September 2004     Vol.5 Issue 9

This month's book reviews

Comedians, even fifth-grade ones,
aren't necessarily happy people

As is true with many kids' books, the plot of "My Life as a Fifth-Grade Comedian" may not be as frivolous as the title and cover illustration suggest. In the behind the scenes plot, Bobby, the perennial class clown, is coping with parental discord and the possible loss of an older brother. The father is guilty of being harshly judgmental of his sons and using sarcastic humor in his criticisms of them. The mother is angry because she is aware of the father's trait and blames him at least partially for driving one of the sons out on the street.

Not the least of fifth-grade Bobby's problems is trying to understand his own use of sarcastic humor and his taking on responsibility to help improve his parents' relationship and, hopefully, bring his outcast brother back into the family. Needless to say, this is pretty heavy stuff for a kids' book.

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A teacher's absence provides a
growing-up opportunity for sixth graders

Author Ralph Fletcher in "Flying Solo" builds a story of kids' developing some mature insights around their being unexpectedly left on their own to manage their sixth grade classroom. The range of abilities to accept social responsibility as it exists in a typical sixth grade classroom is illustrated very well. It is not unusual for kids to act out in defiance of what they see as an overly-structured and confining school environment. In this story, however, the group's original act of defiance turns out not only to be benign but positive in its outcomes.

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A kids' book of short stories written
by a distinguished children's novelist

There are many authors who would agree that it's easier to write novels than to write short stories. A writer with the unusual name Avi is author of "What do Fish Have to Do with Anything? And other stories." Avi has received numerous awards for his children's books, including the Newbery Medal. He is quoted in this book of seven stories as saying that writing a short story "is like lighting your way through a dark cave with a tiny birthday candle. The flame may be small, but in the darkness, if the writer has done the job, how bright the light!" Avi has done the job in this little book.

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A girl copes with a physical
disability and parental discord

"Stranded", written by Ben Mikaelsen, is a multi-layered children's novel. There is adventure enough for any reader since the story is set in the Florida Keys and is centered around sea-related activities. The paperback also deals with the struggles of a twelve-year old girl, missing a lower right leg, in her efforts to bring her estranged parents together while she tries to be as "normal" as any other kid. Of course, another purpose of the novel is to promote human accountability in mankind's apparent rush to ruin the habitat for other creatures in the environment.

A characteristic of good children's literature is that books tend to do more than just tell a good story. "Stranded" is included on lists for children's choice awards throughout the country, indicating that critics and readers feel that the author is accomplishing his goals.

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