Title: The Losers ClubPublisher: Random House
Release Date: August 29, 2017
Pages: 250
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
Age Group: Middle Grade
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
The beloved New York Times bestselling author of the modern classic Frindle celebrates books and the joy of reading with a new school story to love! Sixth grader Alec can't put a good book down. So when Principal Vance lays down the law--pay attention in class, or else--Alec takes action. He can't lose all his reading time, so he starts a club. A club he intends to be the only member of. After all, reading isn't a team sport, and no one would want to join something called the Losers Club, right? But as more and more kids find their way to Alec's club--including his ex-friend turned bully and the girl Alec is maybe starting to like--Alec notices something. Real life might be messier than his favorite books, but it's just as interesting. With The Losers Club, Andrew Clements brings us a new school story that's a love letter to books and to reading and that reminds us that sometimes the best stories are the ones that happen off the page--our own!
"The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." - Dr. Seuss
This book was an ode and love letter to childhood reading. An enjoyable read, it is perfectly short, sweet, and great for middle grade readers and for both kids who already read voraciously and those that can't seem to figure what the big deal is?
The big deal, at least to Alec, is that he just can't stop reading because he gets lost in the story and is comforted by knowing what will happen next. It's why he's always getting in trouble and visiting the principal's office more times than he can count. In fact, the teachers have all decided that Alec needs to sit up front in the classroom so that he can be monitored. But his mind still wanders so he really can't catch a break.
That is, until his parents end up working late so he's required to stay after school where he's forced to join a club. But there are no clubs dedicated to reading so he decides to start one on his own, including the word "Losers" in the name so it would deter others from joining.
But the opposite ends up happening and as more kids get wind of Alec's Club, the more they want to join. We also see moments where Alec is growing up and becoming a better person, all because of teachings taught in the books he reads. It almost made me angry for Alec and kids like him because even though the teachers' praised his reading, they also punished him for it - and wouldn't incorporate reading into a school system be the better avenue?
I related so much with Alec as I, too, was a bookworm...sorry, BookHawk! Because Alec and some of the other kids discover that it's okay to stay true to who you are and there's no time to waste on shame. This book is also about being open to different types of people, to be compassionate, to be kind - all great and necessary lessons.
What a wonderful read and I thank Random House for an advanced copy in exchange for this honest review!
I think this sounds really good. I have 2 kids still at home, and only one of them likes to read. Trying to get my son to read is like pulling teeth. Glad you enjoyed this!
ReplyDeleteHi Jenea. Maybe they'll like this one because I think it has the amazing ability to pull in the reluctant reader.
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