Summary: Charlie Joe doesn’t read. Period.
He has found ways to avoid it his whole life. He starts the book with all kinds of tips to
avoid reading that have worked for him, like suggestions about reading the
beginning chapter, the ending chapter, and a few pages in the middle. For book reports, he relies on his friend
Timmy to read it and tell him about it.
When Timmy no longer agrees to help Charlie Joe, he finds himself in a
dilemma. With the drama of lacrosse and
Eliza, the prettiest girl in school, Charlie finally attempts to convince his
sister to read the book for him. When
his plan goes awry, his options are to read books and report over them or write
one. The book he writes becomes the book
we read. Impressions: I listened to
the audio version of this book, so I can’t vouch for the illustrations. It was an adorable book that I thought would
appeal to most reluctant readers. All of
us, at one time or another, have tried one of Charlie Joe’s methods for not
reading a book. For me, it was the
Cliff’s notes for Brave New World in
high school. Suggestions for library
setting: I had purchased one copy of
this book for our library before this class.
As soon as I finished reading it, I immediately got another copy and
convinced my reading department chair to read it as well as my friend who
teaches reading recovery. She ended up deciding
to use the book with her class.
Greenwald,
Tom. (2011). Charlie Joe Jackson's
guide to not reading. New York:
Roaring Brook.
Fans
of Wimpy Kid, take note that there's another non-reading middle schooler with
attitude in town Charlie Joe
proudly proclaims that he has only read one book cover to cover and intends
never to do so again. Including 25 tips on how to read as little as possible, Charlie Joe describes his
shenanigans in order to not read a book in its entirety for his position paper
about school cliques. With twists and turns aplenty, he is brought down by his
own finagling and scheming. Greenwald's use of first person draws the reader
in, and the action of the book makes it a fine choice for a read-aloud.
Cartoony ink illustrations are lightly sprinkled throughout, adding chuckles
and punch to the text. Non-readers and readers alike will enjoy this debut
novel. Hopefully we'll see more from Charlie Joe.
Bange,
S. (2011). Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading. Library Media
Connection, 30(3), 66-67.
Charlie
Joe will do just about anything to avoid reading in this humorous cautionary
tale for book-hating middle-grade students.
Debut author Greenwald takes on the persona of Charlie Joe Jackson, a
middle-school boy who hates reading. His avoidance techniques get him into
serious trouble with his parents, his teachers and his friends. After a year of
avoiding reading—paying off a friend in ice-cream sandwiches to read books for
him and manipulating his friends so he won’t have to read for the all-important
position-paper project—Charlie Joe is forced to spend his summer vacation
writing a book about his poor choices. Charlie Joe’s insider knowledge of the
inner machinations of middle-school cliques will make younger readers smile in
anticipation, and his direct address to readers makes make him feel like an
older buddy showing the way. Sprinkled into the narrative are “Charlie Joe’s
Tips” to avoiding reading books, written on faux notebook paper, that serve as
a little diversion from the plot. As amusing as this is, Charlie Joe’s voice is
not consistent and occasionally jars with the intelligent, smart-guy sarcasm
that characterizes most of Charlie Joe’s prose.
That
aside, slackers everywhere have a new, likable hero in Charlie Joe Jackson.Charlie Joe Jackson’s guide to not reading. (June 15, 2011). Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved from:
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/tommy-greenwald/charlie-joe-jacksons-guide-not-reading/
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