Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading

Greenwald, T. (2012). Charlie Joe Jackson’s guide to not reading. (Coovert, J. P. illus). Square Fish. 240 pages. ISBN 9781250003379

Primary genre: realistic fiction

Other elements: humor, friendship, family, romance

Intended reader age: 9 and up

Synopsis:

Charlie Joe is extremely proud of the fact that he has not once, in his entire school career, read a single book for class reading. He and his friend, Timmy, have an arrangement: Charlie supplies him with additional snacks and he gives Charlie a summary of the book. This arrangement was been working wonderfully for years. But, right in the middle of the 6^th grade year Timmy changes the rules. Instead of finally taking over his reading, Charlie gives everything he has to getting his old arrangement back. But, with the end of the school year quickly approaching along with the Position Paper Charlie is going to have to come up with something amazing to get someone to read all those books for him.

Review:

Charlie Joe was an engaging narrator for his story but there were a couple of times where it felt like he was older than his years. I think the most amazing (unbelievable) thing to happen was when he was giving his position paper. In what middle school are students expected to recall the location of particular quotes and passages in books that they have read. I can usually recall the location of certain passages, but that is always in relation to other material in the book. I cannot, at the drop of a hat, spout the chapter, chapter title, and page of those quotes. So, that was the biggest I-can’t-continue-this-suspension-of-disbelief moment for me in the book.

This book does have the ability to become dated very quickly. There are a number of technology references that are perfect for this day and age but fast changes that face technology will result in them being outdated.

One thing that I would like to talk about, especially in regards to the intended (non)readers, is the ability for the main content of the story to be presented in a different way. Through the novel the main character apologizes for the “book” tone that sometimes enters the story. But, if the author was really looking to create a book for readers that do not enjoy traditional literature they could have found a way to do this. But, the joke at the end, where the author congratulates the readers for finishing a book, does lessen those thoughts.

There are now two other books chronicle the life of Charlie Joe: Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Extra Credit and Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Summer Vacation. Otherwise this one did also remind me of My Life as a Book as well as this new round of books attempting to appeal to readers of the Wimpy Kid series.