My Life as a Book

by Tashjian, Janet; Tashjian, Jake

• ISBN13: 9780805089035
• ISBN10: 0805089039
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-07-06
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

Summary

Summer's finally here, but when Derek Fallon's parents decide to send him to Learning Camp, his dreams of fun come to an end. Derek soon realizes that adventures and surprises are around the corner, complete with curve balls. Illustrations.

Author Biography

Janet Tashjian is the author of many popular novels including Larry and the Meaning of Life; Vote for Larry; The Gospel According to Larry; Fault Line; Multiple Choice; and Tru Confessions. She lives with her family in Los Angeles, California.

 

www.janettashjian.com

 

Jake Tashjian has been drawing pictures of his vocabulary words since he was a kid (he’s now fourteen), and has a stack of index cards taller than a house.

Table of Contents

“This book is visually appealing to reluctant readers and shows that all kinds of stories can surprise us.” –Chicago Tribune

 

“Janet Tashjian, known for her young adult books, offers a novel that’s part Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2007), part intriguing mystery; yet the best element here is really the first-person voice, which captures so completely the pushes and pulls in the life of someone with learning disabilities . . . . Give this to kids who think they don’t like reading. It might change their minds.” –Starred, Booklist

“Amusing stick figures accompany Derek’s narration, dutifully following his teacher’s suggestion of animating any difficult vocabulary word.” –Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Sure to engage fans of Jeff Kinney’s “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” books (Abrams) as well as those looking for a spunky, contemporary boy with a mystery to solve.” –School Library Journal

"[The] illustrations, drawn by Tashjian's 14-year-old son, Jake, are quite clever." -Publishers Weekly

 

“A kinder, gentler Wimpy Kid with all the fun and more plot.” —Starred, Kirkus Reviews

“My Life as a Book is a fabulous, fast-paced choice for reluctant and avid readers alike.” —BookPage

“Cartoon drawings by the author's teenaged son decorate the margins and not only re-create Derek's illustrated vocabulary lists but also reduce the amount of text on each page, making the book more approachable for kids like Derek. Derek tells readers, "If my life were a book, I'd have my own cool adventures." It is, and he does.” –Horn Book