My Life as a Joke

My Life #4

by Janet Tashjian, Jake Tashjian (Illustrator)

Derek Fallon discovers all the angst that comes with being twelve—he just wants to feel grown up, but life gets in the way with a series of mishaps that make him look like a baby. He passes out during a worm dissection in science class, falls flat on his face in gym class and gets a fat lip that causes him to lisp all day, and his plans for a monster-truck party turn into a bouncy house disaster. Why isn't being in middle school as great as Derek imagined? Thankfully, with a little help from his friends—and, ironically, a Toys for Tots fundraiser—things seem like they could start shaping up at last.

My Life as a Joke by Janet and Jake Tashjian is a Christy Ottaviano Book

Genres: Middle Grade, Humor, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, School, Childrens, Juvenile

272 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2014

About the author

Janet Tashjian is a middle-grade and young adult novelist who’s been writing books for children for fifteen years. Her first novel Tru Confessions was made into a critically acclaimed Disney TV movie starring Clara Bryant and Shia LaBeouf. The Gospel According to Larry is a cult favorite and Fault Line is taught in many middle and high schools. Her novels My Life As a Book, My Life As a Stuntboy, and My Life As a Cartoonist are all illustrated by her teenage son, Jake. Their collaboration continues with Einstein the Class Hamster coming in August.

Janet lives with her family in Los Angeles, enjoying her respite from the long Boston winters. When she isn’t writing, she’s rewriting.

Janet has been doing school visits for fifteen years; you can email her at spatulaproductions@mac.com for details.

We invite you to follow her on Twitter @JanetTashjian and like her books on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Lif...
https://www.facebook.com/ForWhatItsWo...

Plus, check out her YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/janettash...

Reviews

[Chesco the egg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny book!

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

ar book level 5.2

[Cris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Derek makes a New Years Resolution to take things more seriously, can he succeed?

Derek in his attempt to be more serious, volunteers for the toy drive for the children’s home. True to Derek, he’s late for the meeting and is given dolls. Great for a middle school boy! The fun starts their but lessons are learned.


I really love this series. Derek is such a typical kid. He makes true to life mistakes a child would make. His friends are true friends, they stand by him but tell him when he’s wrong. Great lessons to learn in each book.

[Victor Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

have you ever wanted to own a monkey and have lots of money in this book you have that and many plenty hilarious chapters. the genre is realistic fiction because what happens in the book can certainly happen in real life. The conflict is person vs person because Derek is vs another person or has a problem with another person. For example derek is vs many people because of the mistakes he makes and then he has too fix them. So its person vs person




A summary of the book is that it was new years and Derek made a resolution to be more mature. So Derek went to help kids that don't have toys by . collecting them and he was assigned to collect dolls so he collected the dolls. Then Derek had an idea to sell a doll which was a baby Karen by using Matt's older brothers account and he saws on eBay that they were worth 298 dollars so next he got that money and spent it on a monster truck. But then they brought him a bouncy house monster truck. Then Derek gets a complain from Matt's older brother saying. The person who bought the baby Karen wants a refund and the complain said it doesn't have the black purse so its not complete and i paid so much because you said it was brand new. So Derek Had to get all that money back after he just spent it. The conflict is person vs person because he owes Matt's brother money and a refund to the girl who bought the baby Karen doll. The theme is don't say or do something if your not going to do so. For example Derek said he was going to be more mature and he didn't. Also he said that the baby Karen was complete so don't do things your not going to do or say.


I was surprised when Derek made a decision to be more mature and that he met his favorite skater Tony Hawk. I was satisfied when Derek was able to pay back the girl he ripped off so he wouldn't ruin mats brothers business with a bad eBay rating. I also was surprised when Derek neighbor got lost and he was in charge of her.



The third person point of view would change the story's point of view because you wouldn't know only Derek thoughts you would know all his friends thought and know a lot more than just Derek thoughts. The major event that changed the character was when he made the new years resolution because then he had to follow that resolution which changed him. The title doesn't relate to the book at all its a totally different scenario.






I would rate this book 5 out of five because it is funny not to long but long enough to write a review and the writing is very good. I would recommend this book to people who love hilarious books fast and just overall great. So if you like monkeys hilarious books this is the book for you.

[Coralinaae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Świetna książka dla dzieci, o odpowiedzialności, którą trzeba ponieść za swoje błędy i o tym, że zawsze jest jakieś wyjście tylko trzeba chcieć i się postarać. Zgadzam się z tym co jest napisane na okładce - " Dla fanów Dziennika Cwaniaczka".

3,75/5⭐

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

"My New Year's resolution is to take things more seriously."

Derek Fallon more mature? Carly can't believe her ears, but Derek is determined. Things start out with a bang as Derek volunteers to help with the Toy Drive for the Children's Shelter - that's good. But, because he's late for the meeting, he ends up in charge of collecting dolls - that's bad. Then someone donates a "Baby Karen" doll that could be worth a lot of money - that's good. Then he and Matt try to sell it on Ebay using Matt's brother account - that's bad. This sets in motion a chain of events that leads to Derek owing someone a lot of money and having no way to pay it. He's about to get a "life lesson" in more ways than one.

Derek's struggles should resonate with students. He wants to be treated more like an adult, but still can't deny his "joker" impulses at times. But Derek has a good heart and good friends that help him keep on track (most of the time!)

Themes: friendship, responsibility

[Troythorsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Derek, the average teen, is tired of being treated like a child. In the spur of the moment he told one of his friends, Carly, his New Year's resolution. "My New Year's resolution is to take things more seriously." One day in class, Carly held Derek up to this resolution, when the teacher asked for volunteers for a toy drive. He ends up being the joke of the school, as he ended up having to collect dolls. It's truly hilarious reading about a teenager trying to be mature while having so many complex incidents, such as not getting what you payed for, debt, and trying to just stay afloat.

When Derek volunteered for the toy drive, he had no idea what he was in for. When he was babysitting he was told by the parent that one of the dolls that were donated was worth a very pretty penny. Because of this, he decided to keep it, hoping to make a quick dollar. It turns out he got over $200 for it, but he didn't realize there was a part missing. The buyer demanded a refund, but Derek already spent his teenage fortune. His mom refused to bail him as he made a resolution to be grown up. He ended up learning a very tough lesson from this. It's that growing up isn't easy, as you have to be fully liable and aware for your actions.

He ended up having the fundraiser leader (in which he despised of) give him financial aid in exchange for some help. The irony that the person that you dislike ends up being the person that saves your rear end is truly comical. This gives the great point that there is always an honest, not always the easiest, way to right a past wrong.

I really enjoyed this book. The irony, the comicality, the characters, and situations are all so relatable. I suggest it for all readers that enjoy a good laugh. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

[Петър Панчев · Rating 4 out of 5]

Дерек дава зрели обещания, но не винаги улучва в целта
(Цялото ревю е тук: https://knijenpetar.wordpress.com/201...)

Време ми беше за още едно от шантавите приключения на Дерек Фалън. След доста голяма почивка, започвам приключение четири, което носи несимпатичното заглавие „Животът ми като смотльо“ („Софтпрес“, 2016, с превод на Виктория Иванова). Видях деца, които се мръщят на заглавието, случайно приятелите им да не ги помислят за смотльовци. :D Истината е, че точно тази книжка помага да разберем защо се случват смехотворните провали и какво преживяват аутсайдерите, макар да са си съвсем нормални хлапета. Героят Дерек се жертва и влиза за кратко в тази роля.

Макар да не чета често тийн и детски книжки, няма сила, която да ме откаже от тях. Често наблюдавам родителите, които избират заглавия за децата си и си мисля, че им трябва повече информация за богатството от теми в този така специфичен сектор, насочен към младите читатели. Все едно единствените книги, които съществуват са на Рик Риърдън, Дж. К. Роулинг и Джеф Кини. Нищо против най-известните сред тийнейджърите и родителите им книги, но с тях не се изчерпва богатството на книжния пазар за тази възраст. Откакто прочетох първите три книжки за Дерек („Животът ми като таен агент“ (https://knijenpetar.wordpress.com/201...), Животът ми като екшън герой“ (https://knijenpetar.wordpress.com/201...) и „Животът ми като автор на комикси“ (https://knijenpetar.wordpress.com/201...), ми стана ясно, книжките от тази поредица са не само интригуващи и сюжетно обогатени, но и смислени, ако става въпрос да научат подрастващите на нещо. Вече писах какви щуротии тормозят Дерек в предните книги, затова се насочвам към настоящата.
(Продължава в блога: https://knijenpetar.wordpress.com/201...)

[Книжни Криле · Rating 4 out of 5]

От таен агент и екшън герой до смотльо?! Ама как така! Дерек Фалън, какво се случи? Ей сега ще разберем, от книга 4 от поредицата „Историите на Дерек” на Джанет Тажиян. Оказва се, че времето за детинщини е отминало! С настъпването на Нова година младият Дерек е твърдо решен да започне и една нова глава от живота си. Всъщност, то си е цяла нова книга - „Животът ми като смотльо“ (изд. „Софтпрес“). На Дерек му хрумва, че му е крайно време да порасне и да се радва на свободата и самостоятелността, с които разполагат възрастните. Но уви, съвсем скоро ще научи, че привилегиите вървят ръка за ръка с цял куп задължения. Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле":
https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Derek is trying to act more mature by doing some good deeds: babysitting, community service, helping his elderly neighbor. But, things go awry and good deeds can turn into a joke...well, for Derek anyway.

Yet, they can turn around again and a community service project can turn into a money-making scheme, can turn into a irate customer, can turn into a meeting with a hero. But, in the end, Derek realizes that helping his elderly neighbor find her way is WAY more important than meeting a legend.

[Noor Sahar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started and finished the book within 3hrs. It's a narrative of a 12year old boy, who made a new year resolution to b a more mature grown up adult for which he fails miserably. However in the end he put his acts straight and gets a good lesson.
It's a good read for kids 7-14. However if u are a grown up and enjoys reading YA or even children's books then of course you should give it a read.

[Caleb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yay this book was awesome.Ok the whered thing about this book is if you hate stick figures you will love this book and if you love stick figures you will hate this book. No I'm just JOKING get it and this book is could my life as a Joke. LOL:)

[Leo Ng · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story tells that Derek had a new year resolution and matt is helping Derek to do it .

The best part I like was where when Derek started to tell a joke, his monkey and his dog laughed so loud. That their parents needed to calm them down.

I think the best character of the book is Derek because he was funny. He makes his classmates laugh a lot.

I would recommend this book to all ages because they could enjoy reading it!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dominique · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that the ending was funny that he put fries in his nose and ears then ate them.

[Haleemah · Rating 4 out of 5]

It shows how you can screw yourself over but still bounce back and fix things.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book Derek takes on volunteering and trying to be more mature.

[Thys De · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great you should consider reading it!

[Aj · Rating 5 out of 5]

its a book

[Even saenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the best I read it at school all the time

[Mederise Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the book and thought it taught some good lessons for students this age who may be going through some similar circumstances. Funny and down to earth at the same time!

[Anıl Arslanali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice !👌

[2R Hussain S]

It's a great work to read everyone makes fun of Carly.

[Oksana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grade 3-6 great read

[Error · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this was actually my first "My Life" book that I've ever read. I'm not sure why tho. Honestly probably one of my favorite books in the series. I just love it 9/10

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read, good life lesson.

[Melissa Thomson]

(Read by CT)

[Rubik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. As we follow Derek Falon through another section in his life. There are many books in the My Life series.

[MaryAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Derek continues to make unwise decisions although his resolve for the new year to act more grown up.

[David Erkale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Derek falls into yet another series of mishaps with this book, making him truly look like a joke.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Derek Fallon vows that this year will be different. This year his classmates are going to take him seriously. But the best laid plans of twelve-year-olds don't always turn out the way they might hope, and through a series of mishaps, Derek ends up being viewed as something of a joke. Even his delight at being invited to a cool new neighbor's party wanes once he realizes he was invited, not as a guest but as a babysitter for the host's younger sibling. As he moves from misstep to misstep, Derek finds some satisfaction in collecting donations for other children. Even when he messes up that community service project, he figures a way to atone for his mistakes, and ends up with a reward much better than he could ever have imagined. Like its predecessors, I continue to enjoy this series that tackles many issues faced by middle graders and prompts them to think about their actions, their consequences, and their own culpability. I also enjoy the illustrations of words provided by the author's son. Fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid are likely to enjoy this series partly because it is funny, but also because it is honest in its treatment of family dynamics and school.