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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 which 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 far beyond his school and community.
When Luke is assigned an I-Search paper at Palm Ridge Middle school, he tries to take the easy way out and write about a subject he's used twice before-manatees. However, his English teacher and the school librarian push him to choose a more challenging subject. As Luke reluctantly starts his research, he becomes engaged in a way that shocks his friends and ultimately changes his attitude toward both school and life.
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 censorship/banned books, the effects of divorce on kids, and what makes an effective teacher (and librarian). As a bonus, the book introduces a supporting cast of colorful student characters, incompetent administrators, and a soccer coach with an affinity for philosophy. But the strongest element of all in Bubble Sheet Blues is its humor.
When Luke is assigned an I-Search paper at Palm Ridge Middle school, he tries to take the easy way out and write about a subject he's used twice before-manatees. However, his English teacher and the school librarian push him to choose a more challenging subject. As Luke reluctantly starts his research, he becomes engaged in a way that shocks his friends and ultimately changes his attitude toward both school and life.
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 censorship/banned books, the effects of divorce on kids, and what makes an effective teacher (and librarian). As a bonus, the book introduces a supporting cast of colorful student characters, incompetent administrators, and a soccer coach with an affinity for philosophy. But the strongest element of all in Bubble Sheet Blues is its humor.
191 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 2, 2026
About the author
William Durbin
60 books58 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
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 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.
Read
April 12, 2026Luke Collins has used the same research paper on manatees since he was young. A capable slacker, Luke is stunned to discover his 8th English teacher and librarian are wise to his tricks, and he is forced to discover a new topic. Luke is a well developed character and the kind of kid many will relate to on one level or another. His best friends Claire and Gabe create lots of humorous banter throughout the novel as Luke eventually sets his focus on the Florida state reading test know as the FCATS. What starts off as a school research paper becomes much more. Durbin does not hesitate to address the problems these massive testing practices have had on youth not only in Florida but around the country.
Durbin, well known for his historical fiction stories like The Broken Blade, Blackwater Ben, and more recently The Hidden Room, to name a few, debuts this realistic fiction story that is sure to be of interest to both educators and students alike.
Durbin, well known for his historical fiction stories like The Broken Blade, Blackwater Ben, and more recently The Hidden Room, to name a few, debuts this realistic fiction story that is sure to be of interest to both educators and students alike.
Read
June 17, 2026I really enjoyed this book. I can't wait to share it with my middle school granddaughters. I've been working in the education field for 25 years and am now a librarian, I cannot wait to share this with my students. When I won this book, I didn't receive it, so I contacted William Durbin and he was so kind to send me another copy of it. I ended up receiving two copies of it within a couple of days of each other. I am going to donate one of them to the library in the school I work in and the other is going to be donated to the school that my granddaughters go to in Minnesota after they have read it.
If you work in education or have had children in the public school system, you know exactly what the standardized testing is all about it. This book nails it. Great job Mr. Durbin and thank you so much for the books. They will be passed on so others can enjoy them.
If you work in education or have had children in the public school system, you know exactly what the standardized testing is all about it. This book nails it. Great job Mr. Durbin and thank you so much for the books. They will be passed on so others can enjoy them.
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!!
September 14, 2026
I really enjoyed this book! I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the author’s research and facts were amazing. So many kids struggle with standardized testing. Teachers do as well. When everyone is under pressure, the stakes become even higher.
William Durbin has made some amazing correlations between the testing requirements, the testing companies, and even politics in the United States. This book was an eye-opener and one that I feel many teachers, and parents would benefit from reading, as well as kids themselves.
William Durbin has made some amazing correlations between the testing requirements, the testing companies, and even politics in the United States. This book was an eye-opener and one that I feel many teachers, and parents would benefit from reading, as well as kids themselves.
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.
September 6, 2026
Well-intended, but the writing style failed to do it for me.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews