Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading

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More About This Book

Overview

Charlie Joe Jackson may be the most reluctant reader ever born. And so far, he’s managed to get through life without ever reading an entire book from cover to cover. But now that he’s in middle school, avoiding reading isn’t as easy as it used to be. And when his friend Timmy McGibney decides that he’s tired of covering for him, Charlie Joe finds himself resorting to desperate measures to keep his perfect record intact.This is the hilarious story of an avid non-reader and the extreme lengths to which he’ll go to get out of reading a book.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
Greenwald pulls off a clever bit of reverse psychology in his debut, first in a series starring a cheeky middle grader who goes to great lengths to avoid reading—and whose humor and rapid-fire delivery should draw in like-minded kids. From the start, Charlie Joe schmoozes playfully with readers, promising short chapters and shorter words ("One syllable. Or less"). Kids who, upon entering the school library, may have been asked (as Charlie Joe is), "did you take a wrong turn somewhere?" will find an enthusiastic advocate in the boy. Throughout, he provides "tips" that dedicated nonreaders will enjoy ("If you have to read a book, make sure it has short chapters"). The novel chronicles Charlie Joe's machinations to avoid reading, which involve getting his classmates to do so for him; using this tactic for a research paper about school cliques yields revelations about clique mentality, but lands Charlie Joe in more trouble. Doth Charlie Joe protest too much? Maybe, but Greenwald wisely eschews an end-of-story reformation for his comic antihero, ensuring that readers will be treated to more of his entertaining circumlocutions in future books. Ages 9–12. (July)
Children's Literature
The sixty-seven mostly very short chapters written by Charlie Joe Jackson, expert reading dodger, is a hilarious non-reader's escape. The purpose of the book in the words of Charlie is "to show people how to get out of reading." It is that and more, if the reader follows any of the multiple points on Charlie Joe's twenty-five lists of tips to non-reading. When Charlie Joe's back-up reader, Timmy, gets caught trading ice cream sandwiches for book report summaries, the protagonist scrambles for another way out of middle school reading. After a momentary rescue by his sister, Megan, Charlie falls headlong into a convoluted scheme to rescue himself from a multi-book reading project involved in the notorious eighth grade Position Paper. Charlie's intricate plan involves match-making, bribery, a beloved Beatles album cover, the psychology of middle school cliques, and a school dance. This entertaining book has all the elements of a romance spy novel with heart break, suspense, and a major plot twist. If the reader is suspicious of Charlie Joe's tactics to con the reader into reading, he will be pleasantly surprised and satisfied by the time the last page turns. Reviewer: Krisan Murphy
More Reviews (2) Fewer Reviews
School Library Journal
Gr 5–7—Charlie Joe Jackson is a likable middle schooler and an unabashed nonreader. In fact, he's so against the practice that he constantly flirts with danger to ensure that he never has to crack a book. He makes deals with friends to fill him in on assigned reading. When he is caught, it becomes much more difficult to pull off his year-end, research-heavy "Position Paper." He nails it, but there is no happy ending, and he writes a book—this book—as punishment. Greenwald believably inhabits the mind of a tween, with the cliques and short-lived first romances that come with it. Charlie Joe narrates his story while providing humorous tips between chapters about reading and avoiding it. This is a fun, fast-moving look at middle-school life through the eyes of a kid who would rather clean his room than pick up a book. Reluctant readers will be pleased.—Travis Jonker, Dorr Elementary School, MI
Kirkus Reviews

Charlie Joe will do just about anything to avoid reading in this humorous cautionary tale for book-hating middle-grade students.

Debut author Greenwald takes on the persona of Charlie Joe Jackson, a middle-school boy who hates reading. His avoidance techniques get him into serious trouble with his parents, his teachers and his friends. After a year of avoiding reading—paying off a friend in ice-cream sandwiches to read books for him and manipulating his friends so he won't have to read for the all-important position-paper project—Charlie Joe is forced to spend his summer vacation writing a book about his poor choices. Charlie Joe's insider knowledge of the inner machinations of middle-school cliques will make younger readers smile in anticipation, and his direct address to readers makes make him feel like an older buddy showing the way. Sprinkled into the narrative are "Charlie Joe's Tips" to avoiding reading books, written on faux notebook paper, that serve as a little diversion from the plot. As amusing as this is, Charlie Joe's voice is not consistent and occasionally jars with the intelligent, smart-guy sarcasm that characterizes most of Charlie Joe's prose.

That aside, slackers everywhere have a new, likable hero in Charlie Joe Jackson. (Fiction. 10-12)

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781596436916
  • Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
  • Publication date: 7/5/2011
  • Pages: 224
  • Sales rank: 31,283
  • Age range: 9 - 12 Years
  • Lexile: 830L (what's this?)
  • Product dimensions: 5.56 (w) x 8.52 (h) x 0.85 (d)

Meet the Author

Tommy Greenwald
Tommy Greenwald

TOMMY GREENWALD has enjoyed reading all his life, which is why he's appalled that his kids Charlie, Joe and Jack, would prefer getting a dental check-up to checking out a book. After years of pleading, threatening, and bribing, Tommy finally decided the only way to get his kids to read was to write a book about how to get out of reading. This is the result. And they read it! (So they say.) The Executive Creative Director at SPOTCO, an entertainment advertising agency in New York City, Tommy lives in Connecticut with his wife, Cathy; his non-reading sons, Charlie, Joe and Jack; and his dogs, Moose and Coco.Check out Tommy's website (minimal reading required) at www.tommygreenwald.com

Read an Excerpt

1

 

My name is Charlie Joe Jackson, and I hate reading. And if you’re reading this book, you hate reading, too.

In fact, you do whatever you can to avoid reading, and the fact that you’re holding a book in your hand right now is kind of shocking.

I know exactly how you feel; I’m one of you.

Just remember: you are not alone. We’ll get through this together.

 

Text copyright © 2011 by Tommy Greenwald

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 15 )

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(12)

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Sort by: Showing all of 15 Customer Reviews

  • Posted July 28, 2011

    more from this reviewer

    CHARLIE JOE JACKSON'S, GUIDE TO NOT READING (REVIEW)

    "CHARLIE JOE JACKSON'S, GUIDE TO NOT READING" BY TOMMY GREENWALD (REVIEW)

    WARNING! CLEAR ALL CHILDREN FROM THE ROOM BEFORE READING THIS REVIEW!

    This is a delightful book for middle grade children that actually makes them want to read regardless of the title. It turns out that this book is a clever reverse psychology tool that you can use to get your kids to read regardless of their determination not to.

    The book is extremely imaginative and written for fun! When Charlie Joe loses his link to NOT reading books, he finds himself coming up with ways to get around actually reading and still being able to figure out what the book is about. The ending is GREAT!

    Definitely pick up this book for your child or children whether they enjoy reading or not! It's a fantastic read!

    -Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud Book Club

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted September 24, 2011

    CJJ is LOL funny

    'Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading' is a howlingly funny book that would be great for any middle-schooler - reluctant reader or not. The plot is both crazy and plausible: Charlie Joe Jackson intends to do well (ok, well-ish) in school without actually reading the assigned books. CJJ has been successful at this in the past, but now things are happening that make his goal increasingly difficult. CJJ's reactions to the roadblocks - and what is happening all around him at school - are just LOL funny. Literally, I was laughing out loud as I read this book. Which was sometimes embarrassing. But I digress; let's get back on track. Beyond the plot, I loved how CJJ pokes fun at himself all the way through the story. For example, on page 4, in explaining how the book will work, CJJ promises, "The chapters will be short. The pages will be shorter. And whenever possible, I will keep the words shortest." Then on page 12, even though something really awful has just happened and you are dying to find out what happens next (CJJ's best friend suddenly won't help and he doesn't know why), CJJ stops the storyline to apologize. "I just looked at the previous chapter and realized it was way too long," he says. "Sorry about that. Won't happen again." Personally, I found this as hilarious as what was happening with CJJ and his don't-read-a-book-at-all-costs goal at school. Tommy Greenwald has created a fun, funny and really interesting character in CJJ, and then he made this book fly with a plot that is both believable and unpredictable. And J.P. Coovert's illustrations liven an already fast read. If you haven't yet read 'Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading' (or bought it for the middle-schooler in your life), you are missing out. Unless, to quote CJJ (p77) you are "comically challenged." Because "comically challenged" is what you'd have to be to not love this book.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 2, 2012

    C.J.J.'s Guide to NOT Reading

    I just started reading it and i already like it.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 17, 2012

    H

    Funny

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 12, 2012

    Besr book that i have ever read

    I am currently readin this with my fifth grade class , and all of us love it:) :) :)

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 28, 2011

    hi

    hi im selena gomez

    0 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted October 15, 2011

    Librarian lol

    Love, love,...did I mentioned that I love this book? Currently, I am only on page 87, but I had to hurry and write a review. I have read hundreds and hundreds ofMS books, but I've not lol this much since SKINNYBONES and BUNNICULA. I can't wait to book talk it; my kids will love it too.
    (NTS: Have squirt bottle filled to break the tug-of-war fights in the library.)

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted October 7, 2011

    Good book

    The book really relates to you

    0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 18, 2011

    Wow

    Great book

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  • Posted August 5, 2011

    Comepletly awesome!!!!!!

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  • Posted July 13, 2011

    Half way and a half

    I love it its aawsome comeon .pepps read this book is great try it awoohoo by the way teading is awsome

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 28, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

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    Posted July 30, 2011

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    Posted January 29, 2012

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    Posted February 4, 2012

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