What would you do with five million dollars? In Millionaires for the Month by Stacy McAnulty, readers join two unlikely friends on a wild adventure where they must figure out how to spend, save, and share a small fortune in just 30 days. This middle-grade novel is a funny, thought-provoking story that explores themes of friendship, responsibility, and the real meaning of wealth. If you enjoyed Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library or The Lemonade War, then you’ll love the unique premise and heart of Millionaires for the Month.
Fast Facts About the Book
Title: Millionaires for the Month
Author: Stacy McAnulty
Genre: Middle-Grade Realistic Fiction
Age Range: 8-12 years
Number of Pages: 310
Publication Year: 2020
Themes: Friendship, Wealth, Responsibility, Generosity, Problem-Solving
Listen to the first chapter of Millionaires for the Month and get to know the author, Stacy McAnulty in this interview preview. #stacymcanulty
With humor and unexpected twists, Millionaires for the Month challenges readers to consider what money means in their lives, and whether it can buy happiness or create problems. The story follows Felix and Benji, two middle schoolers who are given the challenge of a lifetime after discovering a billionaire’s lost wallet. From learning how to manage a huge amount of money to discovering the real value of friendship, this book is packed with lessons, laughs, and valuable life insights.
Novel Overview
Millionaires for the Month follows Felix Rannells and Benji Porter, two boys who couldn’t be more different. When they find the lost wallet of a billionaire named Laura Friendly, they’re rewarded with a thrilling challenge: spend five million dollars in thirty days without acquiring anything permanent. If they succeed, they’ll earn real cash to keep. But as they dive into their spending spree, they realize managing money isn’t as easy—or fun—as they’d expected. Through unexpected hurdles and surprises, Felix and Benji come to understand that true wealth may not be something you can buy. #millionairesforthemonth
Chasing Chapters: Plot Summary
When Felix and Benji return billionaire Laura Friendly’s lost wallet, they’re stunned to be invited to her mansion and even more shocked when she offers them a challenge: spend five million dollars in a month. But there are strict rules—they can’t buy anything that will last beyond the month. What sounds like a dream quickly turns into a complicated, stressful adventure, especially as the boys’ differing personalities clash. As they navigate lavish hotels, outrageous purchases, and charity events, Felix and Benji realize that there’s a lot more to life than money, and that friendship and kindness can be the greatest rewards of all. #middlegradereadaloud
Share Millionaires for the Month comprehension questions and 1-sentence summaries of every chapter with your class.
Educational Value
Millionaires for the Month offers a fun way to introduce concepts of budgeting, financial literacy, and decision-making. The story sparks thought-provoking questions about what money can—and can’t—buy, encouraging students to consider the value of generosity, gratitude, and long-lasting relationships. The book’s unique plot invites readers to reflect on how money can affect friendships and priorities, making it an excellent addition to classroom discussions about social-emotional learning (SEL), critical thinking, and ethical decision-making. #socialemotionallearning
Through Felix and Benji’s journey, students learn about balancing wants versus needs, the impact of wealth, and the importance of teamwork. Millionaires for the Month is an engaging read for teaching empathy and exploring the concept of money management in a relatable, imaginative way.
Classroom Activities to Try
Writing Prompt: Imagine you have one million dollars, but you must spend it all in one month! Write a plan for what you would do with the money and explain why.
Discussion Questions:
How do Felix and Benji’s perspectives on money differ? How do their viewpoints change over the course of the book?
What are some challenges that Felix and Benji face while trying to spend their five million dollars?
What does the book suggest about the relationship between money and happiness?
Budgeting Challenge: Give students a hypothetical budget of one thousand dollars and let them create a spending plan for a “dream day.” Have them allocate funds for activities, food, and entertainment while staying within their budget. This helps them practice financial planning in a fun, imaginative way.
Extension Activities
Giving Back Project: Since Felix and Benji learn about the importance of generosity, have students brainstorm ways they could give back to their community. They could work on small projects, like organizing a fundraiser, creating thank-you cards, or volunteering. This activity reinforces the book’s themes of empathy and responsibility.
Money Reflection Journal: Ask students to keep a journal about their thoughts on money for a week. What are things they would like to save for? How does money play a role in their lives? This exercise encourages self-reflection and helps them think about financial values and priorities.
Kindness Chain:The story of Felix and Benji teaches readers the importance of kindness over material wealth. Have students create a “kindness chain” in the classroom by writing down one act of kindness they performed on a paper chain link each day. This activity highlights the lasting impact of small, thoughtful actions.
Find more extension activities in my Millionaires for the Month resource. #bookclub
Did you know? Stacy McAnulty has written several other thought-provoking middle-grade novels, including The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl and The World Ends in April.
Stacy McAnulty’s background as a mechanical engineer often inspires her writing, as she enjoys including math and science themes in her books.
The idea for Millionaires for the Month came from McAnulty’s fascination with what she calls “fun but impossible questions”—like “What would you do with a million dollars?”
Page-Turning Puzzles: Novel Trivia
How closely have you read the text in Stacy McAnulty's novel Millionaires for the Month? Can you remember tiny details to answer the trivia questions below? #noveltrivia
What was the name of Benji's and Felix's middle school?
How much money did the boys have to spend in 30 days (dollars & cents)?
What is the largest bill printed in the U.S.?
What is Felix's middle name?
What is Benji's middle name?
What was the date when Felix and Benji's challenge would end?
Find the answers to these trivia questions inside this Millionaires for the Month resource.
Hear about this Millionaires for the Month Novel Study from educators like you!
⭐️ “This resource is AMAZING! Differentiate in every way possible. I love the sample responses and my students love coloring the stickers to add to their collections.”
⭐️ “I love Millionaires for the Month and these worksheets were the perfect companion to the book. I can’t wait to purchase another novel study from MB Creations!”
⭐️ “I am blown away by this amazing resource! It is SO COMPLETE! I didn’t have to add anything extra. I printed the workbooks and assessments and we had an amazing novel study.”
Use this Millionaires for the Month Novel Study in so many ways!
✅ Differentiate to meet the needs of all learners. Gifted students can complete projects about the novel as they read. Language learners can benefit from the character traits page with pictures and descriptions.
✅ Assign worksheets to students for homework. Have them take notes and come prepared to discuss this chapter book in class.
✅ Invite students to read Millionaires for the Month in small groups and complete these worksheets and discussion activities together.
Find answers to your questions about this Millionaires for the Month Novel Study:
✋ What is Millionaires for the Month?
This fictional chapter book, written by Stacy McAnulty, tells the story of two twelve-year-old boys as they try to spend five million dollars. It is written for grades 3-7 with a Lexile level of 570L.
✋ What exactly is included?
Check out the preview! The detailed table of contents can help answer your questions about this novel study.
✋ Why should I use this resource?
PLEASE NOTE: This resource includes pages specific to the book, Millionaires for the Month, as well as all the pages in my "Novel Study for Any Book" resource. It's a 2-in-1 deal!
Students will be able to write and discuss facts about the author, novel, plot, setting, characters, and theme. You can edit the projects and discussion pages on PowerPoint and assign all worksheets digitally if you choose. Students will have fun collecting stickers when they finish projects related to the book and you can grade all worksheets with the answer keys and sample responses!
Keep the Adventure Going
If Millionaires for the Month sparks students’ interest in stories about money and responsibility, they may also enjoy books like The Candy Smash by Jacqueline Davies or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. These stories dive into themes of wealth, generosity, and moral lessons, making them great follow-ups to this novel.
Millionaires for the Month is a delightful read that combines humor, life lessons, and unforgettable adventures. It’s the perfect story for students to explore money management, friendship, and the power of kindness. Whether they’re dreaming up their own “millionaire challenge” or reflecting on what makes life meaningful, students will find this novel to be both a fun escape and a thoughtful journey.