It's the End of the World and I'm in My Bathing Suit
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that It's the End of the World and I'm in My Bathing Suit, by Justin A. Reynolds, follows Eddie Gordon and his "genius" plan of getting out of doing his laundry over the summer. His plan involves wearing every item of clothing he owns so he doesn't have to do laundry until he runs out. This leaves him with only a bathing suit left to wear during the book. As a result, Eddie is shirtless, and there are comments about his physique and nipples. When Eddie's mom discovers his laundry, the avalanche falls on her, and a pair of his underwear falls on her head. Since the clothes have been sitting all summer, there's an odor. The scene teeters between gross and funny. Eddie has a crush on a girl from school. He daydreams what he'd say to her, but she never appears. Eddie and his brother call each other names, and his brother bullies him by smacking a pile of clothes out of his hand and pouring honey in his bed.
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What's the Story?
In IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD AND I'M IN MY BATHING SUIT, 12-year-old Eddie Gordon has a plan to avoid doing his laundry over the summer. He'll wear all his clothes, so he'll only have to do his laundry when he runs out of clothes. His last item is a pair of swim trunks which he plans to wear to the biggest party of the summer, Beach Bash. Unsurprisingly, his mom doesn't see the genius of his plan and grounds him until he finishes his laundry. His mother and stepdad head to Beach Bash without him, and his older brother visits his girlfriend. Home alone, Eddie races to finish his laundry, but halfway through a load, the power goes out. At first, Eddie and the neighborhood kids have fun in the blackout and enjoy their freedom by playing pretend and eating whatever they want. As time passes and none of their parents come home, they begin to realize the severity of the situation. What caused the blackout and where did everyone go?
Is It Any Good?
Funny rants and antics abound in this apocalyptic tale. It's the End of the World and I'm in My Bathing Suit has plenty of laughs thanks to the narrator, Eddie Gordon. He begins by "hooking the reader up" and starting the chapter count at 100, so even readers that just start reading can say they're on chapter 100. It's an inventive way to start the book and introduce readers to the protagonist. Eddie has a unique and engaging voice and he speaks about many topics, from lamenting laundry conspiracies to fibs parents tell to his ADHD diagnosis and treatment. There's a lot of kid humor, burping, and dad jokes for readers to enjoy.
As entertaining as Eddie's rants are, there are a lot of them. The plot's pacing is slow, with most of the focus being on Eddie's musings. The to-be-continued ending will either leave readers wanting more or feeling disappointed that more wasn't resolved during the book.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about mental health in It's the End of the World and I'm in My bathing suit. Eddie manages his ADHD by taking medicine and going to a therapist. How did it feel to read about Eddie's openness when talking about his mental health? Were there any aspects of Eddie's mental health journey that you found especially helpful to read?
When Eddie and his friends find out their parents and everyone are gone, they first enjoy their freedom and do what they want, but then make responsible decisions. How would you handle all the adults in your life disappearing? What would you miss most about them?
Eddie decides to wear every item of clothing he owns so he won't have to do laundry. What do you think about Eddie's plan? What would you have done differently? What chore do you dislike as much as Eddie hates doing laundry?
Book Details
- Author: Justin A. Reynolds
- Genre: Friendship
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters, Friendship, Great Boy Role Models
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Scholastic Press
- Publication date: April 5, 2022
- Number of pages: 304
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: March 15, 2022
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