system. He also looks forward to beating the third-grade “know-it-alls,” Marsha McCall and Kevin Young. However, as Jake aims to win the science fair, he starts to become one of the know-it-alls himself. As Jake grapples with what it really means to win or lose, he learns important lessons about integrity, friendship, and the pursuit of knowledge. Clements is well-known for his children’s books. He has written more than 80 books of both fiction and nonfiction, including picture books for very young readers and chapter books for school-aged readers. 

This guide refers to the 2001 Aladdin Paperbacks edition.

Plot Summary

Ten-year-old fourth grader Jake Drake loves computers. He and his best friend, Phil Willis (Willie), spend a lot of time playing computer games together. Jake is skilled enough with computers that, since kindergarten, he has often been asked to teach other students how to use them. His grade’s two “know-it-alls,” Marsha McCall and Kevin Young, always refuse to let him help them, however, because they want to make it seem like they are the best at everything. Jake begins telling a story about when he, Marsha, and Kevin were in third grade together.

Lenny Cordo, the manager of a local computer store, comes to their school to announce that he will be sponsoring Despres Elementary School’s first science fair, giving away three top-of-the-line Bluntium Twelve computers as prizes: one to the third-grade winner, one to the fourth-grade winner, and one to the fifth-grade winner. Jake is thrilled. The particular computer that Cordo is giving away is one that Jake has been begging his parents for, and Jake feels sure that he can win the science fair and get the computer—if he can manage to defeat Kevin and Marsha. Back in his classroom, Jake sees how eager Marsha and Kevin are to get started—they immediately begin making notes in the booklet of science fair rules and ask their teacher, Mrs. Snavin, a number of questions. Another student in their class, Pete Morris, asks whether it is okay to use one of his hobbies for a science fair project. Mrs. Snavin assures Pete, whose hobbies are all science related, that this is fine. During silent reading time, Jake, Marsha, and Kevin keep reading about the science fair instead of reading their library books as they are supposed to.

After lunch, Jake goes to the library to research. Kevin and Marsha are there, along with many other students eager to get started with their projects. Jake sees Pete outside, staring at a bush near the playground’s fence. Jake’s friend Willie is in the library. He tells Jake that he is excited about the science fair and its prize and asks whether Jake wants to be partners. Jake does not want to share the computer, even with his best friend, and he refuses. Willie tells Jake that if he wins the science fair, he will still share the computer, but Jake does not tell Willie the same in return. He tries to look up science fair ideas online but is frustrated while trying to look through the thousands of results he gets. Kevin and Marsha, snooping to see what he is doing, warn him that copying someone else’s project is cheating. Jake angrily tells them that he knows this and has no intention of cheating. Later, when he thinks over this encounter, he is pleased to realize that Marsha and Kevin see him as a threat.

That evening, Jake gets his permission slip signed by his father, Jim. His mother reads the science fair booklet carefully, but Jake’s father only skims it at first. Jim gets excited about the idea that Jake can build a rocket for his project. When Jake and his mother explain that the rules against anything combustible would make this impractical, Jake’s father starts to talk about water-propelled rockets. Jake’s mother teases her husband about being a know-it-all. When Jim learns about the grand prize computer, he gets even more excited, and he tells Jake that they should get started on the project right away. Jake worries that his father will try to take over his project and that he will expect Jake to share his new computer. He goes to his room and spends some time reading about the scientific method and thinking about his project. He eventually remembers reading about electromagnets, and he uses some items from his junk drawer to construct one himself. This makes him wonder about how to make a more powerful magnet, and he has an idea for his science fair project—he will apply the scientific method to studying whether more wire or more battery power creates a more powerful electromagnet.

At school, Jake begins researching electromagnets. He carries several books on the subject in the bottom of his backpack, hidden away from the prying eyes of Kevin and Marsha. His two adversaries do everything they can to get information about what Jake’s science fair project will be about: They directly question him and constantly spy on whatever he is doing. He begins looking up information on things like weasels, rats, and sharks in order to confuse them. When winter break comes, he devotes almost all his time to working on his science fair project instead of enjoying his vacation. When school resumes, Jake sees the hard work that Kevin and Marsha have also been putting into their projects. The two show off their work constantly; Kevin’s project on ants is especially impressive. Willie announces that it is pointless to try to beat Kevin and that he is dropping out of the science fair. Many students are feeling this way, and Jake suspects that this is what Kevin and Marsha have been trying to achieve by showing off their work. Jake feels angry at the two know-it-alls, Cordo, and the adults at school. He also feels angry at himself for the way he has behaved and for abandoning Willie. He decides that he, too, will quit the science fair.

That evening, Jake decides on a better plan. When he gets to school the next day, he asks Mrs. Snavin for permission to work with Willie on his science fair project. He then broaches the idea with Willie, who is enthusiastic about the idea. Willie is even more excited when Jake explains about his electromagnets, and the two decide that they will spend all day on Saturday working on the project together. Jake is much happier working on his magnets with Willie. Willie contributes great ideas and makes the process fun again. Jake also manages to find a way to include his father in the process without letting him take over or break the contest rules by doing any of the work. By the day of the science fair, the two boys have a project they are very proud of, and they enjoy presenting it to the judges. They win second place for their grade, and Jake is satisfied with this outcome because he had fun working with Willie and has learned a lot. He also realizes that although his and Willie’s project is great, it is not the best. The grand-prize-winning project was created by Pete, who spent months studying the impact of light on insect eggs. Jake understands that Pete, unlike everyone else, worked on his project simply out of a love of science and learning and that this is a big part of what makes Pete’s project the best.