Tripping Over the Lunch Lady: And Other School Stories

by Nancy E. Mercado (Editor), Avi (Contributor), Sarah Weeks (Contributor)

A collection of ten stories, from such contributors as Avi, Angela Johnson, Sarah Weeks, and David Rice, recreates the horrors and hilarity of middle school, from missing the bus to opting for square dancing over an evil trampoline in gym class.

Genres: Short Stories, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Humor, Banned Books, Fiction

179 pages, Hardcover

First published July 22, 2004

About the author

Poet, writer, educator, and activist Nancy E. Mercado is the author of It Concerns the Madness (2000) and editor of the children’s anthology if the world were mine (2003). She earned a BA from Rutgers University, an MA from New York University, and a PhD in English from SUNY-Binghamton. Latino Leaders Magazine hailed Mercado as “one of the most celebrated members of the Puerto Rican literary movement in the Big Apple.”

Reviews

[Crystal Marcos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up Tripping Over the Lunch Lady: And Other School Stories because I loved the title and the humorous cover. This book brought me back to my childhood instantly from the beginning line on the introduction page, "What do I remember most about school?" A clever compiling of 10 stories of 10 children's authors answering that very question. The stories were true to life, funny, and very entertaining. I only wish there were more stories!

I enjoyed reading the extra information provided after every story about the author's answers to questions about their school experiences. It was very interesting that almost all answered the same answer to "Least favorite class?" I had the exact same answer...I wonder if that had anything to do with the career path we chose. =)

I also liked that each story dealt with real emotions children might feel. Like a child who doesn't want her new friends to know she has a food allergy, what a class clown feels like when really put on the spot, or a child who doesn't want to visit her less than stellar father for the summer.

I think children as well as adults would enjoy this book. I related to some of the stories more than others simply because I saw myself in some of the characters.

[Haila Bay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this collection of short stories about experiences in elementary school years. This book was challenged mainly in regards to one story, Apple Blossoms by Terry Trueman, because it was said to be offensive to children with loved ones serving in the military and the mentioning of bombs war, and soldier casualties. The overall book was said to be inappropriate for elementary school students. I e story the references war and bombs could have been worded without so much military terminology, however it would have lost some effect. The story about a mispronunciation during a oral recitation of a poem on the topic of war. I think that this student in "Apple Blossoms" tried his best and the way the class perceived him, as the class clown, got in the way of his ability to overcome a simple mistake. I do not agree with the challenge of this book, and I believe I could incorporate some of these stories within my future classroom because of the morals and ideas that are presented, with the addition of humor. I may not choose to read all the stories within this cover, but that decision would be based on how well the story would be incorporated into the lessons or themes I am trying to teach to my students at the time. I did enjoy this collection of stories.

[Snowy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some stories were 4 or 5 stars but others were a 3. I purchased this little book because it was marketed under the humor category. However, only one story-Apple Blossom- was funny, it made me laugh until I cried. Maybe the rest of the stories are supposed to be funny to children, not to adults. But hey, I got one quote from one of the stories, lol.

"Anything worth doing is hard. Hard until you learn to do it, and then it gets easy."

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

My students have been reading a short story called "Tripping over the Lunch Lady." I knew it was an excerpt but this year I finally decided to find out where the story came from and read the whole thing. So I did.
I normally don't care much for short stories but this one charmed me. My favorite may have been the last story.
My students will be excited when they see the addition to our new classroom library.

[Jim Sibigtroth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short story collection covering a range of writing styles and story types. Generally, humorous stories about school experiences. Includes one graphic story (comic book style).

[Carolbitsyland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed most of the stories and so did 5th graders I read aloud too!

[Catharine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for read alouds for fifth grade class. There were two or three stories I thought were worth the read aloud, the others I didn't think would hold their attention or weren't a fit.

[Katie Fitzgerald]

Read Experts, Incorporated by Sarah Weeks on 8/11/12.

Rod Curtain is in big trouble. His humanities teacher has promised the class that if no one fails an assignment all year, she will buy the class pizza and soda to celebrate. There is just one assignment left: each student has to write an essay explaining what he wants to be when he grows up. Rod’s problem is that he doesn’t know what he wants to be, so he hasn’t written the assignment. Thankfully, after a morning spent contemplating unfortunate names, such as his friend Lucas, who always gets called “mucus” and Jessica, whose hyphenated last name is Pepper-Mintz, he gets the idea for Experts, Incorporated, a company designed to help parents realize all the possible problems with the names they choose for their kids.

Nicknames and name-calling are a big part of childhood, and this story is a fun way of exploring the naming process. I love that the main character’s name is a play on “curtain rod,” and that several of his classmates have names that either don’t fit or lend themselves to terrible mockery. I thought it was especially clever to think about whether names will fit as kids get older or not.

This slice of life story offers a fresh, clever take on homework excuses and that inevitable question about what kids want to be when they grow up. In some ways, the quirky sense of humor Weeks uses in writing this story reminds me of Oggie Cooder, her middle school character who marches to the beat of his own drummer.

"Experts, Incorporated" would make a nice ice breaker for the first day of school, or the first meeting of a book club, because it invites kids to share and talk about their names. I’d also love to use it in a library program just on names, maybe combined with an art activity.

[Pam · Rating 1 out of 5]

I admit I'm not a kid, nor an elementary school teacher or even a parent of an elementary school child so I suppose that it does not matter that I did not really like this book. Like most books full of short stories, there were good ones like "Science Friction" by David Lubar and "Tripping Over the Lunch Lady" by Angela Johnson and bad ones, or at least ones I did not get, like "How I Got My English A" by Avi.

I suspect part of my problem was that I didn't enjoy elementary school all that much, and perhaps too many hit too close to home. I did like the short "interviews" of each author at the end of their stories.

[Mas5thgrade2012 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really good! I recommend it to people. I liked how there were short stories, not one story!
Horse29

LOL I LOVE THIS BOOK ITS HILLARIOUSE.. U SHOULD READ IT <3--CANDYLOVER51

That book was funney with all of the stories in one 177 page book
evilteddybear

It was a great book, recommed to people like you!!!!
-pbandj23

i liked this book it was funny

omg love this book funny <3

~I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! IT IS SOOOOO FUNNY LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!(:(:(:(:<3<3<3<3
~PURPLEROCKSTAR!!!!!!!

[Allison Renner · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of short stories from well-known authors such as Avi, Rachel Vail, and Sarah Weeks, to name a few. Many of the stories were well-done, taking me back in time to my elementary and middle school days. A few were a bit confusing to read, notably Avi's, and I wonder if it reads easier or harder for children who are the target age. Regardless, it was a good book to read and realize that everyone has had similar school experiences - no one just coasts though. Each story ends with a questionnaire from the author about their own school days.

[Bridget Yarusso · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I reenter the young adult lit scene, I am reminded of the many awkward moments of adolescence as well as how the young mind tries to make sense of it all. This book taps into those memories through ten short stories told by YAL authors who know their audience. I enjoyed reading and reconnecting with my middle school days - although I am glad to reminisce and NOT relive. My favorite stories were "How I Got my English A", "Science Friction", "The Desk" and "The Girls' Room". I would certainly recommend this to a student for independent reading.

[Lilli · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a great collection of stories for late elementary to middle school students--particularly as a read-aloud. our class actually gave "the crush" a round of unsolicited applause at the story's finish! the stories are about middle-school age kids and most are humorous. all are well written. lastly, and not-for-nothing, it is an enjoyable book to read aloud as well--the tales are reminiscent for us older (past 15) folks.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of short stories that really captures the essence of being in school - the embarrassment, boring assignments, friends, gross food, the works. I really enjoyed all the stories, except for the one comic in middle, which I just could't get into. The stories seemed pretty well split between boys and girl characters, so a good recommendation for anyone who currently struggles with the wilderness of school, or anyone who has memories of those experiences.

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

J Short stories. Mostly funny short stories about school life written by well known children's authors. I love the school pictures of the authors and some cute personal facts like what subject they liked, etc. at the end of each short story. For all elem and even some middle school...depends on the story

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this collection of short stories, all of which take place in school. I especially liked the title story by Angela Johnson, which was hilarious. This would be a great book to read, story by story, to an elementary school class.

[Tattered Cover Book Store]

This book is on the bibliography of books challenged, restricted, removed or banned in 2007-2008 put out by Robert P. Doyle and the American Library Association. More info at http://www.ila.org/pdf/2008banned.pdf

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really funny!

I liked this book.I really like the stories in this book. I think all older kids (middle school) would like this book. This book is a quick read and quite intresting. (Even if the stories are exagerrated.) So if you like short funny stoires read this book.

[Raven]

I think that this book so funny and interesting. I loved all of the characters but my favorite was the little clumsy boy that was trying to square dance. He almost broke every body ankle. I would recommend this book to my friends that like lots of comedy because this book is filled with it.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not read the whole thing but it does not really matter because each chapter is a new story from a new author. But I really like Avi chapter about being kidnapped with his "teecher" and "righting a handsome note"(he had really bad grammar problems and ears)

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of stories from middle school. They do a nice job of addressing some common concerns of youth such as being the new kid, having difficulty learning to read, and competition. I only found a couple I didn't like as well but it should be enjoyed by many.

[Michelle H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I especially love the one about the boy with dyxlexia

[Donalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A favorite with my sixth grade class year after year.

[Daniella · Rating 5 out of 5]

So funny love it.

[Shana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read aloud stories for upper elementary/middle school kids.

[Victoria Whipple · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of stories about school written by well-known children's authors.

[Travis]

Didn't like it as much as I thought I would.

[Elena · Rating 3 out of 5]

good book! just read it for the second time!

[Beth Mcquown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really funny book. Some of those stories are ones that are similar to mine. Funny, for a kid's book.

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great set of short stories to begin the year with. We especially LOVE "How I Got My English A" by Avi.