Review by Booklist Review
Gr. 3-6. A sequel to Sachar's Sideways Stories from Wayside School, this offers 30 more episodes about the children whose classroom is on the thirtieth floor of the world's wackiest elementary school. As the popularity of the earlier book attests, Sachar's humor is right on target for middle-grade readers. Add an element of fantasy and a playfulness with literary conventions and readers will have a series of connected stories to happily devour. Few could resist reading the chapter entitled "Mush," which begins with an expressive line drawing of school cook Miss Mush and the following advice: "Warning: Do not read this story right after eating. In fact, don't read it right before eating, either. In fact, just to be safe, don't read this story if you're ever planning to eat again." Another unforgettable incident is when Miss Jewls, the teacher, drops a computer out the window to demonstrate gravity. While adults may not be charmed by the baser elements of schoolyard humor that surface occasionally, children will recognize Sachar as a writer who knows their territory and entertains them well. --Carolyn Phelan
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Of this follow-up to Sideways Stories from Wayside School , PW noted that the ``30 tongue-in-cheek stories . . . are sure to appeal to the slightly caustic humor that is typical of middle readers.'' Ages 8-12. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-- Wayside School is 30 stories high with only one room on each floor. On the top floor is Mrs. Jewls' class, where order has been abandoned in favor of nonsense and silliness. Each of the 30 stories in this collection features an unusual vignette or character sketch. The stories are only loosely tied together, and many have a shaggy dog quality. While adult readers may be left quizzical, children who relish the ridiculous will enjoy themselves tremendously. With bad puns, extended jokes, and an irreverent attitude, Sachar keeps his readers amused. This is a sequel to Sideways Stories from Wayside School (Scholastic, 1988). --Anne Connor, Los Angeles Public Library (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Thirty rib-tickling tales of Wayside School, where the classrooms are stacked one atop the other, dead rats live in the basement, and there's no 19th floor--usually. It's a long haul from the playground to the 30th floor, past the principal's office (lair of Mr. Kidswatter), past the lunchroom, where Miss Mush makes her Mushroom Surprise, past Miss Zarves' class on the 19th floor that isn't there; but the children don't mind, for Mrs. Jewls--their favorite teacher--is waiting for them. Wayside School is never dull; if Mrs. Jewls isn't demonstrating gravity by dropping the new computer out the window or delivering words of wisdom (""It doesn't matter what you wear on the outside. It's what's underneath that counts. If you want to be great and important, you have to wear expensive underpants""), her students liven things up: among other startling events, Sharie brings in a hobo for show-and-tell; Calvin shows off his birthday tattoo; and the ghost of dreaded former teacher Mrs. Gorf animates Miss Mush's potato salad. Each short episode is prefaced with a simple, evocative line drawing. Sachar has a gift for having fun without poking it too sharply, and beneath all the frivolity there very often lurks some idea or observation worth pondering. A sure-to-please sequel to Sideways Stories from Wayside School. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
