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Dunces Anonymous
Josh Johnson's mother wants him to run for class president. Josh just wants to run and hide. If only there were a club to help downtrodden eleven-year-olds escape their parents' ambitions! But since no such club exists, Josh has to invent one—he calls it Dunces Anonymous, and before he knows it, the membership is up to three.Magnolia and Wang help Josh lose the school presidential election, but that's just the beginning of the club's activities. Magnolia, pressured by her mom into trying out for the role of Juliet in the school's play, finds herself fending off the advances of an overly amorous Romeo. Wang's father has forced him to join the school chess club, but Wang desperately wants to take fencing lessons instead.As the three friends try to free Magnolia from the school play, liberate Wang from the chess club and get rid of horrible Stacey Hogarth, who has vowed to become the new president of Dunces Anonymous, they realize that they all have talents—if only their parents could see them.
170 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
5 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Kate Jaimet
9 books15 followersKate Jaimet spent 13 years as a daily news reporter before turning to fiction and freelance magazine writing. Her critically-acclaimed comedy Dunces Anonymous was a finalist for the Ottawa Book Award and the Silver Birch Fiction Award. Her books in the Orca Sports series -- Break Point, Edge of Flight, and Slam Dunk -- draw from her experience as a reporter to tell fast-paced, gripping stories for teen readers.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 9, 2018
The book was okay, it was nice to read
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October 11, 2011The Archaeolojesters and Dunces Anonymous have both been nominated for the Ontario Library Association’s 2011 Silver Birch Award. Each book offers an off-beat plot and fine reading for its young audience.
At the beginning of The Archaeolojesters, Cody is faced with the fact that the economy of his tiny town of Sultana, Manitoba is getting worse and worse. He is worried that his best friend Eric will have to move away. What they need, the two boys agree, is something to put the town on the map and draw tourists back to boost its fortunes.
Cody, Eric and Eric’s twin sister Rachel come up with a plan for an archeological hoax. They will create a clay tablet apparently written by ancient Egyptians and bury it in the local riverbank (where the lack of water has exposed underlying layers). They work so hard on all the details that the hoax succeeds beyond their dreams — drawing expert Egyptologists, countless journalists and one very suspicious and possibly dangerous visitor.
A plot like this could be simply preposterous, but author Andreas Oertel handles it with control and creates a convincing, entertaining and adventurous lark with a cliffhanger ending that promises an entertaining sequel.
Unlike Cody and his friends, the characters in Dunces Anonymous are not looking for success. Far from it. They are constantly being asked to live up to their parents’ dreams and expectations and they are tired of it. When Josh forms Dunces Anonymous, he calls it “A Club for Kids who aren’t as Good at Stuff as their Parents Think they Should Be.”
At the first meeting, the club has three members, each with a problem. Josh’s mother wants him to run for class president — a thought that horrifies him. Magnolia’s mother wants her to take on great romantic acting roles — Magnolia wants to do comedy. Wang’s father thinks chess will instill discipline and improve his marks — Wang hates the game and plays it badly.
Wang, an inveterate comic book reader, states that, like superheroes, they need “a cunning plan” and the trio comes up with a number of them. Some are successful; most simply create further complications. (It’s no surprise that author Kate Jaimet is a fan of P.G. Wodehouse novels.) By the time the three have dealt with self-important actor Emmett Blackwell, the nervous chess player Wilmot Binkle and his highly competitive father, and their own parents’ expectations, they’ve managed to make a few changes in their lives and Josh has discovered something he really likes doing. With the media full of super-achiever kids, Dunces Anonymous is refreshing fun and a good read.
Reviewed by Gillian O’Reilly in Canadian Children's Book News (Winter 2011, Vol. 34, No. 1)
At the beginning of The Archaeolojesters, Cody is faced with the fact that the economy of his tiny town of Sultana, Manitoba is getting worse and worse. He is worried that his best friend Eric will have to move away. What they need, the two boys agree, is something to put the town on the map and draw tourists back to boost its fortunes.
Cody, Eric and Eric’s twin sister Rachel come up with a plan for an archeological hoax. They will create a clay tablet apparently written by ancient Egyptians and bury it in the local riverbank (where the lack of water has exposed underlying layers). They work so hard on all the details that the hoax succeeds beyond their dreams — drawing expert Egyptologists, countless journalists and one very suspicious and possibly dangerous visitor.
A plot like this could be simply preposterous, but author Andreas Oertel handles it with control and creates a convincing, entertaining and adventurous lark with a cliffhanger ending that promises an entertaining sequel.
Unlike Cody and his friends, the characters in Dunces Anonymous are not looking for success. Far from it. They are constantly being asked to live up to their parents’ dreams and expectations and they are tired of it. When Josh forms Dunces Anonymous, he calls it “A Club for Kids who aren’t as Good at Stuff as their Parents Think they Should Be.”
At the first meeting, the club has three members, each with a problem. Josh’s mother wants him to run for class president — a thought that horrifies him. Magnolia’s mother wants her to take on great romantic acting roles — Magnolia wants to do comedy. Wang’s father thinks chess will instill discipline and improve his marks — Wang hates the game and plays it badly.
Wang, an inveterate comic book reader, states that, like superheroes, they need “a cunning plan” and the trio comes up with a number of them. Some are successful; most simply create further complications. (It’s no surprise that author Kate Jaimet is a fan of P.G. Wodehouse novels.) By the time the three have dealt with self-important actor Emmett Blackwell, the nervous chess player Wilmot Binkle and his highly competitive father, and their own parents’ expectations, they’ve managed to make a few changes in their lives and Josh has discovered something he really likes doing. With the media full of super-achiever kids, Dunces Anonymous is refreshing fun and a good read.
Reviewed by Gillian O’Reilly in Canadian Children's Book News (Winter 2011, Vol. 34, No. 1)
January 29, 2010
Josh has a big problem: the election for Class President is tomorrow, and he's all but guaranteed to win. His mom would be thrilled, but there's not much Josh wants less than to be class president. So he forms a club, Dunces Anonymous, for students in similar situations--pushed by their parents to excel in things they don't want to do. Only 2 other kids show up: Magnolia, who wants to act but does not want the lead in Romeo and Juliet, since it would mean kissing Emmett Blackwell, and Wang, whose newfound love of fencing conflicts with his father's love of tournament chess. All three of them need cunning plans to get out of their parents' chosen activities--without letting down their parents.
Josh and his friends have the kinds of problems upper-elementary school and lower-middle school kids will identify with--outgrowing the roles and extracurriculars their parents have chosen, and trying to assert their independence without letting down their families. None of the plans completely backfire (though they do go wrong in fairly predictable ways), and the lack of slapstick-y hijinks keeps this well-grounded in reality. The overall message of "just tell your parents you don't want to do [activity:]" is a little heavy-handed, but the target audience is unlikely to notice. Recommended for 4th-6th graders.
(As an aside, I'm finding Orca's younger books to be far better than the ones they pitch to teens. Whether it's a matter of different editors or if I'm just pickier about teen books is a mystery, but these upper-elementary aged books are generally more realistic without being hokey.)
Josh and his friends have the kinds of problems upper-elementary school and lower-middle school kids will identify with--outgrowing the roles and extracurriculars their parents have chosen, and trying to assert their independence without letting down their families. None of the plans completely backfire (though they do go wrong in fairly predictable ways), and the lack of slapstick-y hijinks keeps this well-grounded in reality. The overall message of "just tell your parents you don't want to do [activity:]" is a little heavy-handed, but the target audience is unlikely to notice. Recommended for 4th-6th graders.
(As an aside, I'm finding Orca's younger books to be far better than the ones they pitch to teens. Whether it's a matter of different editors or if I'm just pickier about teen books is a mystery, but these upper-elementary aged books are generally more realistic without being hokey.)
December 6, 2011
I found this book easy to read with likeable characters.
Its all about 3 students whose parents are making them join clubs or do things they dont want to do but because they (the parents) do something similar. For Josh, his mum wanted him to be class president. For Wang, his father wants him to join the chess club and be a great chess player. And lastly, Magnolia's mother wants her to be Juliet in the school play. So the three kids make up the group Dunces Anonymous and try to get out of these obligations without the parents realising it was through choice. Hilarious in places, this book is about learning about yourself but mostly about friendship and how far you will go for your friends.
* The only problem with this book is trying to find a craft for the book group. 9-12 year old girls and thier mother with only 15 minutes for craft. I came up with Dunce-cap christmas trees. Let's hope it goes down well.
Its all about 3 students whose parents are making them join clubs or do things they dont want to do but because they (the parents) do something similar. For Josh, his mum wanted him to be class president. For Wang, his father wants him to join the chess club and be a great chess player. And lastly, Magnolia's mother wants her to be Juliet in the school play. So the three kids make up the group Dunces Anonymous and try to get out of these obligations without the parents realising it was through choice. Hilarious in places, this book is about learning about yourself but mostly about friendship and how far you will go for your friends.
* The only problem with this book is trying to find a craft for the book group. 9-12 year old girls and thier mother with only 15 minutes for craft. I came up with Dunce-cap christmas trees. Let's hope it goes down well.
November 29, 2012
This book was very entertaining quite spectacular and an engenius book by no other, Kate Jaimet.Dunces Anonymous was a very Intriguing name for me,as i was reading the back to see what it is about i was very eager about after word i read. Just so interesting,and as i was reading it i just coudent put it down.this book made me challenge myself to keep on reading and reading,the moment i read the last words i had to read another from this most outrageous author,i would Recommend it to anyone who loves a laugh once and a while.thank you for reading and have a good day.
June 12, 2011
This book is awesome. It's about a group "club" who tries to not to do what their parents want to be like playing Juliet for Romeo and Juliet, playing and being champion at chess, and being class president. What they really do and how they make sure their parents don't know about it then it turning terribly wrong is amazing. The author really tells how kids what they do with it is really going inside a kids mind definitely makes a kid do some text-to-self connections. This is a 9/10 book.
November 29, 2010
This book is about three kids in grade 6 that have some sort of problem like one of the characters is Juliet in the school production of Romeo and Juliet. Then they get into trouble, but then it's okay and that is baissiclly the whole story right there. As you can tell I thought that, that book was a waste of time.
July 19, 2012
I really liked this book because it shows the reality of how pushy some parents can be. Josh's mom wants him to be class president, Magnolia's mom want s her to act and Wang's dad wants him to play chess. None of the kids want to do those things, but also don't want to upset there parents. I really like this book and it has a good ending.
October 10, 2010
While the everything worked out just a little too conveniently and neatly for my taste, this was a quick and fun read for 9-12 year olds, and does a good job of addressing the pressure parents put on kids to overachieve without being preachy.
September 27, 2022
A sweet, funny, well-written novel for smart, funny, and slightly naughty 8-12-year-olds. About kids who don't want to conform with their parents ambitions. This one had my 8-year-old son up long past lights-out time. From the lovely Kate Jaimet. Nominated for Ottawa's Book of the Year in 2009.
November 11, 2010
It was funny and interesting but it was easy to read and went very quickly for me.
January 21, 2011
great book
February 17, 2011
Good but strang just read the book.
March 7, 2011
it was kind of a wierd book, but i still liked it!
November 6, 2012
I thought it was really funny.
February 5, 2016
Written in the style of Gordon Korman. Scheming middle schoolers try to solve their problems without letting their parents know what they are doing. It's a fun read.
February 19, 2011
It's funny how trying to solve problems complicates things. And things like that do happen.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews