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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
I loved this book. IDK why it took me until adulthood to discover Louis Sachar. He writes such real, amazing kids. All the current editions of this book have really fucking DUMB COVERS, but the book is golden. It's about a kid who is bullied at school by pretty much everyone, and is sort of a bully himself in response, but it's about him getting BETTER and there is a counselor and it is just so, so good. I loved it a LOT and read it pretty much in one sitting.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I always loved this book and I still do. It is so sad and touching.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It has been a while since a book has made me cry but this one did, in a good way. This is a story about Bradley. He starts out as a bully and a 'bad kid' - the sort that sits at the back on the classroom and doesn't do his homework. Yet there is another side of him that his schoolmates don't see and this is shown to us through his make-believe play with his stuffed animals in his room. His attempts at making a friend go horribly awry and you end up rooting for this prickly character. His saviour is Carla, his guidance counsellor. She is kind and cheerful. She is entertained by his 'Bradley-ness' and he responds. As someone who is applying to be a teacher, I think this book really struck a chord. There is so much bad press about our children - they are all wild animals with no soul, if you believe the Daily Mail. But I do believe that in most cases, kindness and patience can go a long way in bringing those marginalised 'bad kids' into the heart of their society, rather than leaving them lonely and angry on the sidelines. You might think this is a very naive or idealistic point of view, but I refuse to believe that bad kids are inherently bad. I think they just live in bad situations with bad role models. I think this is a great book for children and adults alike. I have't read anything else by Sachar, including his more famous Holes, but I definitely intend to now.
I was maybe expecting too much in light of how much I loved Holes as a child and enjoyed again as an adult...
Without that expectation, maybe this would have made a 3/5?
This book explores the sometimes turbulent transition from true childhood (and its associations with play and lack of self-awareness) to early teenagehood (where the focus becomes gender, peer conflict and self-awareness) by exploring the character development of Bradley who starts off an absolute monster of a child but who we realise only acts that way because it makes him feel safest as he can't disappoint anyone:
"Everything returned to normal... he hated everyone, and everyone hated him. That was the way he liked it."
What it does well:
- Recognises that some children act up as an identity because that way they won't disappoint anyone.
- There are many funny scenes. Many of these are produced by Bradley's character, but others also represent the ludicrousness of adult rules/relations e.g. the parent council.
- Conveys well the fast and sometimes almost illogical / out of nowhere changes in playground politics.
- Realistic pace of character development for Bradley following the two steps forward, one back method.
- Great at showing how many "limitations" are actually in our minds rather than a reality, for example, Bradley's amazement when he is encouraged to sit at his Dad's desk.
- The Monster analogy to explain low self-esteem is perfect (pp.87-90)
Problems:
- The book is a bit dated, especially in terms of gender relationships. For example, Carla kissing Bradley (even though just a peck on the cheek) and suggesting they go out for lunch and the comments about Bradley liking it when the girls somersault because he can see their knickers feel uncomfortable.
- We never find out why Bradley became the "monster" he is at the start of the book. It's not the case that he has never had the unconditional love he receives from Carla because his Mum and sister at home seem largely supportive. He says at the end he hasn't been to a birthday party / had any friends for 3 years so how did this come about? It seems like it would be important to show how people get to the point of isolating themselves and such low self-esteem as he has at the start of the book.
- Beyond Bradley, the characters felt a bit 2D, and as though they were just there to build a plot, however, I recognise it is only a children's book.
Random observations:
- What was with the specific focus on describing the shirts that Carla wore?
- Was Bradley's father really shot in the leg? Why is this mentioned so often by Bradley? Specifically in that he wants to know who shot his Dad? This question which is clearly troubling him and significant to him is never resolved.
Without that expectation, maybe this would have made a 3/5?
This book explores the sometimes turbulent transition from true childhood (and its associations with play and lack of self-awareness) to early teenagehood (where the focus becomes gender, peer conflict and self-awareness) by exploring the character development of Bradley who starts off an absolute monster of a child but who we realise only acts that way because it makes him feel safest as he can't disappoint anyone:
"Everything returned to normal... he hated everyone, and everyone hated him. That was the way he liked it."
What it does well:
- Recognises that some children act up as an identity because that way they won't disappoint anyone.
- There are many funny scenes. Many of these are produced by Bradley's character, but others also represent the ludicrousness of adult rules/relations e.g. the parent council.
- Conveys well the fast and sometimes almost illogical / out of nowhere changes in playground politics.
- Realistic pace of character development for Bradley following the two steps forward, one back method.
- Great at showing how many "limitations" are actually in our minds rather than a reality, for example, Bradley's amazement when he is encouraged to sit at his Dad's desk.
- The Monster analogy to explain low self-esteem is perfect (pp.87-90)
Problems:
- The book is a bit dated, especially in terms of gender relationships. For example, Carla kissing Bradley (even though just a peck on the cheek) and suggesting they go out for lunch and the comments about Bradley liking it when the girls somersault because he can see their knickers feel uncomfortable.
- We never find out why Bradley became the "monster" he is at the start of the book. It's not the case that he has never had the unconditional love he receives from Carla because his Mum and sister at home seem largely supportive. He says at the end he hasn't been to a birthday party / had any friends for 3 years so how did this come about? It seems like it would be important to show how people get to the point of isolating themselves and such low self-esteem as he has at the start of the book.
- Beyond Bradley, the characters felt a bit 2D, and as though they were just there to build a plot, however, I recognise it is only a children's book.
Random observations:
- What was with the specific focus on describing the shirts that Carla wore?
- Was Bradley's father really shot in the leg? Why is this mentioned so often by Bradley? Specifically in that he wants to know who shot his Dad? This question which is clearly troubling him and significant to him is never resolved.
I chose this book for my first read aloud of the year thinking it would be a comedy. We laughed at some parts, but others were tugging at our heart strings-and a few tearful parts. Well written. I would say a must read, especially if you have potential "bullies" in your audience.
"Bradley Chalkers is the oldest kid in the fifth grade. He tells enormous lies. He picks fights with girls. No one likes him-except Carla, the new school counselor. She thinks Bradley is sensitive and generous, and knows that Bradley could change, if only he weren't afraid to try. But when you feel like the most-hated kid in the whole school, believing in yourself can be the hardest thing in the world."
"Bradley Chalkers is the oldest kid in the fifth grade. He tells enormous lies. He picks fights with girls. No one likes him-except Carla, the new school counselor. She thinks Bradley is sensitive and generous, and knows that Bradley could change, if only he weren't afraid to try. But when you feel like the most-hated kid in the whole school, believing in yourself can be the hardest thing in the world."
Newts readathon 2020
E in Muggle Studies
---> E. Read a book writter by an author of a difference race than yourself
Novel middle grade yang sangat bagus. Novel ini mengajarkan bahwa kita haruslah menerima dan mencintai diri sendiri. Bahwa tidak ada keburukan atau kebaikan mutlak pada diri setiap orang.
E in Muggle Studies
---> E. Read a book writter by an author of a difference race than yourself
Novel middle grade yang sangat bagus. Novel ini mengajarkan bahwa kita haruslah menerima dan mencintai diri sendiri. Bahwa tidak ada keburukan atau kebaikan mutlak pada diri setiap orang.
after reading that terrible book Suck, i mean Sock (Penn Jillette), i needed to clean my brain out for another book. Jenn had bought me a copy of Louis Sachar’s There’s a boy in the girls bathroom so i decided i should revert to a prior age and give a good once over. thank you goodwill for having it lying around :)
I have not read this book in so many years, it really came to me as if i had never read it at all.
boy-in-the-girls-bathroom.jpgLouis Sachar is the guy who wrote Holes (made into a movie a few years back) and Sideways stories from Wayside School. He is a Lawyer who decided children’s fiction was a nice fit for him as an occupation, and i fully agree. i have always been a fan of his books, especially the Wayside School series.
Girls Bathroom is a story of a boy with the lowest self esteem ever who fights against everything, has imaginary friends and lies like no other.he is forced to go to a school counselor and over the course of the book grows up a little and finds out how to interact in society. man. this is a damn good book. t is funny, even for an adult, and i was surprised by how well the “moral of the story” was incorporated into a kid friendly story.
Over the years i have been slowly building up my collection of good children’s books, books i enjoyed as a kid and would love others to read. the goal is that someone comes over to my place and has no need to turn on the TV because regardless of their gender or age, there are tons of incredible books to read. the words “i’m bored” would be met with “have you read this? it is really really good”
recently i last year i read Judy Blume’s Superfudge and it is really what started the idea. i laughed and really had a good time reading it, even though i read it rather quickly and it was far below my reading level. next in the list will likely be some William Sleator books like House of Stairs, Singularity, the Green Futures of Tycho, and Interstellar Pig (which recently had a sequel written for it). I absorbed this write almost through osmosis when i was a kid. special thanks to my dad for handing me Interstellar Pig in the library as a kids and telling me it looked good. Much appreciation for you and mom putting up with us kids, our voracious appetite for books, and the common place trips to the Springville library where we had a 10 book limit on our check outs (parent imposed limit)
mmm.. Suck has been washed from my tastebuds and replaced with non-suck happiness.
excellent.
--
xpost RawBlurb.com
I have not read this book in so many years, it really came to me as if i had never read it at all.
boy-in-the-girls-bathroom.jpgLouis Sachar is the guy who wrote Holes (made into a movie a few years back) and Sideways stories from Wayside School. He is a Lawyer who decided children’s fiction was a nice fit for him as an occupation, and i fully agree. i have always been a fan of his books, especially the Wayside School series.
Girls Bathroom is a story of a boy with the lowest self esteem ever who fights against everything, has imaginary friends and lies like no other.he is forced to go to a school counselor and over the course of the book grows up a little and finds out how to interact in society. man. this is a damn good book. t is funny, even for an adult, and i was surprised by how well the “moral of the story” was incorporated into a kid friendly story.
Over the years i have been slowly building up my collection of good children’s books, books i enjoyed as a kid and would love others to read. the goal is that someone comes over to my place and has no need to turn on the TV because regardless of their gender or age, there are tons of incredible books to read. the words “i’m bored” would be met with “have you read this? it is really really good”
recently i last year i read Judy Blume’s Superfudge and it is really what started the idea. i laughed and really had a good time reading it, even though i read it rather quickly and it was far below my reading level. next in the list will likely be some William Sleator books like House of Stairs, Singularity, the Green Futures of Tycho, and Interstellar Pig (which recently had a sequel written for it). I absorbed this write almost through osmosis when i was a kid. special thanks to my dad for handing me Interstellar Pig in the library as a kids and telling me it looked good. Much appreciation for you and mom putting up with us kids, our voracious appetite for books, and the common place trips to the Springville library where we had a 10 book limit on our check outs (parent imposed limit)
mmm.. Suck has been washed from my tastebuds and replaced with non-suck happiness.
excellent.
--
xpost RawBlurb.com
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes