Dear Mrs. Ryan, You're Ruining My Life

by Jennifer B. Jones

What do you do when your mother takes embarrassing moments from your life and includes them in books read by kids all over the country? If you're Harvey Ryan, you hatch a plan to focus your mother on something, or someone else. So Harvey decides to set his mom up with the only eligible man he knows, the school principal. But when his plan works, Harvey quickly realizes having his mother date his principal is even worse than her being a famous author. One mother can sure cause a lot of trouble in a boy's life.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2000

Reviews

[Katharine Ott · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Dear Mrs. Ryan, You're Ruining My Life" by Jennifer B. Jones, published in 2000. Fifth-grader Harvey Ryan and his best friend Seal (clever nickname for Cecilia from "an old song, like from the sixties, by these old singers named Simon and Garfunkel") hatch a plan to bring together Harvey's divorced mom and their principal, Mr. Stevens. As the plan unfolds, Harvey muses "Man,...keeping adults happy is a full-time job."

Jones has written an engaging novel written in a fashion that should appeal to middle-graders although Harvey and Seal seem a bit more adult in their sensibilities than the fifth-graders I know. In this debut novel, she comfortably captures the school vibe, "Teachers seem to have a sixth sense whenever trouble is brewing." and the easy sass that students pass back and forth.

[Justaliljelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice book

[Sami Mahon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dear Mrs Ryan, You're Ruining My Life by Jennifer B. Jones was an ok book. It wasn't really my type of book that I would really read because it was kinda too kid-ish for me.
This book was about a kid and his mom was a book author. so she would write all this stuff about the stupid little things he has done in his life. All of a sudden, his mom went into his class and meets his principal. He and his best tried to get his principal and his mom to date. It worked and then he did something that changed everyting.
I would recommend this book to maybe a 3-5 grader that likes baseball.

[Lauren D · Rating 3 out of 5]

this non fiction book is a about a boy that is in i think 7th grade. his mother is a writer she writes childrens books every year or so the boys teacher invites his mom to go and speak to the class about her books and he really hates that so he tries his hartest to convince his mom that he is sick and cant go to school. But it dosent work anymore because he tried that same exscuse all the time. so they both go to school and he gets imbarresesd.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harvey is a 5th-grade boy whose mother is a famous children's author who uses real events from his life as inspiration for her books. Mortified, Harvey and his best friend decide to set the mom up with the school principal so she'll be distracted from Harvey's antics. Of course, that romance leads to other ways a 5th-grade boy can be mortified. Lighthearted and funny.

[Mallie R · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is an intersting book. It's about a kid whose mom comes to his school evrey year to read a book and he is always embarrassed because her books are about him and everyone always laughs at him when she reads a book each year. I think it's funny how he always yells at the kids playing baseball at recess. I think you would like this book. :)

[JoAnna Smedley Vea · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, fun read for a 4th or 5th grader.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great read for middle grades, 4th graders particularly love it. Somewhat predictable, but my 3 different groups of 4th grade book clubs very much enjoyed it.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book for a kid who needs to strengthen a relationship with a parent. A quick fun read.

[Riley Carrier · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an OK book. It has a lot of things that you could relate to real life.

[Starling · Rating 3 out of 5]

halp I'm reading kids' books now lol

[Kate Golding · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read “Dear Mrs. Ryan You're Ruining My Life.” The main character is Harvey Ryan. His mom comes to his school every year and talks about the books she writes. The only problem is that she writes the books about Harvey, she just changes the names of the characters in the books. Harvey's best friend’s name is Seal. Harvey’s mom seems to like their principal and, Harvey’s parents are divorced. Harvey and seal think it will be god for his mom to date or something like that. So they make a plan to set their principal and harvey’s mom up. They start to hang out more and, go on dates. Harvey starts to get picked on because of a kid on an opposing baseball team saw the principal's car at Harvey’s house. He tells the school that Harvey’s mom and the principal are dating. Harvey denies this. His mom and the principal date for a long time and really like each other.

The book has good quality because it is written really well.