What do you think?
Rate this book
The Blade: Shellville High School Yearbook
The Shellville High School Yearbook
77 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
58 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 16, 2014
If you read one book about sheep in high school, make it "The Blade: Shellville High School."
December 23, 2018
I found a copy of this in a used book store when I was in high school, in the early 90s. I was on yearbook staff, and I thought it was HILARIOUS. I just spent way too much time on Google trying to remember the title (you'd be surprised how many results you get for "yearbook with sheep"). Worth it.
April 8, 2023
Pure, adorable, dramatic twist at the end. Either I've fully lost it or this will be my top read of the year. So good. 🐑
October 28, 2024
A yearbook for sheep. Incredible. No notes.
January 6, 2018
This is exactly what the title says it is. It's a high school yearbook for the small Midwestern town of Shellville. Only all of the faculty, staff, and students are sheep and goats!
From the warped mind of Don Novello (The Lazlo Letters, and SNL's Father Guido Sarducci) comes the weirdest book I have ever come across. Novello is a weirdo genius. Who else looks at a high school yearbook and decides that they'll make it better with sheep!?
I imagine that this book was murder to make. The old adage 'Never work with kids or animals' comes to mind here. How difficult must it have been to have all that livestock posing together in pictures. Plus Novello crafted a full lineup of characters here and to keep the sheep separate and distinct throughout the book takes a maddening amount of organizational skills.
From 1984, this book has a very strange cult following. While no longer in print, used copies can be found on Amazon and other online sites for upwards of $40 and more. That's a mark-up of over 100% of the original cover price. But it's rare and highly sought after.
From the warped mind of Don Novello (The Lazlo Letters, and SNL's Father Guido Sarducci) comes the weirdest book I have ever come across. Novello is a weirdo genius. Who else looks at a high school yearbook and decides that they'll make it better with sheep!?
I imagine that this book was murder to make. The old adage 'Never work with kids or animals' comes to mind here. How difficult must it have been to have all that livestock posing together in pictures. Plus Novello crafted a full lineup of characters here and to keep the sheep separate and distinct throughout the book takes a maddening amount of organizational skills.
From 1984, this book has a very strange cult following. While no longer in print, used copies can be found on Amazon and other online sites for upwards of $40 and more. That's a mark-up of over 100% of the original cover price. But it's rare and highly sought after.
January 20, 2018
This should never have gone out of print. From the accidentally-reversed images (high school photographer common darkroom mistake) to the local business ads in the back, it was spot on. But maybe it is outdated. I don't imagine the high school kids putting yearbooks together now (do kids still do that?) hanging out in the darkroom or having to, well, do anything the same as we did it back in the, well, whenever I did it. Thanks to the interlibrary loan dealio, I finally was able to read this book, and am most grateful. Thanks Don Novello. This is an outstanding book.
March 22, 2019
An absolute treasure for the ages. Reminds me of one afternoon spent with friends, literally laughing until we cried and our stomachs hurt.
May 22, 2025
Exquisite. I can't wait for the prophecies to come true. Really sad what happened to Betty though 🙏❤️🩹
"First in our class, last through the arch
There are those who say
Maybe if you didn't study so much
You'd still be alive today."
—Molly Taggart
"First in our class, last through the arch
There are those who say
Maybe if you didn't study so much
You'd still be alive today."
—Molly Taggart
June 17, 2025
Good old Shellville High School. Reread with my kids.
February 23, 2014
I could not recommend this book more. Both images and text are unbelievable, cover to cover. There are recurring themes throughout the book that are hysterical every time they appear, and the sheep - apparently some living, some stuffed - are brilliantly posed to enjoy all the common activities of the '80s teen: eating pizza, playing arcade games, using the pay phone, dressing for Halloween, lowriding in their cars. Look out for the tiny details, like a copy of Paul McCartney's "Ram" on the coffee table.
On the senior class trip:
"The four day hike trip through Two Tree State Park to One Rock and back was an experience none of us will ever forget for years to come. There were some scary moments when we thought we were lost (twice!), but we found our direction - or did it find us? - and all of us returned safely.
The highlight of the trip was the excitement of climbing and balancing of top of the famous One Rock itself, but many seniors enjoyed the fishing, frogging, and rafting almost as much.
Most class members saw flying saucers during the trip, and the record went to Merv Moss, who reported seeing forty-one space ships. Suzie Salazar was second with thirty-seven sightings. Joe Travis caught the biggest fish.
Molly Taggart stands on the spot where space aliens invited her into their spaceship. 'What impressed me the most about them,' said Molly, 'was that they didn't seem very smart.'
Of the trip, Bruce Merino also said, 'I know there were accusations that I hogged the raft, but I was also the one who blew it up and nobody mentions that.'"
On the senior class trip:
"The four day hike trip through Two Tree State Park to One Rock and back was an experience none of us will ever forget for years to come. There were some scary moments when we thought we were lost (twice!), but we found our direction - or did it find us? - and all of us returned safely.
The highlight of the trip was the excitement of climbing and balancing of top of the famous One Rock itself, but many seniors enjoyed the fishing, frogging, and rafting almost as much.
Most class members saw flying saucers during the trip, and the record went to Merv Moss, who reported seeing forty-one space ships. Suzie Salazar was second with thirty-seven sightings. Joe Travis caught the biggest fish.
Molly Taggart stands on the spot where space aliens invited her into their spaceship. 'What impressed me the most about them,' said Molly, 'was that they didn't seem very smart.'
Of the trip, Bruce Merino also said, 'I know there were accusations that I hogged the raft, but I was also the one who blew it up and nobody mentions that.'"
January 11, 2010
When I stumbled across this on my parents' book shelf a couple of years ago, I thought, wow this looks ridiculous. I opened it up, and giggled to the point of light-headed-ness. I also don't want to give anything away, so I will stop here, but if you have a chance to pick up a copy of this book, do it. It is delightful.
February 24, 2012
Hilarious! A brilliantly subtle satire of high school life, yearbooks and sheep. I first found this gem for a dollar in a used bookstore in Boston back in the 1980s and gave it away. I replaced it a few years later (50 cents this time) but someone borrowed and never returned it. Needless to say, I am on the hunt for my last - and final - copy!
June 6, 2010
I cannot express how many hours of laughter I got out of this book at the library where I worked in high school. I now own a copy and it is still genius. Truly before its time. If it came out now it would be a bestseller...
September 3, 2014
What a ripoff. They use a lot of the same sheep and put different names and stuff under the photos.
What, you say that a lot of sheep look alike to you? You're basically a racist--you know that, right?
What, you say that a lot of sheep look alike to you? You're basically a racist--you know that, right?
February 2, 2008
This is an absolutely brilliant parody of a high school yearbook. I don't want to give away it's central conceit, but it is astonishing. You will never be able to take a yearbook seriously again.
September 26, 2008
In all honesty, I can truly say I have never laughed as hard reading any book ever. Ever. It is truly a gem and worth paying a premium for on eBay if you haven't had the chance to read it.
April 25, 2014
I need a copy of this, so if you see it please purchase it for me.
UPDATE: It took me ten years to find an affordable copy of this, truly some of the funniest shit ever
UPDATE: It took me ten years to find an affordable copy of this, truly some of the funniest shit ever
May 14, 2014
My brother gave me this book when I was 10 -- it still ranks as one of the funniest books I have ever read in my life.
December 20, 2014
It probably would have been funnier if I'd seen in when it was published in 1984. Just doesn't stand the test of time.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews