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The Janitor's Boy
IT WAS THE PERFECT CRIME
Unfortunately, it also led to the perfect punishment. When Jack Rankin gets busted for defacing a school desk with a huge wad of disgusting, watermelon bubble gum, the principal sentences him to three weeks of after-school gum cleanup for the chief custodian. The problem is, Jack's anger at the chief custodian was the reason for his gum project in the first place. The chief custodian happens to be Jack's dad.
But doing time in the school basement after hours reveals some pretty surprising about the school, about Jack's father, and about Jack himself.
Unfortunately, it also led to the perfect punishment. When Jack Rankin gets busted for defacing a school desk with a huge wad of disgusting, watermelon bubble gum, the principal sentences him to three weeks of after-school gum cleanup for the chief custodian. The problem is, Jack's anger at the chief custodian was the reason for his gum project in the first place. The chief custodian happens to be Jack's dad.
But doing time in the school basement after hours reveals some pretty surprising about the school, about Jack's father, and about Jack himself.
140 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2000
139 people are currently reading
1311 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Clements
190 books2,178 followersI was born in Camden, New Jersey in 1949 and lived in Oaklyn and Cherry Hill until the middle of sixth grade. Then we moved to Springfield, Illinois. My parents were avid readers and they gave that love of books and reading to me and to all my brothers and sisters. I didn’t think about being a writer at all back then, but I did love to read. I'm certain there's a link between reading good books and becoming a writer. I don't know a single writer who wasn’t a reader first.
Before moving to Illinois, and even afterwards, our family spent summers at a cabin on a lake in Maine. There was no TV there, no phone, no doorbell—and email wasn’t even invented. All day there was time to swim and fish and mess around outside, and every night, there was time to read. I know those quiet summers helped me begin to think like a writer.
During my senior year at Springfield High School my English teacher handed back a poem I’d written. Two things were amazing about that paper. First, I’d gotten an A—a rare event in this teacher’s class. And she’d also written in large, scrawly red writing, “Andrew—this poem is so funny. This should be published!”
That praise sent me off to Northwestern University feeling like I was a pretty good writer, and occasionally professors there also encouraged me and complimented the essays I was required to write as a literature major. But I didn’t write much on my own—just some poetry now and then. I learned to play guitar and began writing songs, but again, only when I felt like it. Writing felt like hard work—something that’s still true today.
After the songwriting came my first job in publishing. I worked for a small publisher who specialized in how-to books, the kind of books that have photos with informative captions below each one. The book in which my name first appeared in print is called A Country Christmas Treasury. I’d built a number of the projects featured in the book, and I was listed as one of the “craftspeople”on the acknowlegements page, in tiny, tiny type.
In 1990 I began trying to write a story about a boy who makes up a new word. That book eventually became my first novel, Frindle, published in 1996, and you can read the whole story of how it developed on another web site, frindle.com. Frindle became popular, more popular than any of my books before or since—at least so far. And it had the eventual effect of turning me into a full-time writer.
I’ve learned that I need time and a quiet place to think and write. These days, I spend a lot of my time sitting in a small shed about seventy feet from my back door at our home in Massachusetts. There’s a woodstove in there for the cold winters, and an air conditioner for the hot summers. There’s a desk and chair, and I carry a laptop computer back and forth. But there’s no TV, no phone, no doorbell, no email. And the woodstove and the pine board walls make the place smell just like that cabin in Maine where I spent my earliest summers.
Sometimes kids ask how I've been able to write so many books. The answer is simple: one word at a time. Which is a good lesson, I think. You don't have to do everything at once. You don't have to know how every story is going to end. You just have to take that next step, look for that next idea, write that next word. And growing up, it's the same way. We just have to go to that next class, read that next chapter, help that next person. You simply have to do that next good thing, and before you know it, you're living a good life.
Before moving to Illinois, and even afterwards, our family spent summers at a cabin on a lake in Maine. There was no TV there, no phone, no doorbell—and email wasn’t even invented. All day there was time to swim and fish and mess around outside, and every night, there was time to read. I know those quiet summers helped me begin to think like a writer.
During my senior year at Springfield High School my English teacher handed back a poem I’d written. Two things were amazing about that paper. First, I’d gotten an A—a rare event in this teacher’s class. And she’d also written in large, scrawly red writing, “Andrew—this poem is so funny. This should be published!”
That praise sent me off to Northwestern University feeling like I was a pretty good writer, and occasionally professors there also encouraged me and complimented the essays I was required to write as a literature major. But I didn’t write much on my own—just some poetry now and then. I learned to play guitar and began writing songs, but again, only when I felt like it. Writing felt like hard work—something that’s still true today.
After the songwriting came my first job in publishing. I worked for a small publisher who specialized in how-to books, the kind of books that have photos with informative captions below each one. The book in which my name first appeared in print is called A Country Christmas Treasury. I’d built a number of the projects featured in the book, and I was listed as one of the “craftspeople”on the acknowlegements page, in tiny, tiny type.
In 1990 I began trying to write a story about a boy who makes up a new word. That book eventually became my first novel, Frindle, published in 1996, and you can read the whole story of how it developed on another web site, frindle.com. Frindle became popular, more popular than any of my books before or since—at least so far. And it had the eventual effect of turning me into a full-time writer.
I’ve learned that I need time and a quiet place to think and write. These days, I spend a lot of my time sitting in a small shed about seventy feet from my back door at our home in Massachusetts. There’s a woodstove in there for the cold winters, and an air conditioner for the hot summers. There’s a desk and chair, and I carry a laptop computer back and forth. But there’s no TV, no phone, no doorbell, no email. And the woodstove and the pine board walls make the place smell just like that cabin in Maine where I spent my earliest summers.
Sometimes kids ask how I've been able to write so many books. The answer is simple: one word at a time. Which is a good lesson, I think. You don't have to do everything at once. You don't have to know how every story is going to end. You just have to take that next step, look for that next idea, write that next word. And growing up, it's the same way. We just have to go to that next class, read that next chapter, help that next person. You simply have to do that next good thing, and before you know it, you're living a good life.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 320 reviews
May 16, 2011
This was a pretty cool book to read, I had to endure a few jokes from friends and family who saw me reading it. Any book that carries a positive message or has a valued lesson to be learn, is a book worth reading and this book made the cut. Granted its a kids book, and kids should read it. Most important, adults can benefit from the message as well.
P.S. Dont sleep on kids book, you just might learn something.
K's out peace...
P.S. Dont sleep on kids book, you just might learn something.
K's out peace...
September 27, 2016
I think this book is good because he got busted from his Principal so he needs to take out gum from each table in his school, he needs to help the janitor. The janitor was his....... It was funny because he knows the janitor.
July 1, 2020
This book was a nice story based on a relationship between a father and son. Through the book the main character Jack learns a lot and grows as a person. He is able to learn his family’s history and come to terms with it. It is great that he understands that what his father does isn’t something to be embarrassed or ashamed about an important job. This was another sweet family story by Andrew Clements.
May 15, 2020
Jack’in babası hademedir ve Jack bundan çok utanır. Çılgınca bir pislik yaratırsa babasından hıncını alacağını düşünür. Ama işler umduğu gibi gitmez. Ve sır perdesini araladığını geç de olsa fark eder.
İlk başta olaylar sürekli tekrarlanıyormuş gibi geldi ama sonra bu his üstümden kalktı. Yazarın olayları birbirine bağlama şekli çok hoşuma gitti. Herkese tavsiye ediyorum.
İlk başta olaylar sürekli tekrarlanıyormuş gibi geldi ama sonra bu his üstümden kalktı. Yazarın olayları birbirine bağlama şekli çok hoşuma gitti. Herkese tavsiye ediyorum.
January 20, 2024
I read this with my daughter years ago.
December 22, 2008
The Janitor’s Boy is an amazing quick to read book that explores the mind of a 5th grader. In The Janitor’s Boy the main character Jack messes around in school experimenting on what is the smelliest gum; he gathers a bunch of watermelon gum and vandalizes a table in music. Then he is ordered to do community service, cleaning up gum, which isn’t as easy as you think it is – after all who likes to pick up someone else’s mess. He doesn’t really mind all of this; the problem at hand is his dad, also known as the head custodian at his school.
Jack is a normal 5th grader who has a nose fit for a dog. He takes the bus to school instead of driving to school with his dad so he can avoid the kids at his school seeing them together. Sadly Jack constantly runs into his dad and Jack finds himself caught in the center of attention. Even though Jack admires his dad, and looks up to him he doesn’t like being made fun of - after all who likes being the center attention of the peanut gallery?
The genre of this book is school related mysteries. Throughout the book Jack discovers secrets one by one within his dad that he never knew, and secrets of the school and its history also are revealed. The setting is set at the school Jack goes to, the vivid words that Andrew Clements helps the readers imagine pictures in their minds about Jack slowly discovering everything. The journey Jack takes make students also want to be brave and courageous; his brave guts guide him into wandering a secret room within the school. So if you’re interested about school mysteries, a kid’s journey, while dealing with being made fun of in school, then this book is right for you!
The author of this book, Andrew Clements is awesome writer that usually writes about school and young kids. The author also wrote the book Frindle, the story of a boy challenging the English dictionary and his English Teacher by causing a phenomenon calling a pen a Frindle - which also talks about life as a child in school. Reading his books will make kids want to be more active within life and explore places within your reach. Andrew Clements books in a way show the daring side of students, showing what young students are capable of like causing everyone to use a different word, or exploring unknown places. Things can also be considered inspiration to some readers, inspiring readers to be courageous like the main character in the book.
So, if you have time and want to read a quick book The Janitor’s Boy is a great book to read, the book about the student in a school with the head custodian as his dad. Readers throughout all ages will enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed this book. The book has a lot of mysteries about his dad and his past, as the book progresses secrets are revealed to the reader. What will Jack find out? Well you’re going to have to read the book to find out. Pick up a copy of The Janitor’s Boy, after all skools are always kool.
Jack is a normal 5th grader who has a nose fit for a dog. He takes the bus to school instead of driving to school with his dad so he can avoid the kids at his school seeing them together. Sadly Jack constantly runs into his dad and Jack finds himself caught in the center of attention. Even though Jack admires his dad, and looks up to him he doesn’t like being made fun of - after all who likes being the center attention of the peanut gallery?
The genre of this book is school related mysteries. Throughout the book Jack discovers secrets one by one within his dad that he never knew, and secrets of the school and its history also are revealed. The setting is set at the school Jack goes to, the vivid words that Andrew Clements helps the readers imagine pictures in their minds about Jack slowly discovering everything. The journey Jack takes make students also want to be brave and courageous; his brave guts guide him into wandering a secret room within the school. So if you’re interested about school mysteries, a kid’s journey, while dealing with being made fun of in school, then this book is right for you!
The author of this book, Andrew Clements is awesome writer that usually writes about school and young kids. The author also wrote the book Frindle, the story of a boy challenging the English dictionary and his English Teacher by causing a phenomenon calling a pen a Frindle - which also talks about life as a child in school. Reading his books will make kids want to be more active within life and explore places within your reach. Andrew Clements books in a way show the daring side of students, showing what young students are capable of like causing everyone to use a different word, or exploring unknown places. Things can also be considered inspiration to some readers, inspiring readers to be courageous like the main character in the book.
So, if you have time and want to read a quick book The Janitor’s Boy is a great book to read, the book about the student in a school with the head custodian as his dad. Readers throughout all ages will enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed this book. The book has a lot of mysteries about his dad and his past, as the book progresses secrets are revealed to the reader. What will Jack find out? Well you’re going to have to read the book to find out. Pick up a copy of The Janitor’s Boy, after all skools are always kool.
October 2, 2021
Jack has hidden the fact that his father is a school janitor for years. Until he reached junior high, and moves to the very school his father works at. He tries his best, but some things are impossible to hide, and before long, students begin to notice. Jack is embraced, and makes a plan including the stickiest gum he can find.
Unfortunately, his crime lands him in the very place he is trying to avoid; the janitor's office. Staying after school for one hour with his dad every day to clean up gum sounds like the worst thing imaginable. Until Jack finds a closet of keys to hidden places around the school. Suddenly, the keys open up a whole new world of possibilities, and knowledge, to Jack.
I absolutely love Andrew Clements, and this one lived up to my expectations! It really got me thinking; how hard would it be for most kids not to be embarrassed if their dad was a janitor at their school? This story was heartfelt, and though a bit slow at times, a very enjoyable read!
Unfortunately, his crime lands him in the very place he is trying to avoid; the janitor's office. Staying after school for one hour with his dad every day to clean up gum sounds like the worst thing imaginable. Until Jack finds a closet of keys to hidden places around the school. Suddenly, the keys open up a whole new world of possibilities, and knowledge, to Jack.
I absolutely love Andrew Clements, and this one lived up to my expectations! It really got me thinking; how hard would it be for most kids not to be embarrassed if their dad was a janitor at their school? This story was heartfelt, and though a bit slow at times, a very enjoyable read!
June 15, 2010
Andrew Clements is just the greatest. His books manage to convey the perspective of an adult and the viewpoint of a child. They always make me laugh, and usually make me cry. This one certainly did.
The story of Jack Rankin's uneasy relationship with his father, a smart guy who somehow ended up as a school custodian, 'The Janitor's Boy' gently pushes its protagonist toward understanding and conciliation.
At the same time, the novel has acridly witty criques of a sixth-grade bully festooned in logo-rich attire, and a teacher in a lime green pantsuit who resembles a "lizard getting ready to flip its tongue out to snap up a fly." No worries--Jack gets over on the both of them.
Highly recommended.
The story of Jack Rankin's uneasy relationship with his father, a smart guy who somehow ended up as a school custodian, 'The Janitor's Boy' gently pushes its protagonist toward understanding and conciliation.
At the same time, the novel has acridly witty criques of a sixth-grade bully festooned in logo-rich attire, and a teacher in a lime green pantsuit who resembles a "lizard getting ready to flip its tongue out to snap up a fly." No worries--Jack gets over on the both of them.
Highly recommended.
May 23, 2013
Classic Clements. Not a great deal happens, but what does has profound reverberations, in a quiet and lasting way. Elementary school student Jack is embarrassed by his father, John the janitor, and attempts to sabotage his workplace with chewing gum. Things change when Jack is punished by having to work his dad's job--and gains unexpected insights into what kind of man he is. This works for both kids and adults. It's splendid.
January 6, 2019
Yazarın en sevdiğim kitapları arasında olmasa da, duygu sömürüsü yapmadan çocuğun ebeveynin hayattaki konumuyla utanmasını iyi işlemiş bence.
December 6, 2012
I have just finished reading the book called The Janitors Boy by Andrew Clements. This boy is chewing up so much gum and makes a mess with it on the seat hiding behind a tall kid. He knows that the janitor will have to clean it up and every one calls him john the janitor but jack calls him dad. The author gives detail using descriptive words and makes it a very funny story. I would never chew gum in the school because were not allowed to so we could never do a crime as jack did and you would get in lots of unwanted trouble. As i said since i can't chew gum we i don't really connect with the story much.
October 20, 2015
Personnel Response
This book could've been better but it was alright. I like books with more action in them. I don't think that this book is my type of book. It was easy to read and it taught a good lesson about being responsible for your actions.
Plot
The Janitor Boy is about a boy who gets into trouble putting gum under a desk. Now the principal says he has a three week clean up duty. He was mad at the chief custodian because he's the reason why he got into trouble and that he has clean up duty. He gets teased by the other kids at school because his dad is the janitor. During the time he spends with his dad he discovers that his dad does other stuff than just being a Janitor. Now that he knows that he dad does other stuff in the school besides being a Janitor he thinks he is cool and alright.
Characters
The main character is Jack Rankin, he is a boy with a very sensitive nose. He wants to find out what flavor of bubble gum has the worst smell. This gets him into trouble and he has to do community service to get out of it. Another character is Jack's dad, who happens to be the janitor at his school. Jack and his dad don't get along to well at school. He gets teased by the other kids because his dad works at the school.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to middle school boys who would learn a lesson about how to behave in school. The book teaches you about responsibility. If you make a mess then it is your job to clean it up.
This book could've been better but it was alright. I like books with more action in them. I don't think that this book is my type of book. It was easy to read and it taught a good lesson about being responsible for your actions.
Plot
The Janitor Boy is about a boy who gets into trouble putting gum under a desk. Now the principal says he has a three week clean up duty. He was mad at the chief custodian because he's the reason why he got into trouble and that he has clean up duty. He gets teased by the other kids at school because his dad is the janitor. During the time he spends with his dad he discovers that his dad does other stuff than just being a Janitor. Now that he knows that he dad does other stuff in the school besides being a Janitor he thinks he is cool and alright.
Characters
The main character is Jack Rankin, he is a boy with a very sensitive nose. He wants to find out what flavor of bubble gum has the worst smell. This gets him into trouble and he has to do community service to get out of it. Another character is Jack's dad, who happens to be the janitor at his school. Jack and his dad don't get along to well at school. He gets teased by the other kids because his dad works at the school.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to middle school boys who would learn a lesson about how to behave in school. The book teaches you about responsibility. If you make a mess then it is your job to clean it up.
August 23, 2010
Very sweet book that would appeal to girls or boys. Boy is embarrassed by having his dad as the janitor at his school until he comes to really know his dad. Emotions ring true and the story has enough plot to keep interest alive.
June 3, 2019
This book was interesting. Clearly the son is ashamed by his father, and is he tries to take his anger out on him. Then it back fires. But it was a good thing it backfired! If it hadn’t, the father and son would have never had been able to grow closer together. I loved how by the end of the book, the father and son clearly had a stronger bond and it makes me happy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2022
Read this with my summer school students. We had a ton of great conversations throughout this heartwarming story.
October 7, 2008
The Janitor's Boy, by Andrew Clements, designed by Steve Scott, published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, publication date: 2000.
This is a great realistic fiction novel about a fifth grade boy. The fifth grade boy's name is Jack. Jack struggles at school to deal with the fact that his dad is the janitor. Jack does his best to hide this fact but soon everyone finds out when his dad says hi to him and they run into each other in the hall. Jack is boiling with rage and he aims it at his father. He goes to class and chews 13 pieces of gum and sticks underneath a desk in one of his classes. The gum consumes the underside of the desk and Jack feels like this is a great way to get back at his dad. He wants his dad to have to clean it up. What Jack does not realize is that the principal and teacher discover that Jack is responsible for this mess and they make Jack become a part-time janitor after school for three weeks. Jack begins to explore the janitor's shop and finds keys to every door in the school and he takes two of the keys. One of the keys leads to the tower and the other to the tunnel. He decides to explore and what he discovers leads Jack in the transition from a boy to more of a man. Jack explores the beauty of the tower and the secret of the tunnel. In the tunnel Jack discovers several names written on the wall and what looks like living space. Jack gets caught by his dad and learns that his dad and many others who were soldiers in the wars had a rough time when they came back home and this was a place that anyone could receive help. Jack learns how his dad struggled when he came home and that he took his job as a janitor as a favor to a friend and he discovered that he felt like he had a purpose in life again. The names on the wall are all the friends of Jack's dad and they are people who may have stayed in the tunnel for awhile. After this discovery, Jack has a new understanding for his dad and the life he has chosen as a janitor. This forms a bond between Jack and his dad and Jack forms a new respect for his dad and the life he has chosen.
For my first activity, I would have the students create a storyboard and map out the important events that took place in the book. The students will need to share these with the class. The storyboard should have at least ten scenes and should have detailed descriptions.
For my second activity, I would have the students choose a character from the book and describe how that character has changed throughout the course of the book. The students would need to include very detailed descriptions and talk about what caused the character to change.
This book would really tie with the content area of social studies and could lead into the discussion of the different wars that people were involved in and why it was so hard on the soldiers. This could also lead to the conversations about how and why people choose the professions they choose.
This book would really lead to students using their imaginations. The students would need to be able to picture the tower and the tunnel with the names written all over. This book could also spark further reading, research, and writing through the research of the various wars.
This is a great realistic fiction novel about a fifth grade boy. The fifth grade boy's name is Jack. Jack struggles at school to deal with the fact that his dad is the janitor. Jack does his best to hide this fact but soon everyone finds out when his dad says hi to him and they run into each other in the hall. Jack is boiling with rage and he aims it at his father. He goes to class and chews 13 pieces of gum and sticks underneath a desk in one of his classes. The gum consumes the underside of the desk and Jack feels like this is a great way to get back at his dad. He wants his dad to have to clean it up. What Jack does not realize is that the principal and teacher discover that Jack is responsible for this mess and they make Jack become a part-time janitor after school for three weeks. Jack begins to explore the janitor's shop and finds keys to every door in the school and he takes two of the keys. One of the keys leads to the tower and the other to the tunnel. He decides to explore and what he discovers leads Jack in the transition from a boy to more of a man. Jack explores the beauty of the tower and the secret of the tunnel. In the tunnel Jack discovers several names written on the wall and what looks like living space. Jack gets caught by his dad and learns that his dad and many others who were soldiers in the wars had a rough time when they came back home and this was a place that anyone could receive help. Jack learns how his dad struggled when he came home and that he took his job as a janitor as a favor to a friend and he discovered that he felt like he had a purpose in life again. The names on the wall are all the friends of Jack's dad and they are people who may have stayed in the tunnel for awhile. After this discovery, Jack has a new understanding for his dad and the life he has chosen as a janitor. This forms a bond between Jack and his dad and Jack forms a new respect for his dad and the life he has chosen.
For my first activity, I would have the students create a storyboard and map out the important events that took place in the book. The students will need to share these with the class. The storyboard should have at least ten scenes and should have detailed descriptions.
For my second activity, I would have the students choose a character from the book and describe how that character has changed throughout the course of the book. The students would need to include very detailed descriptions and talk about what caused the character to change.
This book would really tie with the content area of social studies and could lead into the discussion of the different wars that people were involved in and why it was so hard on the soldiers. This could also lead to the conversations about how and why people choose the professions they choose.
This book would really lead to students using their imaginations. The students would need to be able to picture the tower and the tunnel with the names written all over. This book could also spark further reading, research, and writing through the research of the various wars.
January 14, 2018
Eh the story was okay also the stuff the character did was not very exciting
March 19, 2019
Review: I gave it four stars because it has values from the real world. Specifically ones that relate to children growing up and their relationships with their family. The detail throughout each page helps to tell the story by the reader being able to picture where they are and what is happening throughout.
Summary: Jack a fifth grader, who goes to the same school where his dad works as a janitor. When Jack gets in trouble in school for covering the bottom of a school desk with bubblicious bubble gum, because he knows his dad will have to clean it. Jack did this because every since he was in second grade, everyone found out that his dad was the janitor, so this was the way to get back at him. He was caught by the principal who sniffed out his watermelon bubble gum hands. So once the principal finds out that Jack is the one who did this, Jacks dad (john) makes him clean off the bottom of the desk. Once Jack gets home, His mom (Helen) and John sit down to discuss why they think he acted out at school. When jack got done cleaning the desk, he saw all the keys in the closet, so he took some to explore around the school. He did his homework and stuff until it was time to catch a ride home with his dad.
Summary: Jack a fifth grader, who goes to the same school where his dad works as a janitor. When Jack gets in trouble in school for covering the bottom of a school desk with bubblicious bubble gum, because he knows his dad will have to clean it. Jack did this because every since he was in second grade, everyone found out that his dad was the janitor, so this was the way to get back at him. He was caught by the principal who sniffed out his watermelon bubble gum hands. So once the principal finds out that Jack is the one who did this, Jacks dad (john) makes him clean off the bottom of the desk. Once Jack gets home, His mom (Helen) and John sit down to discuss why they think he acted out at school. When jack got done cleaning the desk, he saw all the keys in the closet, so he took some to explore around the school. He did his homework and stuff until it was time to catch a ride home with his dad.
May 24, 2011
“I smell some watermelon gum.”(pg10)
The book I read is The Janitor’s Boy by Andrew Clements-best selling author of Frindle. The setting of this story is at a school called Hungtington Middle School, and the main character is Jack Rankin and some of the supporting characters are Helen Rankin, John Rankin, Lou Carswell, Eddie Wahlson, Mr. Ackerby, Jack’s teacher, and Lois Rankin.
This story started when Jack came to the first day of school he was in 5th grade. After his first class Mr. Ackerby came and told Jack that he is in trouble for putting gum under the desks. Then Mr. Ackerby wrote a note for him to tell the janitor that he will be staying after school to clean all the desks. After he got the note he went and took the note to his dad which is a janitor. When he gave the note to his dad he just told jack to go to the janitor’s office and get the things he need. So Jack went to the office and got what he need right before he went out the office he saw a thing of keys Jack took two of the keys and left. When Jack was on his way to clean the desks he realized he had a key that went to the steam tunnel and the tower. After he cleaned some of the desks he went to the tower when he opened the lock to the tower he saw a window with a good peak. When the next day came after school he went to auiditoriam and saw a door to the steam tunnel when he got in the steam tunnel he saw a boy name Eddie Wahlson. Eddie told Jack that his dad lets him come in here to stay from his dad sometimes. After Eddie and Jack talked to each other Eddie showed Jack the way to get out the steam tunnel.When Jack caught his dad in the car his dad knew were jack was with both of the keys. So after him and Jack talked they went home and saw Helen and Lois Rankin.
So now I hope would read the book The Janitor's Boy so you can read about a gummy adventure.
The book I read is The Janitor’s Boy by Andrew Clements-best selling author of Frindle. The setting of this story is at a school called Hungtington Middle School, and the main character is Jack Rankin and some of the supporting characters are Helen Rankin, John Rankin, Lou Carswell, Eddie Wahlson, Mr. Ackerby, Jack’s teacher, and Lois Rankin.
This story started when Jack came to the first day of school he was in 5th grade. After his first class Mr. Ackerby came and told Jack that he is in trouble for putting gum under the desks. Then Mr. Ackerby wrote a note for him to tell the janitor that he will be staying after school to clean all the desks. After he got the note he went and took the note to his dad which is a janitor. When he gave the note to his dad he just told jack to go to the janitor’s office and get the things he need. So Jack went to the office and got what he need right before he went out the office he saw a thing of keys Jack took two of the keys and left. When Jack was on his way to clean the desks he realized he had a key that went to the steam tunnel and the tower. After he cleaned some of the desks he went to the tower when he opened the lock to the tower he saw a window with a good peak. When the next day came after school he went to auiditoriam and saw a door to the steam tunnel when he got in the steam tunnel he saw a boy name Eddie Wahlson. Eddie told Jack that his dad lets him come in here to stay from his dad sometimes. After Eddie and Jack talked to each other Eddie showed Jack the way to get out the steam tunnel.When Jack caught his dad in the car his dad knew were jack was with both of the keys. So after him and Jack talked they went home and saw Helen and Lois Rankin.
So now I hope would read the book The Janitor's Boy so you can read about a gummy adventure.
March 7, 2011
Dear Readers,
I have been reading a book called'The Janitor's Boy'. A boy named 'Jack' was playing with a lot of chewed gum that he chewed. Oneday, in music class Jack brought his chewed gum in a plastic bag. During the music time he was making those shapes made out of his chewed gum. Then the next day, the school principle knew what he was doing during the class. So the principle called Jack to talk with him. Jack and principle was talking about his behavior. Principle decided to send his parents a note that he can't do any activities in the school. He had to clean all the messes up under his desk where he usually put his chewed gum, and everywhere so that not anygums are left. He was not aloud to bring any gums to school again. When his parents saw the note, his father who is a janitor was a little upset but he didn't got mad at Jack also his mom didn't got mad either. So after school, Jack had to stay left and he had to clean the messes up. Then he thinks that he is a janitor like his dad. So he got the keys which only janitors can keep. So Jack keeps the keys but one key doesn't fit anywhere. But oneday, he founds a secret door. Then he lost one key. So he decides not to keep keys. After days, Jack was done cleaning his chewed gum stuffs. Then principle said he could to his after school activity. After that he never chewed gum during the class.
Character Traits That Describe Him:
Gross: He spat the chewed gum into a sandwich bag he had brought from home.
doesn't concerntrate: He was doing nothing when he was suppose to sing and learn new songs with other kids.
Proud: Jack said, "I want to be a janitor when I grow up". (His dad is a janitor, so he is proud of his dad.
Anna
I have been reading a book called'The Janitor's Boy'. A boy named 'Jack' was playing with a lot of chewed gum that he chewed. Oneday, in music class Jack brought his chewed gum in a plastic bag. During the music time he was making those shapes made out of his chewed gum. Then the next day, the school principle knew what he was doing during the class. So the principle called Jack to talk with him. Jack and principle was talking about his behavior. Principle decided to send his parents a note that he can't do any activities in the school. He had to clean all the messes up under his desk where he usually put his chewed gum, and everywhere so that not anygums are left. He was not aloud to bring any gums to school again. When his parents saw the note, his father who is a janitor was a little upset but he didn't got mad at Jack also his mom didn't got mad either. So after school, Jack had to stay left and he had to clean the messes up. Then he thinks that he is a janitor like his dad. So he got the keys which only janitors can keep. So Jack keeps the keys but one key doesn't fit anywhere. But oneday, he founds a secret door. Then he lost one key. So he decides not to keep keys. After days, Jack was done cleaning his chewed gum stuffs. Then principle said he could to his after school activity. After that he never chewed gum during the class.
Character Traits That Describe Him:
Gross: He spat the chewed gum into a sandwich bag he had brought from home.
doesn't concerntrate: He was doing nothing when he was suppose to sing and learn new songs with other kids.
Proud: Jack said, "I want to be a janitor when I grow up". (His dad is a janitor, so he is proud of his dad.
Anna
January 26, 2012
So this book really isnt that good but i remember loving it when I was a child. The fiction book is based on this kid named Jack Rankin. The first chapters talk about how this kid comes up with this scheme to basically defile this desk. He spends a whole day chewing the stickest gum he could find and then when he couldnt chew any more and the gum was finally choking him, he spits it on a desk. The next day he gets caught though because apparently there was cameras in the class room, When asked why, he wanted to get back at his dad. His dad was a janitor and he always embarassed Jack. He is then force to weeks of cleaning gum in school.Jack is mad but makes some interesting discoveries.Jack's dad reveals that before his days as a janitor, he worked for his father. He tells Jack that his grandfather would never let him have his own car and he stole a car.In the hospital, John's father told him that he could forget about college.Jack was amzed at what his fater went through considering he never went to college because of his dad but then still must clean gum , and while cleaning the auditorium he discovers the access door to the steam tunnel. Jack ends up locking himself in the tunne but then gets out. As he reaches the final crossroads, he finds that a tiny livable apartment space available. Jack then finds that a boy named Eddie is currently staying there, while his father tries to recover from the Vietnam War. Leaving the little space, Jack manages to catch a ride home with his dad, who explains to him that the little living area beneath the town was set up to give people a place to go. Jack is moved and then forgives his father for being kind of a dork but feels bad at the same time
July 17, 2016
I am very thankful that I discovered Andrew Clement's books this year. They are great for reading with my children. The stories are so entertaining that I really enjoy then. And each of them that I have read so far have amazing lessons. The message in this book is deeper than some of the others that I have read by Clements.
Jack Rankins hates that his dad is the janitor at his school. SO he has a plan, a plan to make a horrendous mess for his father to need to clean up. But his plan for the prefect crime did not take into account the detective skills of Mr. Ackerby. Soon Jack has 3 weeks of punishment cleaning first his original target, and then what ever the head custodian wants him to clean. Jack reports to his father for duty.
But being in school after hours has some interesting benefits. Jack finds a key cabinet, discovers some secrets and learns a lot. He learns about who he really is, he learns about who his father is and some of the stuff he has been through. And he grows a lot.
One of the best things about Clement's books is that they teach incredible lessons but in in a big showy way. The lessons are subtle, and the stories very realistic. These down to earth books a great for the whole family, currently in our house from ages 5-45 all enjoy these reads. This is one of the best in-between book I have ever read. It is not early readers and it is not yet young adult. This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by ANdrew Clements.
Jack Rankins hates that his dad is the janitor at his school. SO he has a plan, a plan to make a horrendous mess for his father to need to clean up. But his plan for the prefect crime did not take into account the detective skills of Mr. Ackerby. Soon Jack has 3 weeks of punishment cleaning first his original target, and then what ever the head custodian wants him to clean. Jack reports to his father for duty.
But being in school after hours has some interesting benefits. Jack finds a key cabinet, discovers some secrets and learns a lot. He learns about who he really is, he learns about who his father is and some of the stuff he has been through. And he grows a lot.
One of the best things about Clement's books is that they teach incredible lessons but in in a big showy way. The lessons are subtle, and the stories very realistic. These down to earth books a great for the whole family, currently in our house from ages 5-45 all enjoy these reads. This is one of the best in-between book I have ever read. It is not early readers and it is not yet young adult. This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by ANdrew Clements.
January 10, 2010
Sometimes the truth comes from odd places. Jack Rankin's dad is the janitor at his school. To say he is embarrassed by this is an understatement. And, it doesn't help that two popular bullies tease him about it endlessly. So, Jack is determined to get back at his dad. He deposits the biggest, messiest wad of gum underneath a music room desk, expecting that his dad will have to clean up the mess. Little does he know that the music teacher can identify who left the mess. Jack's punishment, issued by the vice-principal, is to clean gum off of the all the other desks in the school. Not only is he embarrassed now, he is humiliated, too.
Jack tries to think of new ways to get back at his dad...but, by coming in contact with his dad's co-workers and friends, he comes to realize that his dad is one good-guy and has a heart of gold. He learns some things about his dad's relationship with his grandfather and his experience fighting in Vietnam. All of these life experiences make John Rankin a dad to be proud of.
The Janitor's Boy is a novel of discovery and acceptance. Jack's dad is so much more than a janitor, or any job, for that matter. He is man of quiet strength, loyalty, and compassion...a perfect role model for Jack.
Jack tries to think of new ways to get back at his dad...but, by coming in contact with his dad's co-workers and friends, he comes to realize that his dad is one good-guy and has a heart of gold. He learns some things about his dad's relationship with his grandfather and his experience fighting in Vietnam. All of these life experiences make John Rankin a dad to be proud of.
The Janitor's Boy is a novel of discovery and acceptance. Jack's dad is so much more than a janitor, or any job, for that matter. He is man of quiet strength, loyalty, and compassion...a perfect role model for Jack.
April 25, 2008
Jack feels so humiliated by the fact that his father is the school janitor that he decides to get revenge by smearing a desk with gum. When he's caught, his punishment is to scrape gum off desks for three weeks after school, leading to discoveries about his dad's past.
By fifth grade, Jack has learned to be embarrassed by his father's profession--janitor. When Jack begins class in the building where his dad, John, is head custodian, Jack's worst nightmare comes true. The other kids find out, in an especially humiliating way, what his father does for a living. Blaming his father, he decides to get revenge. He determines what is the stickiest and smelliest gum (Bubblicious watermelon flavor), chews up thirteen pieces, and smears them all over the bottom of a desk and onto the seat, knowing full well who will have to clean it up.
But he is caught, and his punishment is to spend three weeks after school helping out his father by scraping gum off desks, starting with the one he so efficiently ruined. This begins a voyage of discovery for Jack into the hidden recesses of the school and of his father's past.
By fifth grade, Jack has learned to be embarrassed by his father's profession--janitor. When Jack begins class in the building where his dad, John, is head custodian, Jack's worst nightmare comes true. The other kids find out, in an especially humiliating way, what his father does for a living. Blaming his father, he decides to get revenge. He determines what is the stickiest and smelliest gum (Bubblicious watermelon flavor), chews up thirteen pieces, and smears them all over the bottom of a desk and onto the seat, knowing full well who will have to clean it up.
But he is caught, and his punishment is to spend three weeks after school helping out his father by scraping gum off desks, starting with the one he so efficiently ruined. This begins a voyage of discovery for Jack into the hidden recesses of the school and of his father's past.
June 30, 2015
The Janitor's Boy is a realistic fiction narrative of a fifth grade boy who vandalizes a desk with a wad of Bubbalicious watermelon gum to punish a particular someone in his life. However, as perfect of a crime it was there were flaws. He was caught with the crime and sentenced to gum duty after school where he had to report to the chief custodian, the one man he didn't wish to see was also his father. During his time as a part-time janitor cleaning the gums off of tables and chairs he discovers a safe to all the keys in the school. Two keys stuck out to him and he sets to go explore the school to find the room and door to those two keys. He adventurously explores and unexpectedly meets and learns about how great of a person his dad was. This narrative is a good realistic fiction because readers can connect with Jack Rankin and understand the same experiences he goes through. Readers can feel and experience embarrassment, bullying, worry, and adventurous. Readers can form a parasocial relationship with Jack, experiencing what he is experiencing and seeing his journey of why he committed the crime to how he ends up looking up to his dad.
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April 24, 2011This book is really good!!! It is about a boy whose father is the chief custodian. This boy's name is Jack and he allways chews gum in class and does not know where to put it when he is done with it. So guess where he puts it? he puts it under his desk. When the teacher finds out what he has been doing, he tells him he has to clean all the gum up from the desks instead of his father the chief custodian. One day after school his dad asked Jack if he could mop the theater room of the school because his dad had to do something else. He said agreed and his dad gave him all the keys to all the rooms and places in the school. When he gets to the theater room, he finds another door. He tries out all the keys and finally opened the door which let to a case of stairs. The stairs were going downstairs and there was a room... read this book to find out the rest.
July 22, 2013
I was on a bit of an Andrew Clements bender this year, since one of my classroom teacher associates had a nice collection just sitting there, and I enjoyed all of it, to varying degrees. This was one of my more favored tomes. I liked the kid; I appreciated his motivation; I admired his really disgusting plan; and I enjoyed the Clementsian twist (I just made up that term, can you tell?) that brings about the morally satisfying and humorous ending. The Landry News is probably still my favorite, and Frindle makes me laugh aloud every time, but this one will go on my list of recommended titles.
January 21, 2015
The book Jannitor's boy was a very exciting book to read. It was about a kid named Jack Rankin who gets busted for violating a school desk and has to become the janitors assistant for a whole 2 weeks but jacks dad is the janitor at Jacks school. This book seems realistic to me because Jack is a real boy that goes to a real school with real friends but the reason that it is not entirely REAL to me is because he finds this room in the back of the stage in his cafeteria that leads to a sewer. I mean,what school has a room that leads to a sewer that's just disgusting. The reason that I gave this book a 4 star rating was because the order of events was well organized and laid out. I have also read the book Frindle which is also written by Andrew Clements. the reason that I read all of Andrews books is because he puts like the mysterious genre in all of his books.
September 16, 2015
When Jack is caught smearing a lap desk with bubble gum during music class, his teachers are surprised. Jack's always been a nice boy with nothing out of the ordinary on his permanent record. Nothing's changed... except his school building. Now that fifth and sixth grades have taken over the old high school, the janitor is Jack's dad. And he's embarrassed - and maybe a little angry. Jack's punishment of scraping gum off desks under his father's tutelage leads to self-discovery and a new understanding of his father.
Really, really enjoyed this one. This is only the second Andrew Clements book I've read (the other being Frindle), and I liked this one better due to the family relationships and the slightly better character development. Some technology references are dated, but kids should still enjoy this one.
Really, really enjoyed this one. This is only the second Andrew Clements book I've read (the other being Frindle), and I liked this one better due to the family relationships and the slightly better character development. Some technology references are dated, but kids should still enjoy this one.
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February 4, 2016Narrated by B.D. Wong. *Some SPOILERS* Jack Rankin's dad works as a janitor at his middle school. None of his classmates know it until he comes to clean up a student's vomit and he says "Hi, son," to Jack. As revenge, Jack vandalizes a desk with a mess of bubble gum, expecting that his father will be the one to clean it up. But the vice principal figures out Jack did it and Jack's punishment is to stay after school for three weeks scraping gum off desks and chairs. In the janitor's office, Jack discovers keys to the steam tunnel and the tower which he takes with him to go exploring. In his exploration he finds an underground room where a boy is staying for safety, thanks to Jack's dad. Jack learns more about his dad's life as a soldier in the Vietnam War and how his job as a janitor after the war saved his life and his sanity.
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