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Bubble Sheet Blues
Inspired by a dead man, his 8th grade English teacher, and the school librarian, Luke Collins, gets involved in a research project that puts his reputation as a slacker at risk, draws him closer to a girl he has long admired, and to his astonishment, generates excitement that reverberates beyond his school and community.
A self-confessed slacker, Luke Collins, is an eighth grader enrolled at Palm Ridge Middle School in South Florida. When Luke is assigned an I-Search paper, he tries to take the easy way out and write about subject he's used twice before-manatees. However, his English teacher and the school librarian, push him to choose a more challenging subject. When Luke reluctantly begins his research project, he finds himself engaged in a sequence of events that reverberate far beyond his school and his community.
Not only does Bubble Sheet Blues take a critical look at the use of high-stakes standardized testing in schools, but it also explores a range of important themes including the censorship/banned books, the effects of divorce on kids, and what makes a good teacher. As a bonus, the book introduces a supporting cast of colorful student characters, incompetent administrators, and soccer coach with an affinity for philosophy. The book also includes a first for the author-a light touch of middle school romance. But the strongest element of all in Bubble Sheet Blues is its humor.
A self-confessed slacker, Luke Collins, is an eighth grader enrolled at Palm Ridge Middle School in South Florida. When Luke is assigned an I-Search paper, he tries to take the easy way out and write about subject he's used twice before-manatees. However, his English teacher and the school librarian, push him to choose a more challenging subject. When Luke reluctantly begins his research project, he finds himself engaged in a sequence of events that reverberate far beyond his school and his community.
Not only does Bubble Sheet Blues take a critical look at the use of high-stakes standardized testing in schools, but it also explores a range of important themes including the censorship/banned books, the effects of divorce on kids, and what makes a good teacher. As a bonus, the book introduces a supporting cast of colorful student characters, incompetent administrators, and soccer coach with an affinity for philosophy. The book also includes a first for the author-a light touch of middle school romance. But the strongest element of all in Bubble Sheet Blues is its humor.
208 pages, Paperback
Published January 2, 2026
2 people are currently reading
2296 people want to read
About the author
William Durbin
59 books57 followersWilliam Durbin lives on Lake Vermilion at the edge of Minnesota's Boundary Waters Wilderness. A winner of the Great Lakes Book Award and a two-time winner of the Minnesota Book award, he has published short stories, essays, and poetry, as well as fourteen novels for young readers, including The Broken Blade, Wintering, Blackwater Ben, The Darkest Evening, The Journal of Otto Peltonen, and El Lector, which has been optioned for film by Jane Starz Productions. His latest novel, co-authored with his wife, Barbara is The Hidden Room. For more information visit his website at williamdurbin.com.
Durbin's honors include a Junior Library Guild Selection, Bank Street College Children’s Book of Year list, the ALA’s Amelia Bloomer list, New York Library Books for the Teen Age list, Maud Hart Lovelace nomination, Jefferson Cup Series of Note Award, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award, America’s Award commended title, Book Sense Summer Pick, Boy’s Life magazine serialization, St. Petersburg Times serialization, nominations for numerous state awards lists, and starred reviews in the major journals.
“William Durbin’s attention to detail—both historical and fictional—make him one of today’s masters of historical YA fiction.” -- David Gill of the NCTE
Durbin's honors include a Junior Library Guild Selection, Bank Street College Children’s Book of Year list, the ALA’s Amelia Bloomer list, New York Library Books for the Teen Age list, Maud Hart Lovelace nomination, Jefferson Cup Series of Note Award, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award, America’s Award commended title, Book Sense Summer Pick, Boy’s Life magazine serialization, St. Petersburg Times serialization, nominations for numerous state awards lists, and starred reviews in the major journals.
“William Durbin’s attention to detail—both historical and fictional—make him one of today’s masters of historical YA fiction.” -- David Gill of the NCTE
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 11, 2026
I want to preface this review by saying I have met this author in person and he is an outstanding man! So generous and kind!
This is the first realistic fiction piece by this author, and his pieces of historical fiction are outstanding! Our Middle Schoolers in our school library love them!
There was way too much politics in this book. I don't feel that is appropriate for Middle Schoolers. Especially in today's day and age. We have such a divisive and polarized society as it is, when we add things to books for our children that are talking about "right wing crazies" and "gun loving nut jobs," all it does is perpetuate that divisiveness in our society. I don't know about you, but I want more for our next upcoming generation. Using divisive rhetoric in middle grade books is not for me.
Also, there are claims in the books that are presented as facts that completely ignore huge chunks of information. The author claims that our government just wants to take funding away from public schools so that they can go to private schools and "indoctrinate" our children. This statement is laughable for multiple reasons. 1) The author himself is using indoctrination within the book with his biased rhetoric. 2) Our public schools are notorious for indoctrination through our tax dollars. 3) If I as a parent (which is my right) pay to send my child to private school, why should I also be paying the public school district via at private schools is at least at the CHOICE of the parents, choosing a private school that matches their values as a family--there is no choice when it comes to public schools.
That being said; I work for the public schools and have for over a decade. I am completely against standardized testing for many of the reasons he mentions in the book, but there is so much more to that story that the author could have delved into without making his book a political statement that is geared towards middles schoolers---trying to make such a political statement to middle schoolers kind of gives me the yuck. No one should be trying to sway middle schoolers in their political beliefs--this is the job of parents, to talk about values.
Also, another qualm I had is that there isn't consistency throughout the book when it comes to technology uses. For instance; in one part of the book the kids are creating a website and then in another part of the book the kids are using a card catalog to find books in the library. Kids today have no clue what a card catalog is as they haven't been used in decades. I was born in the late 80's and never had to use a card catalog so the relevance is going to be lost on children who read this book.
I will say that if you took out the politics in this book and stuck to the facts of the matter, the plot was great! The main characters were diverse and loveable and there was some middle grade appropriate romance. I love that the book shows that even children can make a difference and take a stand against injustices. The personal problems that the children face and the family lives of the characters were very realistic and relatable.
Had the politics been removed from this book I would have given it a 4 out of 5.
This is the first realistic fiction piece by this author, and his pieces of historical fiction are outstanding! Our Middle Schoolers in our school library love them!
There was way too much politics in this book. I don't feel that is appropriate for Middle Schoolers. Especially in today's day and age. We have such a divisive and polarized society as it is, when we add things to books for our children that are talking about "right wing crazies" and "gun loving nut jobs," all it does is perpetuate that divisiveness in our society. I don't know about you, but I want more for our next upcoming generation. Using divisive rhetoric in middle grade books is not for me.
Also, there are claims in the books that are presented as facts that completely ignore huge chunks of information. The author claims that our government just wants to take funding away from public schools so that they can go to private schools and "indoctrinate" our children. This statement is laughable for multiple reasons. 1) The author himself is using indoctrination within the book with his biased rhetoric. 2) Our public schools are notorious for indoctrination through our tax dollars. 3) If I as a parent (which is my right) pay to send my child to private school, why should I also be paying the public school district via at private schools is at least at the CHOICE of the parents, choosing a private school that matches their values as a family--there is no choice when it comes to public schools.
That being said; I work for the public schools and have for over a decade. I am completely against standardized testing for many of the reasons he mentions in the book, but there is so much more to that story that the author could have delved into without making his book a political statement that is geared towards middles schoolers---trying to make such a political statement to middle schoolers kind of gives me the yuck. No one should be trying to sway middle schoolers in their political beliefs--this is the job of parents, to talk about values.
Also, another qualm I had is that there isn't consistency throughout the book when it comes to technology uses. For instance; in one part of the book the kids are creating a website and then in another part of the book the kids are using a card catalog to find books in the library. Kids today have no clue what a card catalog is as they haven't been used in decades. I was born in the late 80's and never had to use a card catalog so the relevance is going to be lost on children who read this book.
I will say that if you took out the politics in this book and stuck to the facts of the matter, the plot was great! The main characters were diverse and loveable and there was some middle grade appropriate romance. I love that the book shows that even children can make a difference and take a stand against injustices. The personal problems that the children face and the family lives of the characters were very realistic and relatable.
Had the politics been removed from this book I would have given it a 4 out of 5.
February 5, 2026
As a future educator, I think it’s of the utmost importance to try to view inside students’ minds and do everything we can to help them, including changing our testing procedures to encourage them to grow, not compare themselves to an average. William Durbin conveyed a story that brings us all back to a test we felt so scared of and reminds us that now, we are the ones who can speak up for the young students who took our spots as the ones scared of testing. An absolutely amazing book, filled with wonderful information and an equally incredible storyline!!
January 25, 2026
Although this is a YA book, it has relevance to all students, parents, teachers, and especially state and federal legislators.
The story, seen through the eyes of an eighth grader, is more meaningful especially in the political climate of today.
The story, seen through the eyes of an eighth grader, is more meaningful especially in the political climate of today.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews