Revenge of the Green Banana

by Jim Murphy

“If you ever went to Catholic school, or never went to Catholic school, you need to read this funny, smart, kid-true book. It explains everything.” —Jon Scieszka, author of Time Warp Trio and The Stinky Cheese Man Jimmy Murphy’s sixth grade teacher, Sister Angelica Rose, is out to get him. She humiliates him in class and punishes him when he hasn’t done anything wrong. She even forces him to perform onstage with second graders, wearing a giant green banana costume. A classic underachiever with a talent for trouble, Jimmy wants revenge, and with his friends he plans a prank that will embarrass Sister Angelica in front of the whole school. What could possibly go wrong? "This is a light and funny coming of age story. Even students who do not attend parochial school can identify with Jimmy and the struggles that he and his friends go through. The characters are all dynamic and the reader will want to know more about them all. This is a quick and enjoyable read that any upper elementary student will enjoy." — School Library Connection A Junior Literary Guild Selection

Genres: Humor, Middle Grade, School, Juvenile, Friendship, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 3, 2017

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.

Reviews

[Terrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny story of the 6th grade year of Jimmy, the class clown, who attends a Catholic private school. He is certain that the nuns have it in for him, and he cannot seem to make them quit picking on him. When he is forced to wear a big green banana costume during a school play, he and his friends concoct the greatest revenge ever. Taking place in the 1950’s, this is a story about the frustrations of growing up, self discovery, of friendship, and a good hearted boy trying to make it in a strict school situation. Thoroughly enjoyed this.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picture it: St Stephen's Catholic School, 1958. Red folder notorious James John Patrick Murphy approaches sixth grade determined to make a fresh start with the nuns and, more importantly, Kathy Guenther, the absolute prettiest girl ever. However, old habits (and prejudices) die hard so it takes only a few minutes for Jim to butt heads with his teacher, Sister Angelica. As the humiliations continue to pile up, Jim and his gang of buddies plot the ultimate revenge to murderlate-embarrass the nun in front of the entire school. What follows is a comedic romp through Jim's somewhat disastrous school year. Author Jim Murphy's semi-autobiographical novel has grit, humor, and just enough action to keep readers flipping the pages.
As a disclaimer, I happen to be easily charmed by books about boys in Catholic school. Having grown up with a father who regaled me with stories of his own scrapes at St. Virgil's where he was the "bad boy" I have a soft spot for the troublemakers. Reminiscent of Mark Goldblatt's fabulous Twerp and Finding the Worm, such novels may present somewhat of an idealized caricature of "boy" boys and their pals, but I must say it is one I always find enjoyable.

[Kayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

I made a few middle schoolers read this as my guinea pigs, and they liked it (probably a 3 or 4-star rating). Also, the title is amazing. I didn't like it so much. It was okay, and I liked that the main character was perceived as a troublemaker even though he was always in the wrong place at the wrong time. I was a teacher, and there were a few kids like that. The story just didn't grab me and it lacked a certain sparkle that makes these kinds of stories hilarious and charming.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

I'm a sucker for 1960s settings and the hilarious antics of preteen boys. This was pretty adorable and the Catholic School humor made for inside jokes that adults could appreciate, too. Cute lessons and entertaining. Kids will love it.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is the 1950s, and sixth-grader Jimmy Murphy is determined to turn over a new leaf. Within a few minutes of his entry into Sister Angelica Rose’s class, his plans are dashed. He’s sure his teacher, who has a red folder detailing his past crimes, is out to get him when he is sent to the second grade to help students prepare for a production of the Green Banana play. After Jimmy reveals a plan of revenge to his friends (to murderlate his teacher at the school production where she will be introducing a new bowling alley for girls), they jump in with enthusiasm to build a weapon of destruction. In the meantime, Sister Angelica Rose enlists Jimmy to help teach her basketball skills so she can begin a girls’ team, and he realizes that she is more than just a stern teacher and nun—that she is a caring person, too. Is it too late to derail the plan? Readers are bound to chuckle throughout their madcap ride with a roller-coaster turn of events at the end, in this story told from Jimmy’s point of view. A warning on the opening page states that events in the story actually happened to the author as a child.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Valuable for certain audiences, for example those who have things in common with the main character. Reminds me of Gordon Korman's MacDonald Hall series, and of Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, and even The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, but with less sentiment. I guess I wanted more depth and, yes, more sentiment, personally, and can't quite justify four stars. I can recommend if you're interested, though.

[Sukhman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was a nice read, what I didn't really like was that sometimes it felt like there could've been a more explained storyline between Jim and his friends because their friendship wasn't really built up enough for you to feel their connection. The friendship almost felt forced since they barely talked. Phillip may have been the only one I connected to and understood his relationship with Jim.

What I loved was that I felt the rage and the roller coaster of emotions that Jim went through, I legit wanted to go off at Sister Angelica for making him rewrite his thank you letter over and over again. The words used in this book were very nicely written, it gave you a lot to imagine it for yourselves most of the time.

[Kathy Piselli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jim Murphy recently died so I looked for this book which seemed autobiographical and boy did it take me back. I didn't go to Catholic school, though I did go to catechism with Dominican nuns who had weird alien powers (and stab), so that entire part of Murphy's imaginary/real school was familiar, as was a school where the staff are parents of your friends, there's a "clock watch" detention, and a town with a bridge over train tracks. We "murderlized" not "murderlated". Still. The kitchen floor tiled with a swastika was too astonishing not to be true - I wondered where Murphy heard that from. And there were dear things like the growing boy innocently seeing one of the teachers "I never noticed she was shrinking".

[Anastasia Tuckness · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sixth-grade boys' shenanigans in a Catholic school in the 1960s make for a pretty entertaining read. Hilarious descriptions of events like chicken cutlets covered with worm-like onions somehow landing on a nun's shoe are interspersed with the author's introspections and everyday activities. Revenge is plotted against other nuns who are picking on Jim and his friends--and their revenge will be costly and highly embarrassing, if they can pull it off!

Families and readers who liked The Great Brain books will enjoy these as well. Parents may want to know there are a number of references to "high school girls in tight sweaters."

[Mary Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Does the setting of a Catholic school (completely foreign to me) count for Reading Without Walls? I'm going to say, Yes. I checked out a particularly funny scene on the in-house expert on Catholic schooling, and he gave it two thumbs up.

No, there's not a lot of character development. But yes, it is funny. No, Sister Angelica is not going on our list of 100 Cool Teachers in Children's Literature, but even she had a moment of redemption.

[Tomer Zilberberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book "revenge of the green banana." is a great book. just by reading the title it will make you laugh. this book is about a troublemaker that wants a fresh start at 6th grade. he goes to a private religion schools so a lot of teachers know him. he didn't get lucky with his teacher. his teacher was very strict, and also his crush is in his class so he doesn't want to embarrass himself. overall this book was great and if you like then you should read it

[Rene · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a while to finally read this book, after having it in my possession for about a month. It was light entertainment that I think younger kids would enjoy. A few days after reading I didn't remember much, so it wasn't that memorable to me. I just have a gentle feeling of being entertained. As always, one star for the fact that someone took the time to actually write a book.

[Roxanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this from Goodreads. This is such a cute book about Jimmy Murphy and when he was in the sixth grade he went to a school taught by nuns. They make him wear a green banana costume on stage and he plots his revenge. So he and his friends plan a prank for the nun.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining semi autobiographic story of Jim Murphy's exploited in Catholic Grade school. Set in the late '50s the story has some funny parts and some parts that could be edited out- sometime dull.
I love the friend Phillip who speaks in Latin and French! Go Phillip!! Good for 5th and up!

[Janelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Step into the tragically funny life of a sixth grade boy at a Catholic school in the 1950s. I actually did laugh out loud a few times.

[Kandee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story of a boy being a boy in a Catholic school.

[Marcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was great!! If you haven't read it you should soon!!

[M Chipman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun look at Catholic school. Set in the past. A funny book with a good lesson.

Public.

[Katie Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jimmy is in 6th grade at a Catholic school in the 1950s. He is trying to no longer be the trouble-maker and horrible student he was in previous years, mostly to impress a girl. When a new teacher arrives, he sees no way out from her picking on him, other than revenge. Jimmy is recruited to be the Green Banana in the second grade play. Him and his friends plot their revenge on Sister Angelica Rose.

I never have attended Catholic school, but I was able to pick and choose teachers from my past that would have fit many of the teachers that we were given information on. I was also able to find classmates that reminded me of Jimmy and his friends. The beginning also reminded me a bit of Frindle by Andrew Clements. The revenge that Jimmy wanted seems to be very different from what his friends have planned, but he goes along with it anyway.

Being a librarian and educator, I can also see from where the teacher, Sister Angelica Rose, is coming. Who wouldn't want to help a child, or student, do better? Isn't that what Jimmy wanted, to do better, be better! Students always think that a teacher is picking on them, because they usually only see their side. As this story is seen only from Jimmy's perspective, we don't really know what else is going on.

Thank you Clarion Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book, which made this honest review possible.

[SundayAtDusk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is apparently an autobiographical account of author Jim Murphy's sixth-grade year at a Catholic elementary school in New Jersey in the 1950's. St. Stephen's Elementary School in Kearny, New Jersey to be exact. The author did not try to disguise the school in the story. In a warning at the beginning of the book, he even implies he's using real names! So, are we suppose to actually believe he had to dress up as a green banana, surrounded by second graders dressed up as yellow bananas, for a school play? Yeah, sure. And that he and his friends cooked up a wacky revenge plot to get back at a mean nun involving a bag of flour? Yeah, double sure.

But, hey, it was the 1950s. A time for wacky adventures, if I Love Lucy is any indication of what went on back during that decade. Nuns could hit kids back then,too. Even more shocking, most parents didn't help their kids with their homework, or even check it for mistakes after they finished doing it. (Yes, kids of today, that's why Jimmy was being helped with his homework by a classmate and not his parents. No self-respecting parents would be helping their kids with their homework back in the 1950s!) Actually, in my opinion, there wasn't enough '50s stuff in the story to make it seem like the 1950s. Thus, I have taken off a star for lack of decade ambience.

Now, about the threat of violence in the story. No, we're not talking about the six-foot swastika Jimmy's parents found under a kitchen rug after moving into their house in New Jersey. (They got rid of it.) We're talking about the plan by a group of boys, including one second-grade yellow banana named Al, to "murderlate" mean Sister Angelica. Did anyone get hurt during the murderlation? No. Does anyone truly think any kids today would copy the plan in this book in order to harm a nun or anyone else? No. That's one reason this story was taking place in the 1950s. Back then, kids could talk revenge and plot things involving bags of flour, without the school being "locked down", the police being called in, and news trucks arriving in swarms.

Actually, this story ends in a very sweet and positive way. Jimmy, our young protagonist, realizes people can change, including him, and that mean nuns aren't always as mean as they seem. Growing up isn't that bad, and as long as his mother puts canned pineapple in the orange Jell-O, instead of fresh, the Jell-O will always set and be ready by dinnertime. Will kids today like and appreciate this story? I have no idea. But at least they will learn some Latin, Italian, French and Spanish if they read the last two pages of the book.

(Note: I received a free copy of this book from Amazon Vine.)

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this as a good reads first read. I found the book fun to read and the escapades were interesting and the consequences. This kept me reading until I finished it to see how things turned out.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was provided to me as an advance reader copy by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

When I first started reading Revenge of the Green Banana, it put me in mind of Frindle by Andrew Clements. However, as much as I love Frindle, I think I love Green Banana more. I ached for Jimmy when he was misunderstood and mistreated by Sister Angelica, and yet I could feel empathy for the nun, whose motivations were not clearly stated. The beauty of this author’s style is that by using certain body language and speech patterns, he was able to convey to me that Angelica was a young (possibly completely new) teacher trying to do her best, but that she was not quite sure of what she was doing at all. Though they are side characters, Jimmy’s friends Centi, Mayer, Tom-Tom, Second-grade Al, Phillip, etc. are complex, layered characters, with distinct skills and abilities. Phillip is an especially rich character, with his speaking difficulties and incredible grasp of multiple languages. Sister Angelica’s actions toward Phillip, while at first seemingly malicious, actually tell the reader more about her desire to help her students than anything else. In addition, Phillip’s response to Sister Angelica’s actions shows a strength that is amazing in a young man who has so much difficulty expressing himself. In the end, despite the bad that happens, redemption is found and forgiveness granted. This is an excellent book about looking beyond the surface to the motivations that guide people’s behavior. I would recommend Revenge of the Green Banana to kids 10 to 13 who enjoy funny books involving scheming and intricate plans.

[Harold Walters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Six Grade Catholic School. Naughty boys. Nuns...some of whom smile.

[Jackie Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book for middle graders and adults. Is based on Jim Murphy's sixth grade in Catholic school. The book is fiction based on school antics. Found it funny and entertaining in his writing. The characters are engaging and remind one of their own school years. Thanks to Goodreads and Mr. Murphy.

[Karen Arendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed Jim Murphy's nonfiction texts and was curious about his fiction book. It is perfect! Jim has great voice. His character is likable and human. The plot is perfectly paced. Any Catholic can appreciate the fear of nuns in a classroom and everyone will enjoy Jim's revenge plot.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This look at the author, Jim Murphy’s sixth grade year in a Catholic school in the 1950s is funny and relatable. He is convinced his teacher hates him and because she is unkind to his best friend; thus, he and his friends spend their lunchtimes planning revenge on Sister Angelica Rose.

[Mayra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny!

[Gabriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revenge of the Green Banana by Jim

[Gabriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revenge of the Green Banana by Jim Murphy is realistic fiction. The problem is that his teacher humiliates him in class. The main characters are, Jim, Sister Angelita, Philip.

[Nancyann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even though this is a young adult book I chose to read it (I'm a grown up) because I am from the author's hometown of Kearny, NJ. And that is where the story takes place, in St. Stephen's Catholic school, where I attended religious classes after my public school day. I tried putting myself in the place of an eleven year old...would I find the story interesting? Meh, not really. The hero of our story enlists the help of his buddies to get back at a mean nun after she embarrasses him in front of the class. Simply told and easy to read, Revenge of the Green Banana was only okay.