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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
I really liked the heart to this book. But there was almost too much happening. I felt like the beginning and the ending were kind of abrupt, and a little sloppy. The illustrations were hands down the best part of this book.
I think students who aren't the biggest fans of reading and kids who enjoying a some anti-adult humor will enjoy this book. The pictures, which were done by the author's son, are interesting and entertaining. Hopefully, this book will pull in some of those reluctant readers.
Quotes I liked:
"Just cuz I have a hard time at school doesn't mean I'm stupid."
After describing a sunset, "I stand still for several minutes and feel a kind of joy. Then the moment passes-like all perfect moments do-and the imperfect ones roll in like waves."
Quotes I liked:
"Just cuz I have a hard time at school doesn't mean I'm stupid."
After describing a sunset, "I stand still for several minutes and feel a kind of joy. Then the moment passes-like all perfect moments do-and the imperfect ones roll in like waves."
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a quick read for me, but I think it would be an interesting read for younger kids who might not enjoy reading as much as I do. Derek is twelve years old, and hates reading and school. When summer comes, he’s excited to have time to relax, do nothing, and goof around. Instead, his teacher assigns required reading, and his parents sign him up for Learning Camp. Derek finds ways to enjoy learning his vocabulary words, and even reads a book and does a book report for the next school year. This book is fiction, but has great ideas on how to get kids (I don’t want to say it’s just for boys) to enjoy reading and expand their horizons about making friends.
A kinder, gentler Diary of a Wimpy Kid with more of an actual plot. I love all the little illustrations in the margins.
My son Jackson, who is hot and cold on reading, loved this book. It's the first book that he's read on his own and *loved*, so when he asked me to read it, I was happy to. I can understand why he enjoyed it so much. I've read some comparisons to the Wimpy Kid series, but honestly this reminded me more of "Wonder" in that the kids were facing real problems and emotions. He was so happy when he found out it's a series, and is reading another one right now. If that's not a ringing endorsement, I don't know what is.
I believe that good books always have a reader out there somewhere. While reading My Life as a Book, I could picture kids in my class would appreciate it and relate to the main character, Derek. A short, simple book with a lot of heart.
A quick read and good for reluctant readers to zip through. Derek is rambunctious and rebellious. More than anything he would rather LIVE an adventure than read about it (except for a few good comics now and then).
While the "morals" chapter at the end felt a bit heavy-handed it was overall a cute story with some memorable characters: a kid who supposedly learns a bunch of lessons, a girl who is more than the "braniac" she appears to be, and two families bound by a mysterious incident from Derek's past. This book gave a glimpse into the many ways that reading (and our understanding of it) should be expanded to include many activities that are, as yet, not seen as "real reading". Enjoyable, especially for a younger crowd (8th grade or lower).
While the "morals" chapter at the end felt a bit heavy-handed it was overall a cute story with some memorable characters: a kid who supposedly learns a bunch of lessons, a girl who is more than the "braniac" she appears to be, and two families bound by a mysterious incident from Derek's past. This book gave a glimpse into the many ways that reading (and our understanding of it) should be expanded to include many activities that are, as yet, not seen as "real reading". Enjoyable, especially for a younger crowd (8th grade or lower).
I read the My Life As A... series because my 9-year-old daughter read them, enjoyed them and recommended them to me. Each of the three are enjoyable to differing degrees and for different reasons. All three are narrated by Derek. Derek is your average 12-year-old boy. He is basically kind, has a good heart, dreads school at the end of summer vacation and often lacks the ability to project the negative consequences of his imaginative, sometimes well-intentioned, plans.
All three books are short, fun, easy reads appropriate for 3rd Grade through middle school ages. Similar in tone and style to Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, they work equally well as independent or read-aloud choices. Jake Tashjian provides creative--sometimes inspired--stick drawings of various vocabulary words in the margins of every page. Many of his drawing are intriguing and lead the reader to think about specific words in a new and exciting way. The fact that the drawings are parallel to--and not instrumental in the progression of--the plot is what sets this series apart from Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
In My Life As A Book Derek is devastated to discover he will be required to READ and WRITE reports on 3 books from a SUMMER READING LIST. He quickly establishes with the reader that he does NOT like to read and the idea that he must use a portion of his joy-filled, free summer hours to do something he hates is a form of punishment. Derek is encouraged by his Learning Camp counselor to picture the characters and action while reading. This way reading becomes less about a book than it is about stories.
This one will be enjoyed by 3rd through middle school ages. It's an especially good choice for reluctant readers. It will give them a different perspective and an opportunity to identify with another like themselves. Derek's courage and success in facing his reading challenge is a great example for like-minded readers.
All three books are short, fun, easy reads appropriate for 3rd Grade through middle school ages. Similar in tone and style to Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, they work equally well as independent or read-aloud choices. Jake Tashjian provides creative--sometimes inspired--stick drawings of various vocabulary words in the margins of every page. Many of his drawing are intriguing and lead the reader to think about specific words in a new and exciting way. The fact that the drawings are parallel to--and not instrumental in the progression of--the plot is what sets this series apart from Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
In My Life As A Book Derek is devastated to discover he will be required to READ and WRITE reports on 3 books from a SUMMER READING LIST. He quickly establishes with the reader that he does NOT like to read and the idea that he must use a portion of his joy-filled, free summer hours to do something he hates is a form of punishment. Derek is encouraged by his Learning Camp counselor to picture the characters and action while reading. This way reading becomes less about a book than it is about stories.
This one will be enjoyed by 3rd through middle school ages. It's an especially good choice for reluctant readers. It will give them a different perspective and an opportunity to identify with another like themselves. Derek's courage and success in facing his reading challenge is a great example for like-minded readers.
I really loved this--it is a great read alike for the kids who are past Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Derek is a more likable character than Greg, and this is a story with some depth and growth. Read this in an afternoon and loved it.