What do you think?
Rate this book
Randall's Wall
Inside your wall, no one can touch you
It was Randall's sister who first told him about the invisible wall that protected her from the cruelty of her classmates. By the time Randall is in fifth grade, he's had his own wall for years. Inside his wall, he doesn't have to think about his abusive father, gone for several months, or his thin, suffering mother, who never leaves the house -- the house with no running water for laundry or baths. Inside his wall, he can dream about picnics, about riding on his Uncle Luke's motorcycle, and, always, he can lose himself in his drawing.
But one day Randall makes a friend, and slowly, frighteningly, his wall begins to crumble. And miraculously, the gift that comforted Randall within his wall opens up a new world outside it.
It was Randall's sister who first told him about the invisible wall that protected her from the cruelty of her classmates. By the time Randall is in fifth grade, he's had his own wall for years. Inside his wall, he doesn't have to think about his abusive father, gone for several months, or his thin, suffering mother, who never leaves the house -- the house with no running water for laundry or baths. Inside his wall, he can dream about picnics, about riding on his Uncle Luke's motorcycle, and, always, he can lose himself in his drawing.
But one day Randall makes a friend, and slowly, frighteningly, his wall begins to crumble. And miraculously, the gift that comforted Randall within his wall opens up a new world outside it.
- GenresContemporary
96 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
1 person is currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Carol Fenner
24 books5 followersCarol Elizabeth Fenner (1929–2002) was an American children's writer.
Fenner's book Gorilla Gorilla won a Christopher Award and The Skates of Uncle Richard won honors from the Coretta Scott King Award. In addition, she was a runner-up for the Newbery Medal in 1996 for Yolonda's Genius. Just prior to her death, Yolonda's Genius was optioned by a major studio for possible production of a movie for television.
Fenner's book Gorilla Gorilla won a Christopher Award and The Skates of Uncle Richard won honors from the Coretta Scott King Award. In addition, she was a runner-up for the Newbery Medal in 1996 for Yolonda's Genius. Just prior to her death, Yolonda's Genius was optioned by a major studio for possible production of a movie for television.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 28, 2018
Read this one with the kiddo for his summer reading assignment.
September 2, 2020
I don't think I've ever read a story quite like this
February 19, 2013
A review from my old blog...
This book made it onto my list when I added all of the recommended summer reading books for middle school students in my district. I knew nothing about the book before I started reading.
Fenner's style appealed to me in an unusual way. She tells the story from several different points of view, most from Randall of course. Normally a technique like that turns me off of the book. In this case, Fenner made it work. It's almost as if Fenner holds the plot like a rope and lets out necessary information only at crucial points.
Randall's wall, figurative though it may be, struck me in such a profound way. As a teacher in training I have to be willing to look past what might not be appealing in the first place (or at all for that matter) in order to reach the student.
I can't tell much more than that without giving away the book but I do strongly recommend this book.
This book made it onto my list when I added all of the recommended summer reading books for middle school students in my district. I knew nothing about the book before I started reading.
Fenner's style appealed to me in an unusual way. She tells the story from several different points of view, most from Randall of course. Normally a technique like that turns me off of the book. In this case, Fenner made it work. It's almost as if Fenner holds the plot like a rope and lets out necessary information only at crucial points.
Randall's wall, figurative though it may be, struck me in such a profound way. As a teacher in training I have to be willing to look past what might not be appealing in the first place (or at all for that matter) in order to reach the student.
I can't tell much more than that without giving away the book but I do strongly recommend this book.
April 9, 2009
The style of Carol Fenner's writing is very different from most of what I have read; she very clearly has her own methods, not depending too strongly on other authors to dictate a particular style.
I found the story of Randall to be personally resonant and powerfully done. He lives in home conditions that very many of us would find intolerable, yet he is a nice boy, walled off from his would-be friends by things that he can't fully understand about, such as his poor personal hygiene, and he doesn't know how to fix it. Not a lot of authors could pull off this narrative so well, but I enjoyed it immensely. In such a relatively short story it is difficult to make a lasting impression, but Randall's Wall did just that for me.
I found the story of Randall to be personally resonant and powerfully done. He lives in home conditions that very many of us would find intolerable, yet he is a nice boy, walled off from his would-be friends by things that he can't fully understand about, such as his poor personal hygiene, and he doesn't know how to fix it. Not a lot of authors could pull off this narrative so well, but I enjoyed it immensely. In such a relatively short story it is difficult to make a lasting impression, but Randall's Wall did just that for me.
November 3, 2015
Carol Fenner did an awesome job on Randall's Wall. She tells his character in such good detail I felt like I was a character in the story. It is about a kid who doesn't have much in life, and is the school outcast, he gets a friend named Jean she's popular and rich.
Now Jean didn't just pick him to be a friend he stood up for her when she was getting bullied. After that she said thanks and all that and then they were on they're way. Jean noticed one day at recess that Randall was just sitting there doing nothing. So she went and sat and talked to him. He was surprised that she did that and he was a little shy.
I would recommend this book to people who love dreamer books.
Now Jean didn't just pick him to be a friend he stood up for her when she was getting bullied. After that she said thanks and all that and then they were on they're way. Jean noticed one day at recess that Randall was just sitting there doing nothing. So she went and sat and talked to him. He was surprised that she did that and he was a little shy.
I would recommend this book to people who love dreamer books.
August 15, 2009
Gr. 4-6. Borrowed from Linda Goldman. A boy named Randall Lord is the filthiest boy in the 5th grade class. No one wants to be friends with him until Jean starts to treat him like he is a person. She starts to help him improve his cleanliness by taking him home and getting him to take a bath with his cloths on! She discovers that she likes him as a friend and finally the teacher recognizes his artistic talent as well.
November 26, 2007
This book is about living life in a cruel world, but still having dreams and hope. I think it's extremely well written.
January 31, 2012
It was Good. I would Not say It was AWESOME! But It was a very good book. And It Defantly Shows Hardship for Randall.
September 27, 2014
Easy read. More suitable for middle school age. It was written from the Randall's (the poor, dirty boy with a sad home life) perspective, instead of his classmates which made it interesting.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews