What do you think?
Rate this book
Misadventures of Guy Strang #1
Regular Guy (Regular Guy
Guy is convinced that the man and woman with whom he has lived all his life cannot possibly be what they claim to be--his parents. They're too weird! Would anyone else's mother tie-dye every pair of underwear in the house? Would anyone else's father perform the famous oyster trick by sucking an oyster up his nose with a horrible noise and spitting it out of his mouth--in a restaurant? No--except maybe the parents of the weirdest, craziest, most unappealing kid in Guy's whole class, Bob-o. But Bob-o's parents are as normal as parents come--just like Guy. This gives Guy food for thought, especially when he finds out that he and Bob-o have the same birthday, and were born in the same hospital! Guy and his best friend Buzz are determined to find out the truth about what really took place the day Guy and Bob-o were born. Readers will delight in Weeks's humorous yet sensitive handling of this classic adolescent phase--the search for identity.
00-01 Texas Bluebonnet Award Masterlist
Kindle Edition
First published May 4, 1999
29 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Weeks
102 books507 followersSarah Weeks has been writing children’s books and songs for the past twenty years. She is a graduate of Hampshire College and NYU and recently became an adjunct faculty member in the prestigious Writing Program at the New School University, in New York City.
Her first YA novel, So B. It, which appeared on the LA Times bestseller list was chosen as an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and received the 2004 Parent’s Choice Gold Award. In addition to being an author, Sarah is an accomplished singer/songwriter. She has written for television, stage and screen and a number of her picturebooks include songs which she both writes and sings for the accompanying CD’s. Sarah's titles have sold well over a million copies, including several foreign editions.
Sarah is a tireless promoter, visiting schools throughout the country, serving as author-in-residence and speaking to teachers and librarians at national conferences including IRA, ALA and NCTE. She lives in New York City with her two teenage sons.
Her first YA novel, So B. It, which appeared on the LA Times bestseller list was chosen as an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and received the 2004 Parent’s Choice Gold Award. In addition to being an author, Sarah is an accomplished singer/songwriter. She has written for television, stage and screen and a number of her picturebooks include songs which she both writes and sings for the accompanying CD’s. Sarah's titles have sold well over a million copies, including several foreign editions.
Sarah is a tireless promoter, visiting schools throughout the country, serving as author-in-residence and speaking to teachers and librarians at national conferences including IRA, ALA and NCTE. She lives in New York City with her two teenage sons.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 5, 2013
Weird....... But really good
Did you realize that almost every book teaches you a lesson..
This lesson is you aren't always right.
(This my opinion of what the lesson is)
Did you realize that almost every book teaches you a lesson..
This lesson is you aren't always right.
(This my opinion of what the lesson is)
April 25, 2025
This is another book from my childhood that I've thought about often and don't really know why.
As soon as I started this one I had myself wondering what I had ever liked about it.
For one thing, Guy's a complete jerk. Like, just plain mean in that way all middle school kids can be. He's also DUMB as rocks. I'm sorry, but when I was 11 I didn't jump to a conclusion like "I was switched at birth" just because my parents and I were different in a lot of ways. The logic in this book is just ridiculous and made me mad this time around, especially since the family he WANTS to be in gives weird Stepford vibes.
Not sure if I picked this out for myself at a book fair or if it was gifted to me as a child, but I don't think I need to keep this one. Good riddance, Guy - it's off to the thrift store with you.
(Also side note: there were some WEIRD innuendos at the end of this book about why parents absolutely need to knock on their 11 year old son's bedroom doors before entering. Like, Guy's friend Buzz made MULTIPLE pointed statements about it and tonally it was just gross. It was weird and I didn't like it.)
As soon as I started this one I had myself wondering what I had ever liked about it.
For one thing, Guy's a complete jerk. Like, just plain mean in that way all middle school kids can be. He's also DUMB as rocks. I'm sorry, but when I was 11 I didn't jump to a conclusion like "I was switched at birth" just because my parents and I were different in a lot of ways. The logic in this book is just ridiculous and made me mad this time around, especially since the family he WANTS to be in gives weird Stepford vibes.
Not sure if I picked this out for myself at a book fair or if it was gifted to me as a child, but I don't think I need to keep this one. Good riddance, Guy - it's off to the thrift store with you.
(Also side note: there were some WEIRD innuendos at the end of this book about why parents absolutely need to knock on their 11 year old son's bedroom doors before entering. Like, Guy's friend Buzz made MULTIPLE pointed statements about it and tonally it was just gross. It was weird and I didn't like it.)
August 7, 2018
This book is really good. It is about a boy named Guy who thinks his mom and dad that lived with him his whole entire life, might not be his real parents. A very freaky guy in his class's parents look very similar to him and the freaky guy looks like his parents. So, they make a plan for them to stay at each other's house to test if the freaky guy's parents are his real parents. When they go there, it is a totally disaster!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will not spoil the rest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 22, 2017
Because he is so different from his eccentric parents, 12-year-old Guy is convinced he has been switched at birth. When he discovers that Bob-O, a very strange student with rather normal-acting parents, was born on the same day in the same hospital, Guy thinks he's found the answer. So he and best friend, Buzz, devise a plan for Guy and Bob-O to switch places for the weekend.
A cute, quick read.
A cute, quick read.
May 16, 2020
I support independent bookstores. You can use this link to find one near you: http://www.indiebound.org
August 31, 2022
A good quick read if you want something "not-so-serious."
March 16, 2008
REGUALR GUY by Sarah Weeks is a fiction book and it's told in 1st person. Guy Strang a 12 year old who is the main character in the 6th grade feels that he is very different from his parents.They act totally weird and really are like crazy, weird, outgoing parents. He thinks he was adopted or raised by wolves or switched with another child at birth. While he has straight brown hair his parents have red curled hair and both have eyesight problems while he has none. His bestfriend who is a boy named Buzz, gives him an idea to find out if they are his real parents because since he doesn't look exactly or nearly like his parents whatsoever he wants to find the truth. They try to find out who his real poaretns are by finding out the other kid that has his same birthday(who goes to the same school,was born in the same hospital and has the same birthday) They find out one kid with the same everything except the parents and his look. His name is Robert Smith it doesn't fit him they call him
Bob-O...he has bad eyesight and has red curled hair while his parents both have good eyesight and straight brown hair.Sound Strange? So he meets up with this "weird" kid in the 6th grade with them and he tells him what he thinks and they make up a plan as aa homework to see what happens and find out if they are really with the wrong parents. They tell their parents that it's a homework assignment to walk in each other shoes and live with the others family for the weekend.What he finds out is that Bob-O's parents are actually noy normal they are way quiet and peaceful which is boring because they never spend time with their kid.....that's why Bob-O acts strange because he has noone at home to be there for him. All weekend Bob-O's parents was work around the house silently and read magazines for their spare time. Nothing to do with a kid. On the other hand he really started missing his parents. While he always wanted normal parents and not his parents because they are weird he really wanted to be at home with his parents. Bob-O is having alot of fun because Guy's parents are always their for him and they are also fun because everything they do is fun....which for the first time in Bob-O's life he is relaxed with them. Their parents find out that this is not a homework assignment and confront Guy....He explains everything to them and Bob-O's parents. Guy's mom tell them and shows them things to show that they are really with the real parents. Guy is glad becuase he missed his REAL parents! yes, the weird looking bad eyesight, and red curled hair are his parents. Bob-O who was the lonley kid started hanging out with Buzz and Guy after that day and became friends. Guy is glad that he is home and is sorry that he could've ever doubted his crazy parents.
This book is really good. The author was great at writing and telling this story. From the begginig to the end it kept me interested. I could feel exactly all the emotions all the characters were feeling. I think she wrote this book because maybe to show that sometimes kids think things that are true and also to entertain us with this story. I gave this booka 5 out of 5 stars because it caught me by surprise out the end because i thought his parents weren't really his parents and that he did accidently did get switched at birth. But it was good because the ending was good i wouldv'e felt the same way also this book was understanding, interesting and very entertaining.I would recommend this book to anybody.
Bob-O...he has bad eyesight and has red curled hair while his parents both have good eyesight and straight brown hair.Sound Strange? So he meets up with this "weird" kid in the 6th grade with them and he tells him what he thinks and they make up a plan as aa homework to see what happens and find out if they are really with the wrong parents. They tell their parents that it's a homework assignment to walk in each other shoes and live with the others family for the weekend.What he finds out is that Bob-O's parents are actually noy normal they are way quiet and peaceful which is boring because they never spend time with their kid.....that's why Bob-O acts strange because he has noone at home to be there for him. All weekend Bob-O's parents was work around the house silently and read magazines for their spare time. Nothing to do with a kid. On the other hand he really started missing his parents. While he always wanted normal parents and not his parents because they are weird he really wanted to be at home with his parents. Bob-O is having alot of fun because Guy's parents are always their for him and they are also fun because everything they do is fun....which for the first time in Bob-O's life he is relaxed with them. Their parents find out that this is not a homework assignment and confront Guy....He explains everything to them and Bob-O's parents. Guy's mom tell them and shows them things to show that they are really with the real parents. Guy is glad becuase he missed his REAL parents! yes, the weird looking bad eyesight, and red curled hair are his parents. Bob-O who was the lonley kid started hanging out with Buzz and Guy after that day and became friends. Guy is glad that he is home and is sorry that he could've ever doubted his crazy parents.
This book is really good. The author was great at writing and telling this story. From the begginig to the end it kept me interested. I could feel exactly all the emotions all the characters were feeling. I think she wrote this book because maybe to show that sometimes kids think things that are true and also to entertain us with this story. I gave this booka 5 out of 5 stars because it caught me by surprise out the end because i thought his parents weren't really his parents and that he did accidently did get switched at birth. But it was good because the ending was good i wouldv'e felt the same way also this book was understanding, interesting and very entertaining.I would recommend this book to anybody.
July 31, 2014
A Chewy, Sweet Center With A Sour Coating
Guy Strang, who is a regular, well, guy, has profoundly weird and wacky parents. Bob-o, Guy's classmate, is a deeply odd kid, who has absolutely normal parents. When Guy becomes fed up with his parents, and then finds out that he and Bob-o were born on the same day in the same hospital, Guy becomes obsessed with the idea that he and Bob-o were switched at birth, and plots to undo this tragic switch.
Now, that's a fine premise and it lends itself to all sorts of hijinks, but the author's approach is particularly interesting.
I almost gave up on this book a quarter of the way in. Guy whines and moans relentlessly about how weird and annoying his parents are. Some of his whinging is clever and sharply observed, but it starts to get so over the top that it becomes wearing. Along the same lines, the description of Bob-o as a completely worthless, smelly, mumbling loser runs right up to the edge of charmless and mean.
Luckily, the book shifts gears once those two points have been hammered home. It lightens up, gets a lot more interesting, drifts into some slapstick, and then builds to an amusing, upbeat and actually touching conclusion.
SPOILERS: Once Guy engineers a temporary swap of families, (as a supposed school project), and has to live in Bob-o's shoes he begins to understand about where, exactly, the grass really is greenest. There are a number of touching conversations between Guy and Bob-o and between Guy and his parents, and everyone emerges wiser, better, and more appealing by the end. SPOILERS OVER.
There are some truly funny moments and set pieces in this book. Guy's exchanges with his acerbic best friend Buzz are particularly clever, and some stand alone scenes, (like a joint family picnic), are very nicely constructed. The development of Guy's understanding of family, and the growth of the Bob-o character are both rewarding and satisfying, although never approached in a heavy-handed way. The author seemed to back off and just let the story coast to a happy ending, which felt like just the right choice.
So, it's funny, it grows on you, and it wraps up in a very satisfying manner. A very nice find.
Please note that I found this book while browsing in our local library. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
Guy Strang, who is a regular, well, guy, has profoundly weird and wacky parents. Bob-o, Guy's classmate, is a deeply odd kid, who has absolutely normal parents. When Guy becomes fed up with his parents, and then finds out that he and Bob-o were born on the same day in the same hospital, Guy becomes obsessed with the idea that he and Bob-o were switched at birth, and plots to undo this tragic switch.
Now, that's a fine premise and it lends itself to all sorts of hijinks, but the author's approach is particularly interesting.
I almost gave up on this book a quarter of the way in. Guy whines and moans relentlessly about how weird and annoying his parents are. Some of his whinging is clever and sharply observed, but it starts to get so over the top that it becomes wearing. Along the same lines, the description of Bob-o as a completely worthless, smelly, mumbling loser runs right up to the edge of charmless and mean.
Luckily, the book shifts gears once those two points have been hammered home. It lightens up, gets a lot more interesting, drifts into some slapstick, and then builds to an amusing, upbeat and actually touching conclusion.
SPOILERS: Once Guy engineers a temporary swap of families, (as a supposed school project), and has to live in Bob-o's shoes he begins to understand about where, exactly, the grass really is greenest. There are a number of touching conversations between Guy and Bob-o and between Guy and his parents, and everyone emerges wiser, better, and more appealing by the end. SPOILERS OVER.
There are some truly funny moments and set pieces in this book. Guy's exchanges with his acerbic best friend Buzz are particularly clever, and some stand alone scenes, (like a joint family picnic), are very nicely constructed. The development of Guy's understanding of family, and the growth of the Bob-o character are both rewarding and satisfying, although never approached in a heavy-handed way. The author seemed to back off and just let the story coast to a happy ending, which felt like just the right choice.
So, it's funny, it grows on you, and it wraps up in a very satisfying manner. A very nice find.
Please note that I found this book while browsing in our local library. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
May 21, 2016
Guy Strang is embarrassed by his parents and concocts a fantasy where he was switched at birth, pointing to the pairing of an awkward classmate with what appear to be cool, normal parents. This prompts him and a friend to come up with a scheme to reveal how he and the other boy had been switched.
Once he does get a chance to be with the "normal" family, he finds out that he misses his embarrassing family and sees how the weird kid needs a friend. As it turns out, they were not switched at birth.
The fear or idea that your parents really aren't your parents--that you've been adopted, switched, kidnapped, what have you--is a fairly common one, particularly at the age of the target audience where they are just starting to branch out and decide their own identities. It plays to its strengths and has a nice story about making friends thrown in as well, but, reading it as an adult, I found it to be very predictable.
Once he does get a chance to be with the "normal" family, he finds out that he misses his embarrassing family and sees how the weird kid needs a friend. As it turns out, they were not switched at birth.
The fear or idea that your parents really aren't your parents--that you've been adopted, switched, kidnapped, what have you--is a fairly common one, particularly at the age of the target audience where they are just starting to branch out and decide their own identities. It plays to its strengths and has a nice story about making friends thrown in as well, but, reading it as an adult, I found it to be very predictable.
November 23, 2013
Twelve year old Guy thinks there must have been a mixup at birth. He could not possibly belong to his very strange and embarrassing parents. He is convinced his real parents are the Smiths who live around the block. He arranges a switch weekend and he spends the weekend with the very normal Smiths while Bobby Smith spends the weekend with Guy's parents. A lesson is learned and Guy learns a thing or two about the importance of your identity. This is a quick read at only 120 pages. I read it in one sitting and the more I read, the more the story grew on me. At first I thought it was a bit too wacky, but by the middle of the book I was thoroughly enjoying it. There is also a good message for kids about taking time to understand and appreciate classmates who appear different than they are.
January 16, 2010
Guy is a twelve year old boy whose parents are quite eccentric. He thinks that he can't really be their son as he does not have these eccentric tendencies. He and his friend, Buzz discover that Bob-o, the weirdest boy in their class has the same birthday as Guy and was born at the same hospital. Guy and Buzz are sure that the boys got mixed up in the hospital and go about trying to prove this. Although I liked the idea for this story, I thought that it was a bit far fetched. Guy's parents are eccentric beyond belief and Bob-o's parents are so extremely dull. It just didn't ring true for me at all.
November 26, 2012
Meet Guy Strang, I regular guy with very strange parents. Go with him on his search to find out if he was really switched at birth. Are Bob-o's parents his real parents? Is he really just trying to find himself? Did his mom kill Bob-o? Find out it this relate able book about a young boy who is trying to find his true identity. This book is great to teach others that it is okay to ask questions. If you are unsure of something, just ask. If you make crazy assumptions, it will probably end up hurting you more than anyone else.
July 25, 2013
This is a fun small chapter book for 3rd-6th graders, especially those not enthusiastic about starting larger books. Guy is a normal boy who suspects that he may have been switched at birth. There is no way that he could possibly be related to his quirky eccentric parents. Surely his normal parents are out there and won't tie-dye his tidy-whities? After some serious sleuthing through the school records he finds out that a classmate shares his exact same birthday and birthplace. Could he possible get the life he was intended to live?
February 22, 2012
Guy is convinced there must have been a mix-up at the hospital the day he was born. How could such a normal guy have such totally weird parents. Guy with his best friend discover that strange Bob-o Smith was born on Guy's birthday in the same hospital. Voila, he was right. Now how to correct the mistake and convince both boy's parents to claim their true off-spring.
July 24, 2016
At the beginning of the story, Guy, the main character thought his parents are not real parents because they are too different from Guy. Of course, they were Guy's real parents and through this event, Guy learned that his parents love him more than he thought. Also, this makes me think about my mom. She always arguing with me, but also she loves me that much.
January 10, 2011
First in the series of the Guy books, this is an easy and entertaining read that both girls and boys would enjoy. Kids who have ever... (click for full review http://www.storysnoops.com/detail.php...)
April 14, 2011
I recently got to hear Sarah Weeks speak at Spotlight on Books. When she read an excerpt from her Regular Guy series, I knew I had to read these books and share them with my sons. These are great pre-teen/early teen boy books.
October 22, 2011
Guy is perfectly sane and normal, although his 'free-spirited' family may be driving him off the deep end. it seems impossible to think he's even related to them....and maybe he's really not. Sarah Weeks explores the they-can't-be-relate-to-me phase we all go through. a really great fun read.
March 12, 2013
I think the book was great because it describes a story between two boys whom have thought to been switch at birth but finds out the reason why or how you can tell between there look alike. That why i thought the book was great.
June 3, 2015
Very sweet, fast-paced precursor to Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Big Nate series. Most kids feel like they have been born into the wrong family at some point in their lives so this book has broad appeal and is a great read aloud.
February 21, 2008
this series is interesting to read, although I wouldn't call it an amazing book.
November 13, 2008
This is a good book so far!
December 2, 2009
Anyone who has felt different from their family will enjoy this book.
June 2, 2010
A cute little book for maybe mid to upper elem. age. Who hasn't thought that they couldn't POSSIBLY belong to their parents?
Read
January 15, 2011NICE
January 18, 2011
this book is amazing
June 1, 2011
Very slow! Great ending.
June 17, 2012
Listened to this book on a road trip with my mom and son. He actually followed along and voiced his disagreement when I turned it off to take a break.
March 1, 2013
I think every kid at some point thinks there parents are weird or unusual.
So, this was a good book to me. I'm interested in seeing how my son rates it.
So, this was a good book to me. I'm interested in seeing how my son rates it.
August 2, 2014
it was ok i like how Guy thought he lived with another boys family. He learned after that he only wanted a family that was.....FUN!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews