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Wayside School #1
Sideways Stories from Wayside School
The Wayside School was supposed to be one story high, with 30 classrooms side by side; instead, rooms were built atop each other - 30 stories tall. In 30 tales, meet meanest teacher Mrs Gorf, terrible Todd sent home early, John only reading upside down, Jason stuck to his seat by chewing gum. Some tales have a bit of a moral - Kathy assumes no one likes her.
158 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
4322 people are currently reading
39790 people want to read
About the author
Louis Sachar
85 books4,696 followersLouis Sachar (pronounced Sacker), born March 20, 1954, is an American author of children's books.
Louis was born in East Meadow, New York, in 1954. When he was nine, he moved to Tustin, California. He went to college at the University of California at Berkeley and graduated in 1976, as an economics major. The next year, he wrote his first book, Sideways Stories from Wayside School .
He was working at a sweater warehouse during the day and wrote at night. Almost a year later, he was fired from the job. He decided to go to law school. He attended Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco.
His first book was published while he was in law school. He graduated in 1980. For the next eight years he worked part-time as a lawyer and continued to try to write children's books. Then his books started selling well enough so that he was able to quit practicing law. His wife's name is Carla. When he first met her, she was a counselor at an elementary school. She was the inspiration behind the counselor in There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom . He was married in 1985. Hisdaughter, Sherre, was born in 1987.
Louis was born in East Meadow, New York, in 1954. When he was nine, he moved to Tustin, California. He went to college at the University of California at Berkeley and graduated in 1976, as an economics major. The next year, he wrote his first book, Sideways Stories from Wayside School .
He was working at a sweater warehouse during the day and wrote at night. Almost a year later, he was fired from the job. He decided to go to law school. He attended Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco.
His first book was published while he was in law school. He graduated in 1980. For the next eight years he worked part-time as a lawyer and continued to try to write children's books. Then his books started selling well enough so that he was able to quit practicing law. His wife's name is Carla. When he first met her, she was a counselor at an elementary school. She was the inspiration behind the counselor in There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom . He was married in 1985. Hisdaughter, Sherre, was born in 1987.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,678 reviews
January 6, 2008
If you want to see exactly what rests at the center of someone’s soul, don’t bother reading a 200-page biography on them; ask them what was the first book ever to make an impression on them that lasted into their adulthood. For some it might be some garbage about a brat named Ramona and her ginger-kid friends, and these people embrace a passion for whimsy and camaraderie. Others have a deep-rooted sense of ‘self’ from cherishing the trails and tribulations of some chick named Margaret menstruating and masturbating. Those who would grow up to be truly unexceptional enjoyed those 10-page “Mr. Man” books (mr happy, mr bump, mr greedy) which always delivered some pointless life lesson about sharing, caring, or other similar nonsense. And then there are those who were destined to be influenced by the outrageous, ridiculous, and sublime, and their rallying point is the fantastic cast of Wayside School.
I’m sure each character has their own loyal following of obedient acolytes who have championed their cause and tried emulating their idol throughout their life; most would probably be fond of Todd, the luckless but genuinely lovable rapscallion who is dismissed from class for his antics every day, the art-f@g crowd related to Bebe Gunn, the dreamers prefer Sharie , the ambitious geeks decry the greatness of Myron, the optimists swear DJ had the right attitude while the misanthropes defer to Kathy’s wisdom, and the goofballs and flucktards of the world were torn between Stephen and Jenny. The people supporting anyone else are usually living in their parents’ basement currently and getting geeked on paint thinner or spending their time volunteering for charitable causes or running for public office. But there is the unsung hero that none can forget, easily the linchpin of the story and the single most inspiring, enigmatic, and culturally relevant character ever introduced in ANY book; Sammy. That’s right, Sammy; the grimy, filthy, stinking, and baffling dead rat that tries infiltrating Mrs. Jewls class while posing as a student and wearing multiple raincoats that reek of decay and alley-trash. He trash talks the entire class, he befouls their atmosphere with his pungent stench, and threatens to bite the teachers head off for discarding his ‘good clothes’ as she throws raincoat after raincoat out the window. Sammy stands proud in the midst of his admonishment, laughing at those who think he might actually give a damn about their concerns or opinions, and is ultimately banished to the basement to live with the other dead rats; presumably where they hatch their nefarious plans to somehow attend class. Are they doing it just to cause a commotion? Are the legitimately interested in garnering some education? Could this be their own rite of passage in their social circles? Sammy’s puzzling nature keeps us guessing, pondering these questions without conclusion.
Compared to the iconic students attending Wayside, the kids at Hogwarts don’t compare, Ramona and her ilk look flimsy and pathetic, and the Choose Your Own Adventure books seem predictable and without shock compared to the zany irreverence displayed in these Sideways Stories.
I’m sure each character has their own loyal following of obedient acolytes who have championed their cause and tried emulating their idol throughout their life; most would probably be fond of Todd, the luckless but genuinely lovable rapscallion who is dismissed from class for his antics every day, the art-f@g crowd related to Bebe Gunn, the dreamers prefer Sharie , the ambitious geeks decry the greatness of Myron, the optimists swear DJ had the right attitude while the misanthropes defer to Kathy’s wisdom, and the goofballs and flucktards of the world were torn between Stephen and Jenny. The people supporting anyone else are usually living in their parents’ basement currently and getting geeked on paint thinner or spending their time volunteering for charitable causes or running for public office. But there is the unsung hero that none can forget, easily the linchpin of the story and the single most inspiring, enigmatic, and culturally relevant character ever introduced in ANY book; Sammy. That’s right, Sammy; the grimy, filthy, stinking, and baffling dead rat that tries infiltrating Mrs. Jewls class while posing as a student and wearing multiple raincoats that reek of decay and alley-trash. He trash talks the entire class, he befouls their atmosphere with his pungent stench, and threatens to bite the teachers head off for discarding his ‘good clothes’ as she throws raincoat after raincoat out the window. Sammy stands proud in the midst of his admonishment, laughing at those who think he might actually give a damn about their concerns or opinions, and is ultimately banished to the basement to live with the other dead rats; presumably where they hatch their nefarious plans to somehow attend class. Are they doing it just to cause a commotion? Are the legitimately interested in garnering some education? Could this be their own rite of passage in their social circles? Sammy’s puzzling nature keeps us guessing, pondering these questions without conclusion.
Compared to the iconic students attending Wayside, the kids at Hogwarts don’t compare, Ramona and her ilk look flimsy and pathetic, and the Choose Your Own Adventure books seem predictable and without shock compared to the zany irreverence displayed in these Sideways Stories.
February 26, 2010
There is no 19th story.
February 7, 2015
This is the only chapter book I've read to my class this year that has caused them to demand more chapters, beg for a quick chapter here and there throughout the day and I've even had to re-read several chapters to them. There is just something about absurdity mixed with keen observations of school days reality that gets kids every time.
June 14, 2020
"There is no 19th story."
I have been told by many who love this series and I've talked to people who love this book and read it as a kid. I think there is something to reading this as a child that an adult misses because it was an okay story, but it didn't do a whole lot for me. It had whimsy, but it didn't land for me.
A long school was turned on it's side and all the classrooms are stacked on top of each other like a high rise. So all the rules are different here and what is up is down and so forth. Our story takes place on the classroom on the 30th floor. Each chapter is about one of the kids in the classroom or a teacher. It's cute how it's set up. Louis has some great imagination for this book. I am a fan of Roald Dahl, but this, I can leave. I won't be reading on with this series.
I would totally recommend this to a middle grade reader interested in something new. I think my Nephew, especially would enjoy this. It simply wasn't written for me. Maybe I would have loved it as a child, I don't know. I appreciate the fun Louis brought to the story and it's well written.
I have been told by many who love this series and I've talked to people who love this book and read it as a kid. I think there is something to reading this as a child that an adult misses because it was an okay story, but it didn't do a whole lot for me. It had whimsy, but it didn't land for me.
A long school was turned on it's side and all the classrooms are stacked on top of each other like a high rise. So all the rules are different here and what is up is down and so forth. Our story takes place on the classroom on the 30th floor. Each chapter is about one of the kids in the classroom or a teacher. It's cute how it's set up. Louis has some great imagination for this book. I am a fan of Roald Dahl, but this, I can leave. I won't be reading on with this series.
I would totally recommend this to a middle grade reader interested in something new. I think my Nephew, especially would enjoy this. It simply wasn't written for me. Maybe I would have loved it as a child, I don't know. I appreciate the fun Louis brought to the story and it's well written.
January 13, 2020
I had the urge to re-read these books again. My teacher read this book series out loud to us in Elementary school and it is one of my fondest memories. I was so in love with the book that I had to make sure I purchased my own copy at the book fair. After rereading it for the first time since then, I can completely see why kids would love this. It's fun, strange, and silly all in one.
March 23, 2009
I remember loving this book at some point during my childhood. Re-reading it as an adult confirms that I was a very strange child. What an awesomely weird book! Teachers turning into apples and being eaten by recess monitors! Dead rats in raincoats passing as ornery new students!
One particularly bizarre, hilarious passage:
"In Mrs. Jewls' class there were three children named Eric: Eric Fry, Eric Bacon, and Eric Ovens. They were known throughout the school for being fat. Eric Fry sat at this end of the room. Eric Bacon sat in the middle of the room. And Eric Ovens sat at that end of the room. There was a joke around Wayside that if all three Erics were even in the same end of the room at the same time, the whole school would tip over.
Eric Bacon hated jokes like that. That was not surprising. After all, he wasn't even fat. In fact, he was the skinniest kid in Mrs. Jewl's class. But nobody seemed to notice. The other two Erics were fat, and so everyone just thought that all Erics were fat.
'But I'm not fat!' Eric Bacon insisted.
'What's your name?' asked Jason.
'Eric," said Eric Bacon.
'Then you're fat,' Jason concluded.
Another favorite:
"Dameon had hazel eyes with a little black dot in the middle of each of them. The dots were called pupils. So was Dameon. He was a pupil in Mrs. Jewl's class."
One particularly bizarre, hilarious passage:
"In Mrs. Jewls' class there were three children named Eric: Eric Fry, Eric Bacon, and Eric Ovens. They were known throughout the school for being fat. Eric Fry sat at this end of the room. Eric Bacon sat in the middle of the room. And Eric Ovens sat at that end of the room. There was a joke around Wayside that if all three Erics were even in the same end of the room at the same time, the whole school would tip over.
Eric Bacon hated jokes like that. That was not surprising. After all, he wasn't even fat. In fact, he was the skinniest kid in Mrs. Jewl's class. But nobody seemed to notice. The other two Erics were fat, and so everyone just thought that all Erics were fat.
'But I'm not fat!' Eric Bacon insisted.
'What's your name?' asked Jason.
'Eric," said Eric Bacon.
'Then you're fat,' Jason concluded.
Another favorite:
"Dameon had hazel eyes with a little black dot in the middle of each of them. The dots were called pupils. So was Dameon. He was a pupil in Mrs. Jewl's class."
March 18, 2021
My 7 & 10 year old daughters laughed heartily throughout much of this read, but I think I missed the window. The humor didn't quite make it to my thirtieth story.
No offense to Louis Sachar, but I just kept thinking. . . when is it going to turn into a Roald Dahl novel?
It never did.
No offense to Louis Sachar, but I just kept thinking. . . when is it going to turn into a Roald Dahl novel?
It never did.
March 1, 2018
These wacky absurd stories which may seem irreverent and sometimes mean-spirited to adults really seem to resonate with children. These stories were immediately attention grabbing for my kids and left them begging for more. The humor makes sense to the kids and they enjoyed the absolute absurdity and upside-down-ness of this school and it’s rules.
Wayside school was accidentally built 30 stories high and is leaning. Each chapter tells the reader about one student in the 30th story classroom. Their old teacher, Mrs. Gorf, used to turn the children into apples, but she got turned into an apple herself and now they have a new teacher, Mrs. Jewls. Mrs. Jewl whispers to one of the students that “children are really smarter than their teachers,” a fact that was already known to the students. One student can only read upside down and is told he must learn to stand on his head. Another student arranges to sell her “useless” toes to the yard teacher, however, when she is not getting the full price she originally bargained for, the deal is off. When the children laugh, the walls laugh with them and turn purple.
The author, Louis Sachar, has written himself into this book as the yard teacher whom the children see at recess. He features in nearly every chapter, and takes part in the absurdity of the Wayside School practices. This was a fun easy read that was very engaging for my children. The best part of the book, is that within each wacky weird story is a real nugget of truth, something both adults and kids can very much connect with.
For discussion questions, please see: http://www.book-chatter.com/?p=3057.
Wayside school was accidentally built 30 stories high and is leaning. Each chapter tells the reader about one student in the 30th story classroom. Their old teacher, Mrs. Gorf, used to turn the children into apples, but she got turned into an apple herself and now they have a new teacher, Mrs. Jewls. Mrs. Jewl whispers to one of the students that “children are really smarter than their teachers,” a fact that was already known to the students. One student can only read upside down and is told he must learn to stand on his head. Another student arranges to sell her “useless” toes to the yard teacher, however, when she is not getting the full price she originally bargained for, the deal is off. When the children laugh, the walls laugh with them and turn purple.
The author, Louis Sachar, has written himself into this book as the yard teacher whom the children see at recess. He features in nearly every chapter, and takes part in the absurdity of the Wayside School practices. This was a fun easy read that was very engaging for my children. The best part of the book, is that within each wacky weird story is a real nugget of truth, something both adults and kids can very much connect with.
For discussion questions, please see: http://www.book-chatter.com/?p=3057.
May 4, 2020
In this children’s novel, Louis Sachar tells thirty stories about kids in the highest class of a 30-story school.
I heard lots of good reviews of Louis Sachar works and bought this one to offer some friends’ children. This is not my usual genre, and I am unable to determine the target demo (10y olds?) but I must say story 28 had me laughing out loud! I found it difficult to get up and running with this one, then finally finished it at lightning speed, and enjoying it more than the first half!
It’s wonky and funky like the school itself. Each chapter is a short story relating to one of Mrs Jewls pupils. The stories are sad, funny, silly, sometimes out of this world - and I guess that’s what makes this book fun. I shall be passing it on to my friends’ kids for their enjoyment. I am desperate for their feedback to rate this properly.
I heard lots of good reviews of Louis Sachar works and bought this one to offer some friends’ children. This is not my usual genre, and I am unable to determine the target demo (10y olds?) but I must say story 28 had me laughing out loud! I found it difficult to get up and running with this one, then finally finished it at lightning speed, and enjoying it more than the first half!
It’s wonky and funky like the school itself. Each chapter is a short story relating to one of Mrs Jewls pupils. The stories are sad, funny, silly, sometimes out of this world - and I guess that’s what makes this book fun. I shall be passing it on to my friends’ kids for their enjoyment. I am desperate for their feedback to rate this properly.
January 20, 2024
Tiny Craig snort laughed so hard.
November 26, 2017
كتاب ساخر يحوي ثلاثين قصة تدور أحداثها حول الطلاب و المعلمين في مدرسة غريبة بنيت بطريقة خاطئة .. في البداية يقول الكاتب "أن المدرسة كان يفترض أن تبنى على طابق واحد يحوى ثلاثين فصلاً ممتدة على نسق واحد، بيد أن المدرسة بنيت بثلاثين طابقاً، في كل طابق فصل دراسي واحد،و قد أعتذر المهندس عن الخطأ الذي أرتكبه في بناء المدرسة"!
القصص بالطبع تحوى الكثير من الفانتازيا في أطار ساخر ، بعض القصص كانت جميلة و ذات مغزى و نجحت في رسم الأبتسامة، لكن معظم القصص كانت تبدو ساذجة إلى حد بعيد و خالية من أي مضمون أو فكر جديد
بشكل عام الكتاب مسلي، و معظم القصص لا تتجاوز الصفحتان و بالتالي يسهل قراءتها كفاصل قصير بين روايتان أو كتابان من النوع الذي يتطلب مساحة أكبر من التركيز
القصص بالطبع تحوى الكثير من الفانتازيا في أطار ساخر ، بعض القصص كانت جميلة و ذات مغزى و نجحت في رسم الأبتسامة، لكن معظم القصص كانت تبدو ساذجة إلى حد بعيد و خالية من أي مضمون أو فكر جديد
بشكل عام الكتاب مسلي، و معظم القصص لا تتجاوز الصفحتان و بالتالي يسهل قراءتها كفاصل قصير بين روايتان أو كتابان من النوع الذي يتطلب مساحة أكبر من التركيز
September 5, 2011
Oh Louis Sachar you are such a gifted children’s writer. I’ve loved all of your books (from the social injustice of Holes to the touching There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom). But the Wayside School books will always have a special place in my heart as the funniest and goofiest. Sachar uses a lot of puns, wordplay, and zany situations and that’s probably why as an adult my most favorite type of humor is irony with a little bit of absurdity. Here is a taste:
“Dana had four beautiful eyes. She wore glasses. But her eyes were so beautiful that the glasses only made her prettier. With two eyes she was pretty. With four eyes she was beautiful. With six eyes she would have been even more beautiful. And if she had a hundred eyes, why, she would have been the most beautiful creature in the world” (51).
He shows such insight into the logic of children and you see this motley cast of characters evoking recess justice, showing Eric discrimination, being selfish or disrespectful, or being kind. Todd is one of my favorites because he’s such a nice kid but has bad luck and always has to go home early on the kindergarten bus. I wish I knew kids like these, even Kathy who tastes a little bit like old bologna or Sammy who is actually a dead rat.
Before you read any of the other Wayside School books, it's essential you read this collection because you are introduced to each and every kid in class and you also learn how Mrs. Jewels becomes their beloved teacher. And apparently Louis the Yard Teacher is indeed Louis Sachar so Sachar has a red face and mustache of many colors and gets punched in the stomach a lot. I also learned that “When two plus two doesn’t equal four, anything can happen” (120). I bet this was a 1984 reference that I did not get when I was nine. If you don’t enjoy this book, you can “take a train, peanut brain”.
“Dana had four beautiful eyes. She wore glasses. But her eyes were so beautiful that the glasses only made her prettier. With two eyes she was pretty. With four eyes she was beautiful. With six eyes she would have been even more beautiful. And if she had a hundred eyes, why, she would have been the most beautiful creature in the world” (51).
He shows such insight into the logic of children and you see this motley cast of characters evoking recess justice, showing Eric discrimination, being selfish or disrespectful, or being kind. Todd is one of my favorites because he’s such a nice kid but has bad luck and always has to go home early on the kindergarten bus. I wish I knew kids like these, even Kathy who tastes a little bit like old bologna or Sammy who is actually a dead rat.
Before you read any of the other Wayside School books, it's essential you read this collection because you are introduced to each and every kid in class and you also learn how Mrs. Jewels becomes their beloved teacher. And apparently Louis the Yard Teacher is indeed Louis Sachar so Sachar has a red face and mustache of many colors and gets punched in the stomach a lot. I also learned that “When two plus two doesn’t equal four, anything can happen” (120). I bet this was a 1984 reference that I did not get when I was nine. If you don’t enjoy this book, you can “take a train, peanut brain”.
July 15, 2014
This isn't a review of Louis Sachar's Sideways Stories from Wayside School.
What this is the mysterious set of events that surrounded a particular copy of this book that I found in a little neighbourhood library in Baltimore. Or rather, a particular copy of this book that found me.It happened innocently enough. I was picking out books that other libraries in the system needed from my branch. A daily task. A mundane work day. I reached out to pick out Marley: Marley Learns a Lesson, when another book tumbled straight down to land squarely on my right foot. I picked it up and recognized that yellow font and Miss Gorf's wicked grin. Memories of libraries past flooded into my head, and I was too giddy with nostalgia to realize how conveniently it just landed into my lap. I read the entire book, which was shorter than I remembered, during the rest of the day. It was surprisingly terrifying when one processes some of the weird happenings within the confines of Wayside School. Where did Ms. Jewel find ice-cream that tastes like her students? Who gave Miss Gorf her teaching licence? HOW DID THAT DEAD RAT PUT ON CLOTHES?! Many questions were left unanswered in this slim anthology. But I dutifully read through all thirty stories and enjoyed them all, questionable it as they were. As I started to put the book away, I remembered to mark it "used" in our system, because having statistics pays the bills in a public library! I placed it under the watchful eye of the scanner.
"Item not found in Catalog."
Odd, I thought. It bore all the marks of a well-loved library book: it had the unique barcode each and every tome had in the system; it had the stamps and seals of the library that held it; hell, it even had water stains and bite marks of toddlers past who mistook the book for a teat! I tried it again."Item not found in Catalog."
And again."Item not found in Catalog."
My eyes narrowed. Again."Item not found in Catalog."
I scoured each and every page looking for any hints of a joke. Was this some prank? Again."Item not found in Catalog."
I looked for the written number that used to identify these books before the barcode system was in place."Item not found in Catalog."
I tried the ISBN, the title, and even furiously typed in Louis Sachar in the database. I looked through each copy the entire library had in every branch throughout the city. I had to admit defeat."Item not found in Catalog."
The book I had in my hand did not exist.I handed the book over to my supervisor, who handed it over to the ladies of the Circulation desk to file away for tomorrow. They checked it too, and they got the same message. We'll add it back to the collection tomorrow, they said. Sometimes, when a book's discarded because it's too old or too shelfworn to be circulated, it's sold off by the library, they said. Sometimes, and this does happen, they forget that it's a book that was sold to them, and return it to the library! Isn't that funny, they said. Yeah, it's pretty funny. The library was closing for the night, and when I walked past front desk to retrieve my belongings from the back offices, I stared at the book. Miss Gorf's cheeky smirk was more menacing to me now than it had ever been in my twenty-something years of being a reader.
It was then I knew.
It didn't want to be sold.
It didn't want to be forgotten.
It wanted to be found...
October 27, 2012
This was my reaction when I realized that I have not forgotten to pack this book for my Mumbai trip.
And this was my expression throughout the period when I was reading the book.
I had so many expectations from it and maybe that led to the epic fall. I so wanted to like it. I wanted another Wimpy Kid in my kitty on which I can fall back on whenever I need.
But this is no Wimpy Kid, oh hell, it sucks as intensely as the Fudge kid in Fudge-a-mania.
Here are some drudgery tales served on a please-like-me-i-am-so-cute plot and it sucks right from the word GO!.
Don't waste your time with this when you have much better stuff lying out there.
And now a note for Louis Sachar
I already have Holes and Small Steps waiting in my shelf. If they suck as much as this one, I am sure going to cut your bald head.
And this was my expression throughout the period when I was reading the book.
I had so many expectations from it and maybe that led to the epic fall. I so wanted to like it. I wanted another Wimpy Kid in my kitty on which I can fall back on whenever I need.
But this is no Wimpy Kid, oh hell, it sucks as intensely as the Fudge kid in Fudge-a-mania.
Here are some drudgery tales served on a please-like-me-i-am-so-cute plot and it sucks right from the word GO!.
Don't waste your time with this when you have much better stuff lying out there.
And now a note for Louis Sachar
I already have Holes and Small Steps waiting in my shelf. If they suck as much as this one, I am sure going to cut your bald head.
Read
October 20, 2008My fourth-grade homeroom teacher read this to our class, only she substituted names of the students and teachers in the book with the names of the students in our class (I was Leslie -- how I remember that, I have no idea) and the other teachers in our grade. Hilarity ensued, I assure you.
A lot of my elementary school teachers liked reading to their homeroom classes during downtime, and I always loved it. This book stands out as one of my all-time favourite read-to-me-books, probably because of my teacher's spin on it.
A lot of my elementary school teachers liked reading to their homeroom classes during downtime, and I always loved it. This book stands out as one of my all-time favourite read-to-me-books, probably because of my teacher's spin on it.
August 24, 2008
Sachar captures how arbitrary and pointless and incomprehensible school can be. But somehow, he makes it funny and touching instead of confusing and frustrating and awful like it is in real life.
December 15, 2016
This is a script for a play, not a book. It's a super cute fantasy story happening in a school where very strange things happen. For kids ages 8-11.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
January 3, 2018
مجموعة من القصص الهزلية تدور حول طلاب أحد الفصول في مدرسة غريبة، يغلب على القصص الطابع الكوميدي الساخر و الفانتازيا الشديدة، أعجبتني بعض القصص لكن معظم القصص كانت بلا هدف واضح و لم أخرج منها بأي جديد
May 29, 2024
There is no nineteenth story.
There is no Miss. Zarves.
There is no Miss. Zarves.
August 13, 2021
This book raised me at age six, and it was so refreshing to read it again. I reread it in about 25 minutes, and every moment was worthwhile. In fact...this book is so...wise. I got more out of these 25 minutes than I ever did while reading this book at age six. I refuse to believe that it's a middle grade book. It's completely genius. I'm going to give my opinions about each story in this book.
1. Mrs. Gorf- This story is one of the most original stories I know, and it makes me excited every time I read it. It really introduces you to the students and how smart they are.
2. Mrs. Jewls- Mrs. Jewls is a terrible person, let alone a terrible teacher. For some reason, all the students love her even though she is manipulative and not smart enough to be a teacher in the slightest. Those poor children only love her because of their past history of teachers. They're clearly traumatized and severely need therapy.
3. Joe- Joe's story is funnier when you can better understand the joke. Even better proof that this should not be a middle-grade book.
4. Sharie- Sharie's story makes a lot more sense when you understand why she's always sleeping. This story also goes to show how oblivious Mrs. Jewls is.
5. Todd- Todd is an angel and does not deserve Mrs. Jewls' endless torments whatsoever.
6. Bebe- Mrs. Jewls was right about Bebe's art, but Bebe deserves to make her art sans criticism if it makes her happy.
7. Calvin- This story is genuinely so hilarious once you actually understand Miss Zarves' significance as the nineteenth story.
8. Myron- Myron is honestly one of the sweetest characters in this story...but no one gives a shit about him, unfortunately.
9. Maurecia- Poor, poor Maurecia...she never gets to taste her own ice cream. Frankly, her crush on Todd is really cute.
10. Paul- Paul is a creepy middle-school boy, and Leslie is genuinely a terrifying playground fiend.
11. Dana- This story isn't as funny as it could be. Not gonna lie, it doesn't really make any sense. But I still like it because I love Dana.
12. Jason- Jason is a sweetheart and doesn't deserve to be messed around with by Joy.
13. Rondi- I love this story; it's hilarious. I really love what this series does with playing with things that aren't really there.
14. Sammy- This story is genuinely terrifying and that's because I'm afraid of dead animal corpses.
15. Deedee- This story is also terrifying and gross for the same reason.
16. D.J.- Awwww...this is so happy and wholesome.
17. John- Hahahaha...you gotta be smart to get why this is funny. Which is why I only just understood it now.
18. Leslie- This story seems really foot-fetishy and I'm not really here for it.
19. Miss Zarves- This is genius. Everything about this running joke.
20. Kathy- This is also really funny. A really funny commentary about people who think they're always right.
21. Ron- Aww. I feel bad for Ron.
22. The Three Erics- This story is so funny and I only got the irony now, at my current age.
23. Allison- Allison is a girlboss.
24. Dameon- Poor Dameon. I love him. He's a sweetheart.
25. Jenny- Jenny is...kinda stupid...and why there are creepy businessmen at Wayside on a Saturday...that's disconcerting.
26. Terrence- Terrence is hilarious. And a jerk. I can't tell if I hate him or not.
27. Joy- I absolutely hate Joy. No question about it. There's no sympathy there at all.
28. Nancy- I love this story. It's so pure and shows a lot about self-expression and identity.
29. Stephen- This story is...weird. But I like the callback to Mrs. Gorf.
30. Louis- Everything comes full circle in this one. I like it. It's funny.
1. Mrs. Gorf- This story is one of the most original stories I know, and it makes me excited every time I read it. It really introduces you to the students and how smart they are.
2. Mrs. Jewls- Mrs. Jewls is a terrible person, let alone a terrible teacher. For some reason, all the students love her even though she is manipulative and not smart enough to be a teacher in the slightest. Those poor children only love her because of their past history of teachers. They're clearly traumatized and severely need therapy.
3. Joe- Joe's story is funnier when you can better understand the joke. Even better proof that this should not be a middle-grade book.
4. Sharie- Sharie's story makes a lot more sense when you understand why she's always sleeping. This story also goes to show how oblivious Mrs. Jewls is.
5. Todd- Todd is an angel and does not deserve Mrs. Jewls' endless torments whatsoever.
6. Bebe- Mrs. Jewls was right about Bebe's art, but Bebe deserves to make her art sans criticism if it makes her happy.
7. Calvin- This story is genuinely so hilarious once you actually understand Miss Zarves' significance as the nineteenth story.
8. Myron- Myron is honestly one of the sweetest characters in this story...but no one gives a shit about him, unfortunately.
9. Maurecia- Poor, poor Maurecia...she never gets to taste her own ice cream. Frankly, her crush on Todd is really cute.
10. Paul- Paul is a creepy middle-school boy, and Leslie is genuinely a terrifying playground fiend.
11. Dana- This story isn't as funny as it could be. Not gonna lie, it doesn't really make any sense. But I still like it because I love Dana.
12. Jason- Jason is a sweetheart and doesn't deserve to be messed around with by Joy.
13. Rondi- I love this story; it's hilarious. I really love what this series does with playing with things that aren't really there.
14. Sammy- This story is genuinely terrifying and that's because I'm afraid of dead animal corpses.
15. Deedee- This story is also terrifying and gross for the same reason.
16. D.J.- Awwww...this is so happy and wholesome.
17. John- Hahahaha...you gotta be smart to get why this is funny. Which is why I only just understood it now.
18. Leslie- This story seems really foot-fetishy and I'm not really here for it.
19. Miss Zarves- This is genius. Everything about this running joke.
20. Kathy- This is also really funny. A really funny commentary about people who think they're always right.
21. Ron- Aww. I feel bad for Ron.
22. The Three Erics- This story is so funny and I only got the irony now, at my current age.
23. Allison- Allison is a girlboss.
24. Dameon- Poor Dameon. I love him. He's a sweetheart.
25. Jenny- Jenny is...kinda stupid...and why there are creepy businessmen at Wayside on a Saturday...that's disconcerting.
26. Terrence- Terrence is hilarious. And a jerk. I can't tell if I hate him or not.
27. Joy- I absolutely hate Joy. No question about it. There's no sympathy there at all.
28. Nancy- I love this story. It's so pure and shows a lot about self-expression and identity.
29. Stephen- This story is...weird. But I like the callback to Mrs. Gorf.
30. Louis- Everything comes full circle in this one. I like it. It's funny.
March 10, 2020
The rating is purely for nostalgia. I read this book so many times as a child and haven't come back to it since then. I felt like I had visceral reactions to some of the chapters. I remember them so vividly. Louis Sachar has such a unique and silly imagination that young me LOVED this book. Upon re-read, this was still quite entertaining. I don't care for the new illustrations as much. It makes it seem more childish than the copy I had. This book is perfect for the kids just starting out chapter books. The chapters are short and quick to get through!
December 4, 2013
Upon the recommendation of an enthusiastic 3rd grader in my grandson’s class, I checked out his most favorite book from this year – “Sideways Stories From Wayside School”. Two other kids concurred so that was enough for me to finally read what was also a favorite of several students I had as an elementary librarian. So away I went with a copy from their library.
Surprisingly, I have mixed feelings for this book that the kids find so hilarious. It’s a different kind of humor that is just wacky, irreverent (not in a religious way), and sometimes-plain mean. The only chapter that I actually chuckled at was #24 ‘Dameon’. (That’s the one I will tell the student that I really liked. He will be thrilled that I cared enough to share his favorite book.)
I do like the clever way the book is written, with each chapter starring a different class member. But even though I usually have no problem reading a book with the viewpoint of a kid, the adult in me has trouble justifying the humor verses meanness. I don’t think it’s a harmful book, so I would not tell a kid to not read it, but I certainly won’t give it as a gift either! (I’d rather give “Holes”, by the same author.)
In the end, I am happy that the kids who love this book are so enthusiastic about it. To them it is exciting and funny, and they want to read more. If a book does that – then go for it kids!
Surprisingly, I have mixed feelings for this book that the kids find so hilarious. It’s a different kind of humor that is just wacky, irreverent (not in a religious way), and sometimes-plain mean. The only chapter that I actually chuckled at was #24 ‘Dameon’. (That’s the one I will tell the student that I really liked. He will be thrilled that I cared enough to share his favorite book.)
I do like the clever way the book is written, with each chapter starring a different class member. But even though I usually have no problem reading a book with the viewpoint of a kid, the adult in me has trouble justifying the humor verses meanness. I don’t think it’s a harmful book, so I would not tell a kid to not read it, but I certainly won’t give it as a gift either! (I’d rather give “Holes”, by the same author.)
In the end, I am happy that the kids who love this book are so enthusiastic about it. To them it is exciting and funny, and they want to read more. If a book does that – then go for it kids!
April 21, 2013
January 20, Chapter 1
I think Mrs.Gorf is a really mean teacher, because she turned her students into an apple, when they did nothing wrong.
January 27 , Chapter 2
Mrs. Jewls is a kind teacher, she thinks that her students are terribly cute. And she plans to give them a banana, because she thought that they look like a monkey.
February 3, Chapter 3
Joe is a boy who can't count properly.I think it's funny when he can only count backwards, but will still get the correct answer when Mr's Jewls ask him questions.
February 10, Chapter 4
I think Sharie needs to sleep more at home, not at school, because while she was sleeping she rolled out of the classroom's window. She fell from the 30th floor, but the PE teacher caught her just in time.
Februay 17, Chapter 5
I think Todd is a smart boy, because he save his classmates from the 2 robbers
Februay 24, Chapter 6
I really enjoyed reading this chapter because, Bebe and Calvin had a great team work
March 3, Chapter 7
I think this chapter was very funny because, Calvin was ask to delivered a note to Mrs. Zarves on the 19th floor, but there was no 19th floor at Wayside School
March 10, Chaper 8
I think Myron is very kind because he save his classmate dog that got hit by a car
March 24, Chapter 9
Maurecia is a girl who eats icecream all the time, even during class time. I like her because she can eat icecream all the time, and not scared to get fat.
March 31, Chapter 10
Dana has too many mosquito bites. She can't even concentrate during class time, because it itches. Mrs. Jewls help Dana by turning her mosquito bites into numbers
April 21, Chapter 11
Jason is a boy who likes to chew gums. One day his gum stuck on his pants and he couldn't get out of his chair. With the help of his friend Joy he got out of the chair.
I think Mrs.Gorf is a really mean teacher, because she turned her students into an apple, when they did nothing wrong.
January 27 , Chapter 2
Mrs. Jewls is a kind teacher, she thinks that her students are terribly cute. And she plans to give them a banana, because she thought that they look like a monkey.
February 3, Chapter 3
Joe is a boy who can't count properly.I think it's funny when he can only count backwards, but will still get the correct answer when Mr's Jewls ask him questions.
February 10, Chapter 4
I think Sharie needs to sleep more at home, not at school, because while she was sleeping she rolled out of the classroom's window. She fell from the 30th floor, but the PE teacher caught her just in time.
Februay 17, Chapter 5
I think Todd is a smart boy, because he save his classmates from the 2 robbers
Februay 24, Chapter 6
I really enjoyed reading this chapter because, Bebe and Calvin had a great team work
March 3, Chapter 7
I think this chapter was very funny because, Calvin was ask to delivered a note to Mrs. Zarves on the 19th floor, but there was no 19th floor at Wayside School
March 10, Chaper 8
I think Myron is very kind because he save his classmate dog that got hit by a car
March 24, Chapter 9
Maurecia is a girl who eats icecream all the time, even during class time. I like her because she can eat icecream all the time, and not scared to get fat.
March 31, Chapter 10
Dana has too many mosquito bites. She can't even concentrate during class time, because it itches. Mrs. Jewls help Dana by turning her mosquito bites into numbers
April 21, Chapter 11
Jason is a boy who likes to chew gums. One day his gum stuck on his pants and he couldn't get out of his chair. With the help of his friend Joy he got out of the chair.
June 11, 2007
Louis Sachar was unwittingly my primer for my love of absurdist and magical realism literature. In my 5th grade English class, we read this book and I remember there was nothing we were more collectively excited about except maybe that mock presidential campaign where Michael Dukakis won by a landslide in the halls of George Washington Carver- Anson Jones Elementary, if nowhere else in the country. Our enthusiasm for the wacky capers of the students and the yard teacher inspired a class project where all of us wrote a story loosely based on the students in our class at a magical school. The finished project was sent to Mr. Louis Sachar. I vaguely remember he sent a letter saying how he enjoyed the book. Maybe he was so impressed by those kids in Texas that inspired his move years later to Austin where he penned that hit, Holes and currently lives. I have yet to run into him. When I do, I'm totally having him sign my book.
June 2, 2007
HOLY CRAP THIS BOOK IS SO GREAT.
unbelievably great. it cracks me up regulary ("take a train, peanut brain!" being one of my favorite lines). children's books are fantastic bedtime readings - they are usually short, relatively simple, and - in the case of the whole wayside collection - ridiculously entertaining and clever. i fear the day this becomes a film (unless my college roommate writes and directs it) because all of the kids are such unique and well developed characters, it has to be incredibly accurate (according to me anyway.)
read this book. most of you won't be disappointed (although, i did have a few friends who didn't like it very much...and i am no longer in contact with those nutjobs.) am i kidding? hah!
unbelievably great. it cracks me up regulary ("take a train, peanut brain!" being one of my favorite lines). children's books are fantastic bedtime readings - they are usually short, relatively simple, and - in the case of the whole wayside collection - ridiculously entertaining and clever. i fear the day this becomes a film (unless my college roommate writes and directs it) because all of the kids are such unique and well developed characters, it has to be incredibly accurate (according to me anyway.)
read this book. most of you won't be disappointed (although, i did have a few friends who didn't like it very much...and i am no longer in contact with those nutjobs.) am i kidding? hah!
August 11, 2020
The Wayside School was built sideways with all the classrooms on top of each other. This book contains thirty stories about the classroom that is at the very top. Some support values like sharing, honesty, and truthfulness. Others are just plain silly. Readers who have just graduated from chapter books will love wading into this collection of short chapters and silly characters. A wacky classic that has timeless appeal.
September 9, 2011
I picked up this book again because I was reminded of it while reading Catch-22. Sideways stories was one of my favorite books growing up as a kid and I think it set me up to enjoy Catch-22 as well. Sideways Stories is eccentrically funny, but also surprisingly deep in symbolism and metaphor. The premise of the book is a school built sideways--that is 30 stories high instead of 30 classrooms longs. There are 30 chapters and each chapter is about a certain character. Some of these chapters are just plain funny and witty while others have a lot of depth to them.
For example, the chapter on Joe is ripe with commentary about the education system. Joe has an unusual problem. He can't count correctly. His teacher asks him to count to 10. His response is 4,6,2,1,7,6,3,9,8,10. He gets the right answer, but he does it the wrong way. His teacher teaches him to count, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 and asks him to count to 5. His response: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. This time it was the correct method, but the wrong answer. Neither are satisfied until he goes through a silly and intricate solution. But the story behind the story is about how the education often cares more about students learning the right way than what the students actually learn.
Another example is the Three Erics. There is Eric Bacon, Eric Fry and Eric Ovens. Two of the Erics are fat, one is skinny. But everyone assumes they all are fat. Two of the Erics are terrible athletes, the other is superb. But everyone assumes they all are terrible at sports. And so on. I like this chapter because it looks at the way kids--and adults--make stereotypes and hold onto them even when faced with obvious facts stating otherwise.
Other stories address the inability for real leaders to lead, how some people see only bad qualities in others, the ridiculous demand society has to accomplish demands that can't be accomplished and how some people are perceived bad only because of their reputation.
This book is a gem for both adults and kids. It is short, snappy and fun just like Catch-22 for kids but adds a zaniness--laughing walls, evil rats, rainbow colored mustaches--that Catch-22 instead fills with despair, sadness and frustration.
This book will be one of the first on my children's bookshelves and certainly a must read bedtime story book.
For example, the chapter on Joe is ripe with commentary about the education system. Joe has an unusual problem. He can't count correctly. His teacher asks him to count to 10. His response is 4,6,2,1,7,6,3,9,8,10. He gets the right answer, but he does it the wrong way. His teacher teaches him to count, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 and asks him to count to 5. His response: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. This time it was the correct method, but the wrong answer. Neither are satisfied until he goes through a silly and intricate solution. But the story behind the story is about how the education often cares more about students learning the right way than what the students actually learn.
Another example is the Three Erics. There is Eric Bacon, Eric Fry and Eric Ovens. Two of the Erics are fat, one is skinny. But everyone assumes they all are fat. Two of the Erics are terrible athletes, the other is superb. But everyone assumes they all are terrible at sports. And so on. I like this chapter because it looks at the way kids--and adults--make stereotypes and hold onto them even when faced with obvious facts stating otherwise.
Other stories address the inability for real leaders to lead, how some people see only bad qualities in others, the ridiculous demand society has to accomplish demands that can't be accomplished and how some people are perceived bad only because of their reputation.
This book is a gem for both adults and kids. It is short, snappy and fun just like Catch-22 for kids but adds a zaniness--laughing walls, evil rats, rainbow colored mustaches--that Catch-22 instead fills with despair, sadness and frustration.
This book will be one of the first on my children's bookshelves and certainly a must read bedtime story book.
February 8, 2020
Since there's a new Wayside School book coming out, I decided it was time to re-read the earlier books. The first two books in this series were some of my favorite books of childhood, and they still hold up! These completely absurdist books about a school that was accidentally built vertically instead of horizontally are pure fun. There's a chapter for each of the 27 students, plus several adults, and one dead rat. Every story is silly and ridiculous and just plain fun (with the possible exception of the Kathy chapter, which is a bit sad and contains maybe the only actual life lesson of this book.) Every little kid should read these books, they are just so delightful!
April 1, 2008
This is absolutely the most perfect book I have ever read for this age group. Brilliant, hysterical, and seemingly simplistic, the book is anything but. I was shocked re-reading it as an adult how stunningly original all the small stories that make up this book are. If you haven't read it since you were young, I INSIST you pick it up again. The best in the bunch: icecream flavored like kids and the invisible note for the invisible teacher on the invisible floor.
May 14, 2023
Literary excellence. No notes.
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