Staying Alive in Year 5

by John Marsden

From the multi-award winning and bestselling author behind the Tomorrow seriesStaying Alive in Year 5 is a monster hit for primary school readers from one of Australia's most popular storytellers, John Marsden.Scott and his friends are simply staying alive in year 5 until their surprising new teacher, Mr Murlin, comes along.Boring textbooks go into the bin, eating chocolate in class becomes compulsory and suddenly it's OK to be weird.But Mr Murlin is not popular with everyone. . .

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Childrens, Humor

56 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 10, 1990

About the author

There is more than one author with this name in the database, see f.e. John Marsden.

John Marsden was an Australian writer and school principal. He wrote more than 40 books in his career and his books have been translated into many languages. He was especially known for his young adult novel Tomorrow, When the War Began, which began a series of seven books.
Marsden began writing for children while working as a teacher, and had his first book, So Much to Tell You, published in 1987. In 2006, he started an alternative school, Candlebark School, and reduced his writing to focus on teaching and running the school. In 2016, he opened the arts-focused secondary school, Alice Miller School. Both schools are in the Macedon Ranges.

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not one of John Marsden's books, I felt that it lacked a story and I wasn't a fan of the abrupt ending.

[Samantha Millar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because I was thinking of reading it to my own Year 5 class. It was well suited to that age group as the chapters were short, there were many aspects that they would be able to identify with and the story was interesting. I didn't love the ending - I had a lot of unanswered questions and should I end up reading it to my class I will be interested to discover if they feel the same way too.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

**3.5** A solid read. The story describes an experience with an 'interesting' teacher; one who teaches in rather unconvential and, oftentimes, unbelievable ways. It's a fun little story and well written, but it's not exceptional. I actually liked the author's writing more than the story itself. (For those who are concerned about such things, there's also a smidge of foul/impolite language in one scene. It refers to urinating.)

[Susan]

I accidently listed this book. Never heard of it. Never read it.

[Sofie Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO.MUCH.FUN! A must read for all kids and parents of year 5’s!

[Sallie Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very male centric. The girls were barely mentioned. Of its time I suppose. But even in the 1980’s it could have done with female characters in more than a supporting role. Even the animals were male!

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

An okay novel, mediocre, four starts for the book overall..

[Mella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A weird and whacky tale of the first term in the year five classroom. New school year, new teacher. Mr Murlin is the new grade five teacher for best friends, Scott and Johnny. From the very start Mr Murlin sets himself apart - failing to ask them to line up while walking, outlining a whacky bunch of rules including only putting the crocodiles in the box labelled crocodiles and not in their desks and then chucking out the entirety of their school textbooks because he writes his own classes. But not everyone loves someone who colours outside the lines.

I loved this book as a kid. My whole class did. But although the children audience will definitely get a lot out of it - it also has some gems of wisdom for the adults too - in particular reminding us there are many different ways of looking at things and that all sides of the story are needed to find the truth of an issue.

Scott and Johnny were terrific. Although they could be ridiculous they were both kind and caring and loyal. They stick up for their younger friend Wes when he's suspended, speaking to the principal to relate the whole story not just the one she'd heard. (He peed on his teacher but he meant to get his friend - which charming by the way). And they go to visit him and find his place is a disgusting mess and help him to clean it up and buy him food and make him a sandwich. And for all Ms Holland (the principal) hates their joke - it was actually hilarious - they cover her whole office in string, wrapping it over and around everything. The ending was abrupt but not detrimentally so. Overall this was a fantastic read - humorous, engaging and delightfully bizarre. 4 stars.

[Poit · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm obviously in the minority here, but I did not like this book at all. There was a beginning, middle, end. No clear climax and a very abrupt ending. Some chapters made absolutely no sense and it all just kind of felt completely pointless. I was really disappointed.

I love John Marsden and read him a lot as a kid. I met him once and got his autograph. It's a highlight from my early teenage years. So I guess maybe I was expecting more. I regularly read books to my 10 year old son and we both agreed this has been our least favourite. I think I'll try "Tomorrow When the War Began" next and hope my memory of it being awesome is still correct.

Edited from one to two stars as the story about Wes and the teacher honestly deserved a star all of its own :)

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Staying Alive in Year 5” by John Marsden is short, sweet and very funny. Mr Murlin is a new teacher who consigns boring textbooks to the dustbin, sets amazing homework, and gets kids talking who have never before been seen to contribute to the classroom. Something fishy is definitely happening – and we’re not just talking about the aquariums that mysteriously appear in each Grade 5’s desk. Scott and his friends have an amazing time until… the inevitable happens. Delightful read – if only it were true!

[Room5 Literacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about Scott and Jonny, they had a new teacher called Mr Murlin. His rules were that boring old textbooks go in the bin and chocolate is compulsory. At the end there is a big suprise -readers may fell unsatisfied with the ending.

I would recommend this book because it is really funny and interesting. I also think it is not so hard to read. I would rate this book 10/10.

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really enjoyed this book because it keeps making you laugh over and over again this book is comical genius and just the way john marsden wrote the book make it really a comical book to read and it will make you wet your pants

[Maggieg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A typically anarchic book aimed at younger readers.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this author!

[Cathy McGough · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son is in Year 5, and we read this together. Highly recommended for any Year 5 - and a must read for all teachers!

[Josephine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that this book was absoulutly awesome and I recommend it to absoulutly everyone!
It is hilarious and i think that everyone in year five should read it and watch out!

[Aria Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this to my daughter, i dont know who loved it more. proberly me

[Dale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book that would be enjoyed by students in 4-6. Has some humour in it and is generally a story they could relate to.

[Kylie Abecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite funny and an enjoyable read. Great for children first getting into novel reading.

[Jade]

Do not remember, I was 10 years old and reading it for class.