Guys Write for Guys Read - Jon Scieszka

Guys read -- but they can do better than this.

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Common Sense rates it
2
Read the book?
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Book details
  • Author:Jon Scieszka
  • # of pages: 272
  • Publisher:Penguin Putnam Inc.
  • Original Publication Date: 05/10/2005
  • Genre: Fiction - Short Stories
  • Hardcover: $16.99
  • Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: 12 up
  • Read Aloud: 12+
  • Read Alone: 12+

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that there's lots to discuss here, mostly unintentional: Some of the authors go way overboard in stereotyping guys, and some parental balance would not be amiss. Young readers may enjoy reading anecdotes from some of their favorite authors.

Families can talk about how these essays portray guys. Do you think the portrayals are realistic? Why or why not?

Message

Social Behavior:

Shoplifting, a series of dangerous stunts, a statement that doing badly in school is part of being a guy, a racist father, rampant sexism and stereotyping, burning ants with matches, playing with bullets.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

A dad who drinks too much beer, another who drinks whiskey while driving, pot smoking.

Violence

A school head who hits students with a slipper, a graphic description of a body after six weeks in the ocean.

Sex

Hazing that involves nudity, hanging bolts from and tying a rope around a male appendage, anal application of Tabasco, a kiss, touching a girl's chest, sexual daydreams.

Language

One four-letter word, various words for the male organ.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Amy Brotman

A collection of nearly 100 very short stories, anecdotes, drawings, essays, comics, and memories from favorite authors from the Guys Read website, as well as from literacy experts and editors. Selections include numerous memories about fathers, pranks, and bullies, thoughts about what it means to be a guy, and anecdotes about the paths that led to becoming writers and illustrators. Each is followed by a few facts about the author and a few titles of their books.

Is it any good?

2

Guys read, but judging from this collection they don't care much about quality. With a few exceptions, the writing here is flat and reads like a homework assignment done at the last minute. Guys write, but judging by this collection, women don't, at least not anything boys want to read. And some of the guys who write have ideas about guyness so stereotypical that even a ten-year-old would sneer -- real guys apparently burp, fart, and play sports. Alert the media.

There are a few gems among much dross, and a few that defy the stereotypes. David Klass has a lovely piece about his dad, and Rick Reilly contributes a poignant column about trying to tell his son why we're here. But for every one of those there are several egregious essays like those by Gordon Korman and Darren Shan, which go a long way towards showing why neither of them are known for their character development. This was a good idea -- getting boys to read, and keeping them reading, is a worthy goal, and the profits go to support the Guys Read website. But it's too bad that so many of the authors weren't as invested in the idea as the editor.

From the Book:
The following things are, without question, one hundred percent non-guy: pleasant smells, princesses, salad, figure skating, cuteness, bedtime, yoga, all fat-free products (except nitroglycerine), periwinkle blue, periwinkles, and three-quarters of the books your librarian describes as award-winners.

Compare this to the core list of guy things: foul smells, Cartoon Network, jock itch, torque, X-games, X-rays, X-box, underwater explosions, Monty Python, gas (all varieties), professional wrestling (including sumo), and any injury that involves something being hyperextended.

Other choices

Book with Similar Themes
Boys Will Be by Bruce Brooks

Related Website
Guys Read

Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 4 reviews.

5


Posted on 04/16/08 by greydawg150 Kid contributor, age 13

you have go to be kiding me this book was awesome

I would like a long hard talk with the kid that didnt like this book. is there one? i deffenitly dont think so. cause come on this book isn't anything new to these kids... its realistic! its not sopposed to be goody goody little girl fairy tale when no one even gets the slightest bit wounded
5

Posted on 05/30/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 11

Best book ever!

This book I recomend for people of all ages. some stories are funny some scary and some a shoker from all kids that are fun authers. I give this book a GO and 5 stars
0


Posted on 08/31/05 by winfall Adult contributor
4


Posted on 05/14/05 by star Kid contributor, age 11

Adult Reviews

There are 1 reviews.

0


Posted on 08/31/05 by winfall Adult contributor

Kids Reviews

There are 3 reviews.

5


Posted on 04/16/08 by greydawg150 Kid contributor, age 13

you have go to be kiding me this book was awesome

I would like a long hard talk with the kid that didnt like this book. is there one? i deffenitly dont think so. cause come on this book isn't anything new to these kids... its realistic! its not sopposed to be goody goody little girl fairy tale when no one even gets the slightest bit wounded
5

Posted on 05/30/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 11

Best book ever!

This book I recomend for people of all ages. some stories are funny some scary and some a shoker from all kids that are fun authers. I give this book a GO and 5 stars
4


Posted on 05/14/05 by star Kid contributor, age 11
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