Book Review: Knucklehead
Knucklehead
By Jon Scieszka
Viking
ISBN: 9780670011063
$16.99
Grades 4-7
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Sometimes, reading a book is like getting to the end of a bag of peanut M&Ms – you slow down, savoring things, hoping that the end won’t come. Essentially a collection of short stories about family and growing up, “Knucklehead” fits this profile. Funny, honest, and infinitely readable, Jon Scieszka’s memoir about his youth in Flint, Michigan will appeal to wide swaths of young readers.
Mr. Scieszka provides the set up right from the get go:
[A] lot of readers ask me where I get my ideas. I think that’s a great question. But I feel like I’ve never come up with a great answer. The more I think about it, the more I realize that I get a lot of my ideas from all the strange things that happened to me growing up with five brothers.
Each chapter is a different family story. The “mostly true tales” are not amazing feats of derring-do – they’re believable accounts of memorable times. You can imagine these events taking place in your family. I especially enjoyed the one about ordering a 100 piece army man set in the mail. It was not all it was cracked up to be. Also, a story about writing down all known swear words to get out of catholic school detention stands out. Who can’t identify with getting in trouble at school?
This book would be great to use in the classroom for students writing their own family stories. Man, I even wanted to start committing pen to page after reading it.
Modeled after an old comic in dimensions and cover art, the overall design of “Knucklehead” will attract readers. Plainly stated text, large type, and short chapters make this book accessible to a wide age range.
One of the most entertaining reads of the fall, “Knucklehead” is a no-brainer to recommend. A must purchase.
Courtesy of A Fuse #8 Production, a “Knucklehead” book trailer:
[vimeo http://vimeo.com/1929982]
Also reviewed by A Fuse #8 Production, Bookends, A Year of Reading, Becky’s Book Reviews, and the list goes on.
Find this book at your local library with WorldCat.
Filed under: *Best New Books*, Reviews
About Travis Jonker
Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.
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Looks interesting, a memoir for children. I’ll have to check that out, just because you often don’t see them in this style and format. Looks like Viking is getting creative.
Some of my favorite books growing up were Roald Dahl’s “Boy” and “Going Solo” – which both could probably fit in the same memoir/autobiography category with “Knucklehead”. Not related in design and format, but similar in content (often humorus tales of growing up) and audience (boys).
He just rocks, doesn’t he? Can’t wait to check it out, thanks.
Perfect mix of form and content. I love that guy! Can NOT wait to check that one out.
If you are interested, “Just One More Book” recently did an interview with Mr. Scieszka. It was one of the best author interviews I’d heard in a while. If you’re anything like me, you’ll find yourself responding “yes!” to what Scieszka is saying. I highly recommend checking it out:
http://www.justonemorebook.com/2008/09/22/interview-with-jon-scieszka/
What an amazing cover! One only Jon Scieszka could do!
I can’t wait to get to the inside of the book. Thanks for the heads up!!
I have really got to read this book. Thanks for the reminder!
This will be a great book to add to Marshfield Dreams by Ralph Fletcher when we talk about where authors get their ideas!
Thanks!
I like how Scieszka talks about the “where do you get your ideas from?” question. He doesn’t pull an eye rolling “oh, that again” response – he just explains that it’s a good question that he hasn’t found a good answer to yet. The book is his answer. He treats a question commonly asked by kids with respect. I think that says quite a bit about the kind of author and person he is.
Scieszka was at a local bookstore recently. He was so funny and gracious. I told him how much I enjoyed his “updates from the embassy” that PW features from time to time. Wish he would share them more often.
I just caught a cool interview with Jon on NPR this morning – check it. The audio will be up around noon.
Piet, Thanks for the tip – I’ll be checking this out!