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Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading
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.
Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading by Tommy Greenwald 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.
Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading by Tommy Greenwald 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.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
169 people are currently reading
3084 people want to read
About the author
Tommy Greenwald
42books185followersTommy Greenwald's book GAME CHANGER has been named an Amazon Best Book Of The Month, a 2019 YALSA Top Ten Pick for Reluctant Readers, and a Junior Library Guild Premier Selection. Tommy is also the author of the CRIMEBITERS, CHARLIE JOE JACKSON and PROJECT Z series, among many other books for children.
Day-job-wise, Tommy is the Co-Founder of Spotco Advertising, an entertainment advertising agency in New York City, and the lyricist and co-bookwriter of JOHN & JEN, an off-Broadway musical.
To read woefully outdated information about Tommy, visit tommygreenwald.com. (To send an email telling him how much you liked whatever book it was that you just read, holla at [email protected].)
Day-job-wise, Tommy is the Co-Founder of Spotco Advertising, an entertainment advertising agency in New York City, and the lyricist and co-bookwriter of JOHN & JEN, an off-Broadway musical.
To read woefully outdated information about Tommy, visit tommygreenwald.com. (To send an email telling him how much you liked whatever book it was that you just read, holla at [email protected].)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 638 reviews
December 4, 2013
I wrote it, therefore I love it.
January 1, 2015
Do you not like to read and want an idea on how to get out of it? Well then, you should read Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to NOT Reading. I should warn you not to take any of his advice, because what happened to him might happen to you. This is a dramatic fictional story. There were times in the story that I felt very emotional, mad, sad, shocked. I will talk more about this in the third paragraph, but for now, a summary.
This story is about a boy who hates, I repeat HATES reading, a lot. The story mostly takes place in Charlie Joe’s middle school, and sometimes in his home. Charlie Joe goes to the extreme with not reading, by paying his friend, Timmy, with ice cream bars just so that he will read the books that are assigned in class, for him. They do this for seven years. ***SPOILER ALERT*** They both get caught because Timmy told his mom about what they have been doing. When this fails and Charlie Joe needs to right a report on any topic of his choice, he asks his friend, Jake, to read his books in exchange for going out with the girl Charlie Joe is in love with. Ouch. ***END OF SPOILER ALERT*** This book is person vs person and person vs thing, or in other words, Charlie Joe vs Timmy, the principle, his parents, books, etc. Oh ya, I almost forgot to mention, the conflict is that Charlie Joe doesn’t want to read, has someone else do it for him, and then gets in trouble. This is the problem because you can see that this is not good.
Ok. So I bet you have been waiting for this part of my review, my opinion. Get ready, because I am taking up two whole paragraphs just to tell you my opinion on this book. I felt emotional because in the story, Charlie Joe really likes Hannah Spivero, but you know how it is. You can love someone so much, but they don’t like you back. (Heart breaks.) Charlie Joe has been in love, yes in love with her for about seven years. ***SPOILER ALART*** Charlie is going to write his report on why cliques are bad, so he has Jake, a geek, date Hannah, creative, popular, so that people can see that people from different cliques can date. This works and when it is time for Charlie Joe to present his paper, Hannah stood up, and told the class that she really likes Jake and then kissed his cheek in front of the whole class and teachers. So I was of course surprised. I was telling myself that if that ever happened to me, I would faint, and I have never fainted before. I even practiced my faint. I stood up and acted like the guy I liked just walked up to my friend and kissed her on the cheek. I was down so fast it was as if someone was rolling their pencil on their desk, trying to move it so that it wouldn’t fall, (I know you know that game. Everyone has played it,) and then it falls so fast. Woo. I dropped. So that is why this book had me emotional. DROPPED!
This is my other opinion on the book. I choose the subject of, why in the world would you have someone else read for you, that is just laziness. I mean all you have to do is unlock a part of your brain that has nothing on it, then just have the words from the book fill it up. Science! Anyway Charlie Joe bribes 2, not just 1, but 2 people to read for him. When I was reading this I was like, “Oh my gosh, you’re kidding me right.� Then he did it the second time and I was like, “Charlie! What is wrong with you. Do you not see the decisions you are making. Come on!� I may not understand this because I like reading, I mean love reading, but really cheating like that. This got me so disappointed. Ok, I am done with my opinions. I have told you what my opinion on some subjects. Now for the final paragraph.
I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars, because even though it was emotional, I love reading, and I think everyone should. I just liked it, I’m not saying I hated it, I just liked it. That is it. I would recommend this book to nonreaders, so that they can see what can happen if they do not read, and end up cheating instead. In conclusion, the only thing I am going to say to you is, a book is a magical adventure.
This story is about a boy who hates, I repeat HATES reading, a lot. The story mostly takes place in Charlie Joe’s middle school, and sometimes in his home. Charlie Joe goes to the extreme with not reading, by paying his friend, Timmy, with ice cream bars just so that he will read the books that are assigned in class, for him. They do this for seven years. ***SPOILER ALERT*** They both get caught because Timmy told his mom about what they have been doing. When this fails and Charlie Joe needs to right a report on any topic of his choice, he asks his friend, Jake, to read his books in exchange for going out with the girl Charlie Joe is in love with. Ouch. ***END OF SPOILER ALERT*** This book is person vs person and person vs thing, or in other words, Charlie Joe vs Timmy, the principle, his parents, books, etc. Oh ya, I almost forgot to mention, the conflict is that Charlie Joe doesn’t want to read, has someone else do it for him, and then gets in trouble. This is the problem because you can see that this is not good.
Ok. So I bet you have been waiting for this part of my review, my opinion. Get ready, because I am taking up two whole paragraphs just to tell you my opinion on this book. I felt emotional because in the story, Charlie Joe really likes Hannah Spivero, but you know how it is. You can love someone so much, but they don’t like you back. (Heart breaks.) Charlie Joe has been in love, yes in love with her for about seven years. ***SPOILER ALART*** Charlie is going to write his report on why cliques are bad, so he has Jake, a geek, date Hannah, creative, popular, so that people can see that people from different cliques can date. This works and when it is time for Charlie Joe to present his paper, Hannah stood up, and told the class that she really likes Jake and then kissed his cheek in front of the whole class and teachers. So I was of course surprised. I was telling myself that if that ever happened to me, I would faint, and I have never fainted before. I even practiced my faint. I stood up and acted like the guy I liked just walked up to my friend and kissed her on the cheek. I was down so fast it was as if someone was rolling their pencil on their desk, trying to move it so that it wouldn’t fall, (I know you know that game. Everyone has played it,) and then it falls so fast. Woo. I dropped. So that is why this book had me emotional. DROPPED!
This is my other opinion on the book. I choose the subject of, why in the world would you have someone else read for you, that is just laziness. I mean all you have to do is unlock a part of your brain that has nothing on it, then just have the words from the book fill it up. Science! Anyway Charlie Joe bribes 2, not just 1, but 2 people to read for him. When I was reading this I was like, “Oh my gosh, you’re kidding me right.� Then he did it the second time and I was like, “Charlie! What is wrong with you. Do you not see the decisions you are making. Come on!� I may not understand this because I like reading, I mean love reading, but really cheating like that. This got me so disappointed. Ok, I am done with my opinions. I have told you what my opinion on some subjects. Now for the final paragraph.
I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars, because even though it was emotional, I love reading, and I think everyone should. I just liked it, I’m not saying I hated it, I just liked it. That is it. I would recommend this book to nonreaders, so that they can see what can happen if they do not read, and end up cheating instead. In conclusion, the only thing I am going to say to you is, a book is a magical adventure.
July 3, 2011
I won this is a ŷ First Read. Yay!
As a middle school teacher, I found this book funny and appealing. There are times when Charlie's comments sound a bit too much like the comments of an adult who is a good kid-watcher, but overall his voice is well done. I gave it three stars instead of four for a reason that won't apply to most people. Over 50% of my kids are Latino, and like the excellent "Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie" this book is so entrenched in white, middle class culture that much of its appeal will be lost on them. Sure, many kids can relate to hating reading, liking a girl who isn't interested, and, yes, the humor of throwing basketballs at your friends' "groinal region," but overall the world Charlie lives in is the world of my nephews, not the world of my students. But the book itself is well written, engaging, and I look forward to seeing the published version with illustrations.
As a middle school teacher, I found this book funny and appealing. There are times when Charlie's comments sound a bit too much like the comments of an adult who is a good kid-watcher, but overall his voice is well done. I gave it three stars instead of four for a reason that won't apply to most people. Over 50% of my kids are Latino, and like the excellent "Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie" this book is so entrenched in white, middle class culture that much of its appeal will be lost on them. Sure, many kids can relate to hating reading, liking a girl who isn't interested, and, yes, the humor of throwing basketballs at your friends' "groinal region," but overall the world Charlie lives in is the world of my nephews, not the world of my students. But the book itself is well written, engaging, and I look forward to seeing the published version with illustrations.
December 31, 2010
CHARLIE JOE JACKSON’S GUIDE TO NOT READING by Tommy Greenwald (Roaring Brook Press/July 2011 ) for middle grade readers is about Charlie Joe, a reluctant reader, whose cool-dude reputation is centered around the fact that he’s never read an entire book from cover to cover.
An advanced copy of CHARLIE JOE JACKSON’S GUIDE TO NOT READING arrived in my mailbox along with a towering pile of vacation mail. As I scattered bills and letters across the kitchen counter, I realized I couldn’t start a new book—I had several pieces of luggage to unload, stacks of laundry to wash, children to feed, and pets to attend. I was also 85% (Kindlespeak) into another book. With a cluster of beckoning priorities, a guide to NOT reading seemed safe in my hands. I knew itwould be harmless to peruse the first few pages of the “guide� as I walked from the kitchen to my upstairs bedroom. My intention was to set the ARC on my nightstand and save it for another day. But in the 47 steps it took to travel the distance from room to room, I had read to chapter four. It was quick. It was easy. Another few pages wouldn’t hurt. Yep, I was hooked.
The combination of short chapters, fun fonts, and a breezy/amusing plot suckered me into flipping page after page with a sense of accomplishment. Charlie Joe should be ashamed if his intention is to get people to not read, because read I did. He packs the book with humor and he stuffs it with tips like, “don’t care about the main character� but then compels you to worry what will happen to him following utter humiliation, dire consequences, and yet another crazy scheme.
Author Tommy Greenwald nails the middle school voice in CHARLIE JOE JACKSON’S GUIDE TO NOT READING. His tip lists are hilarious (helpful oxymorons-- “good book� “nice library�) and his descriptions are spot-on middle school: i.e. The Amish: “[People who] deny themselves basic necessities like cars, electricity, and Game Boy.�
CHARLIE JOE JACKSON’S GUIDE TO NOT READING cannot be discussed without making a Wimpy Kid reference. Fans of one story will be fans of the other. There was also a little High School Musical drama moment in the story, but as Charlie Joe’s sister would say, I’ll leave that for you to read and discover.
With lists, tips, plot points, and good intentions, Charlie Joe attempts to stay true to his premise: to deliver a guide to not reading. He did his best, but I read cover to cover and rate this book a 4 out of 5. It was not preachy or teachy, but instead light, fun, creative and (dare I use a Charlie Joe oxymoron) one fun read! Available in July 2011 from Roaring Brook Press (an imprint of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group) $14.99. ISBN 978-1 59643 691-6 .
An advanced copy of CHARLIE JOE JACKSON’S GUIDE TO NOT READING arrived in my mailbox along with a towering pile of vacation mail. As I scattered bills and letters across the kitchen counter, I realized I couldn’t start a new book—I had several pieces of luggage to unload, stacks of laundry to wash, children to feed, and pets to attend. I was also 85% (Kindlespeak) into another book. With a cluster of beckoning priorities, a guide to NOT reading seemed safe in my hands. I knew itwould be harmless to peruse the first few pages of the “guide� as I walked from the kitchen to my upstairs bedroom. My intention was to set the ARC on my nightstand and save it for another day. But in the 47 steps it took to travel the distance from room to room, I had read to chapter four. It was quick. It was easy. Another few pages wouldn’t hurt. Yep, I was hooked.
The combination of short chapters, fun fonts, and a breezy/amusing plot suckered me into flipping page after page with a sense of accomplishment. Charlie Joe should be ashamed if his intention is to get people to not read, because read I did. He packs the book with humor and he stuffs it with tips like, “don’t care about the main character� but then compels you to worry what will happen to him following utter humiliation, dire consequences, and yet another crazy scheme.
Author Tommy Greenwald nails the middle school voice in CHARLIE JOE JACKSON’S GUIDE TO NOT READING. His tip lists are hilarious (helpful oxymorons-- “good book� “nice library�) and his descriptions are spot-on middle school: i.e. The Amish: “[People who] deny themselves basic necessities like cars, electricity, and Game Boy.�
CHARLIE JOE JACKSON’S GUIDE TO NOT READING cannot be discussed without making a Wimpy Kid reference. Fans of one story will be fans of the other. There was also a little High School Musical drama moment in the story, but as Charlie Joe’s sister would say, I’ll leave that for you to read and discover.
With lists, tips, plot points, and good intentions, Charlie Joe attempts to stay true to his premise: to deliver a guide to not reading. He did his best, but I read cover to cover and rate this book a 4 out of 5. It was not preachy or teachy, but instead light, fun, creative and (dare I use a Charlie Joe oxymoron) one fun read! Available in July 2011 from Roaring Brook Press (an imprint of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group) $14.99. ISBN 978-1 59643 691-6 .
December 17, 2011
I struggle with bokos that are focused on kids being slackers and not like reading. Diary of a Wimpy Kid is not my favorite (Is that a nice enough way of saying that I dislike it very much?). Recently, I read the James Patterson book "Middle School: The Worst Years of my Life" and it kind of falls into the same category of "Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to not Reading". I am sure that these books can do a decent job of getting reluctant boys to read, but at times I wonder if they do more damage than good. Will they make kids want to read more, or will they just help kids complain about why other books suck so much? I'm not sure. I enjoyed Charlie Joe, and in my mind, it is a lot better than Patterson's book. I am interested to see how Tommy Greenwald follows this book. That might effect how I feel about Charlie. (Not sure if any of this makes sense)
September 21, 2011
The unreliable narrator. It's a staple of adult literature, and a relative newcomer to the world of children’s lit. Even books for teens are more likely to sport these first person ne’er-do-wells than titles for the 9-12 set. It can be done mind you, but it’s tricky territory, made all the trickier if the narrator is always being on the up and up with the reader. I think the closest you can usually get to an honest-to-goodness unreliable character is something like Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading. With a title that baffles child readers even as it intrigues them, author Tommy Greenwald conjures up a charming, befuddled hero who’s steadfast refusal to pick up and enjoy a book leads him to illogical extremes and the ultimate punishment.
Let’s be clear. Charlie Joe Jackson is a charming guy. If you met him you’d probably like him. Lots of people do, and why not? This is a kid who has figured out what it is he wants out of life and goes for it. Take reading. Charlie hates it. Couldn’t dislike it more. So over the years he and his friend Timmy have set up a nice little arrangement. Timmy will read books for Charlie if in exchange he can get free ice cream sandwiches. Everything’s going beautifully until the day Timmy destroys Charlie’s sweet scheme. Caught, Charlie finds himself facing a huge school project with a ton of reading on the horizon. He has a plan to get out of it, but it hinges on setting up the girl of his dreams with the class nerd. Can Charlie keep himself from reading from here on in? And do we even want him to?
It hadn’t occurred to me until I presented this book to a reading group I run for kids, but Charlie Joe Jackson may qualify as a notebook novel. Notebook novels are those books for kids that spring either directly or inadvertently out of the craze. They look like notebooks/diaries/journals/etc. and contain eclectic combinations of art and text. Of course, there can be miscommunications. One kid I handed this to informed me that she didn’t like “guides�. She was under the impression, I guess, that this 224-page book was a step-by-step instructional tome on how not to pick up a book. Logic doesn’t quite enter into that one, so I’ll let it go. In any case, she was happy enough when she learned that rather than rote lists, there’s an engaging story as well. The initial image of Charlie Joe as drawn by J.P. Coovert did a lot to help, I think. On the title page is Charlie Joe changing the title from a guide TO reading to a guide to NOT reading. They thought that was a stitch.
Ultimately, in terms of the storytelling what we’re dealing with here is a tale about a long con gone wrong. This book has more in common with Chris Rylander’s than your average kid-in-school fare. And because it’s a con game tale there’s an interesting balance throughout this book of Charlie Joe: Nice Guy VS. Charlie Joe: Cheater. What’s interesting about his character is that even as he does wrong he’s a nice guy. Likes his sister. Has a best friend who’s a girl. Isn’t into the super hot popular girl in his class because he likes someone else. He just sort of has this tendency to want to cheat on reading. No biggie, right? Kids might even come to see his side after reading his origin story. Inevitably the adult readers of this book might wonder if Charlie Joe has some form of dyslexia or other problem with words, but I don't think so. It seems clear that if the will is there, Charlie will read. He's just short of will.
Funny too, though funny books rarely get much credit. I at least was amused by advice like “Charlie Joe’s Tip #2: Never read a book by someone whose name you can’t pronounce� since it follows up that tip with the line “Let’s face it: chances are you wouldn’t be reading this book if it were called Venedkyt Styokierwski’s Guide to Not Reading�. Point. Though, thinking about it, Jon Scieszka would be out to sea too and I suspect that he’s the kind of guy Charlie Joe could really dig. And the advice on how to look like a reader without being one is classic. I’m particularly fond of “Make your local library’s website the homepage on your computer.� That’s classic.
It plays fair too. Kids can sniff out a false morality lesson a mile away, and if it rings untrue forget about it. They’ll never forgive you. Without giving anything away, let me just say that the last page of this book is “Charlie Joe’s Tip #25: When Finishing a Book Never Look at It Again�. Heck, there’s even a part earlier in the book where Charlie Joe acknowledges this classic book trope and rejects it outright. When forced to actually read he points out that at this point in the book he should technically have a change of heart. “I had discovered the joys of reading and storytelling and the characters spoke to me, and not only did I want to read more books, I wanted to move into the library.� Instead, he tells the reader that while he’s sure the book’s author is a swell fella and his mom is proud of him, “no matter how nice a guy and how successful an author Ted Hauser is, I’m pretty sure that doesn’t give him the right to ruin my life.� Granted later in the book there is a moment when Charlie inadvertently finds himself applying something he read to a real life situation but it's really the reader, not Charlie himself, who becomes aware that reading may have a purpose beyond the occasional school assignment.
Reluctant readers, bane of the nation, are the target audience here. Will they like the book? Well, there’s lots to be said for short chapters and a hero who’s on their side. Pictures don’t hurt matters much either. Greenwald could have turned this into a preachy tract, saying something about how assigned reading in schools sucks the fun out of books and turns legions of children into non-readers every year. That's true and a good lesson but I appreciate that instead his non-reader comes by his non-reading honestly. Like a lot of kids, he just never took to it. All in all it’s a great little book (and I say that in spite of Charlie Joe’s rousing/baffling endorsement of ). This is definitely the book to hand those fans out there who are looking for more, and it’ll probably satisfy non-non-readers as well. Book haters of the world, your spokesman is here.
For ages 9-12.
Let’s be clear. Charlie Joe Jackson is a charming guy. If you met him you’d probably like him. Lots of people do, and why not? This is a kid who has figured out what it is he wants out of life and goes for it. Take reading. Charlie hates it. Couldn’t dislike it more. So over the years he and his friend Timmy have set up a nice little arrangement. Timmy will read books for Charlie if in exchange he can get free ice cream sandwiches. Everything’s going beautifully until the day Timmy destroys Charlie’s sweet scheme. Caught, Charlie finds himself facing a huge school project with a ton of reading on the horizon. He has a plan to get out of it, but it hinges on setting up the girl of his dreams with the class nerd. Can Charlie keep himself from reading from here on in? And do we even want him to?
It hadn’t occurred to me until I presented this book to a reading group I run for kids, but Charlie Joe Jackson may qualify as a notebook novel. Notebook novels are those books for kids that spring either directly or inadvertently out of the craze. They look like notebooks/diaries/journals/etc. and contain eclectic combinations of art and text. Of course, there can be miscommunications. One kid I handed this to informed me that she didn’t like “guides�. She was under the impression, I guess, that this 224-page book was a step-by-step instructional tome on how not to pick up a book. Logic doesn’t quite enter into that one, so I’ll let it go. In any case, she was happy enough when she learned that rather than rote lists, there’s an engaging story as well. The initial image of Charlie Joe as drawn by J.P. Coovert did a lot to help, I think. On the title page is Charlie Joe changing the title from a guide TO reading to a guide to NOT reading. They thought that was a stitch.
Ultimately, in terms of the storytelling what we’re dealing with here is a tale about a long con gone wrong. This book has more in common with Chris Rylander’s than your average kid-in-school fare. And because it’s a con game tale there’s an interesting balance throughout this book of Charlie Joe: Nice Guy VS. Charlie Joe: Cheater. What’s interesting about his character is that even as he does wrong he’s a nice guy. Likes his sister. Has a best friend who’s a girl. Isn’t into the super hot popular girl in his class because he likes someone else. He just sort of has this tendency to want to cheat on reading. No biggie, right? Kids might even come to see his side after reading his origin story. Inevitably the adult readers of this book might wonder if Charlie Joe has some form of dyslexia or other problem with words, but I don't think so. It seems clear that if the will is there, Charlie will read. He's just short of will.
Funny too, though funny books rarely get much credit. I at least was amused by advice like “Charlie Joe’s Tip #2: Never read a book by someone whose name you can’t pronounce� since it follows up that tip with the line “Let’s face it: chances are you wouldn’t be reading this book if it were called Venedkyt Styokierwski’s Guide to Not Reading�. Point. Though, thinking about it, Jon Scieszka would be out to sea too and I suspect that he’s the kind of guy Charlie Joe could really dig. And the advice on how to look like a reader without being one is classic. I’m particularly fond of “Make your local library’s website the homepage on your computer.� That’s classic.
It plays fair too. Kids can sniff out a false morality lesson a mile away, and if it rings untrue forget about it. They’ll never forgive you. Without giving anything away, let me just say that the last page of this book is “Charlie Joe’s Tip #25: When Finishing a Book Never Look at It Again�. Heck, there’s even a part earlier in the book where Charlie Joe acknowledges this classic book trope and rejects it outright. When forced to actually read he points out that at this point in the book he should technically have a change of heart. “I had discovered the joys of reading and storytelling and the characters spoke to me, and not only did I want to read more books, I wanted to move into the library.� Instead, he tells the reader that while he’s sure the book’s author is a swell fella and his mom is proud of him, “no matter how nice a guy and how successful an author Ted Hauser is, I’m pretty sure that doesn’t give him the right to ruin my life.� Granted later in the book there is a moment when Charlie inadvertently finds himself applying something he read to a real life situation but it's really the reader, not Charlie himself, who becomes aware that reading may have a purpose beyond the occasional school assignment.
Reluctant readers, bane of the nation, are the target audience here. Will they like the book? Well, there’s lots to be said for short chapters and a hero who’s on their side. Pictures don’t hurt matters much either. Greenwald could have turned this into a preachy tract, saying something about how assigned reading in schools sucks the fun out of books and turns legions of children into non-readers every year. That's true and a good lesson but I appreciate that instead his non-reader comes by his non-reading honestly. Like a lot of kids, he just never took to it. All in all it’s a great little book (and I say that in spite of Charlie Joe’s rousing/baffling endorsement of ). This is definitely the book to hand those fans out there who are looking for more, and it’ll probably satisfy non-non-readers as well. Book haters of the world, your spokesman is here.
For ages 9-12.
January 30, 2015
*Spoil Alert *
Do you hate reading?If you answered yes then Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to not reading is a perfect book for you. This is a realistic fiction mixed with comedy that will have you laughing until it hurts.
This story is about a boy who hates reading and still manages to get through life without even reading an entire book cover to cover.The words and phrases that are in the book are used today.The setting takes place in middle school were most of the conflict start to happen.Charlie Joe Jackson goes to his friend (Timmy) for help and exchange he has to get him two ice cream sandwiches.This was a deal that's been going on for a long time but this time it wasn't going to happen because Timmy said,"No".And Charlie really need someone to read the book for him for this report he needs to do in school. The conflict is person vs person because Charlie Joe Jackson has to face his teacher forgiving him the report to do and timmy who just decides not to help but the main thing that that Charlie has to face is "BOOKS".
I was suprised when i started to read this book because this book is about how to get out of reading and the only way to do is by reading,weird twist isn't it.My favorite part about reading this book is was that it took place in middle school and i think that the author choose this setting because he is trying to relet to us that even middle schoolers still dont enjoy reading and maybe there was a message to the story saying that books could get you somewhere in life and if you don't enjoy reading it will catch up to you and in this case Charlie Joe Jackson's book's caught up to him.
I had predicted that charile joe jackson would still not injoy reading because his whole point was how to get out of reading and he is giving the readers tips on how to not read, but then it turned out he had a liking to reading.And that was a major event that change the the character point of view.and now that i think about it ,it was also the main character promble.
I would read this book a five because I really love the twist in the story and I find this book really humorous and interesting and I think that it didn't deserve anything below a five because it was everything I was looking for something I could relate to and something that will make me laugh. I would recommend this book to someone who hates reading but wants to find a book that will make them like reading.
Do you hate reading?If you answered yes then Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to not reading is a perfect book for you. This is a realistic fiction mixed with comedy that will have you laughing until it hurts.
This story is about a boy who hates reading and still manages to get through life without even reading an entire book cover to cover.The words and phrases that are in the book are used today.The setting takes place in middle school were most of the conflict start to happen.Charlie Joe Jackson goes to his friend (Timmy) for help and exchange he has to get him two ice cream sandwiches.This was a deal that's been going on for a long time but this time it wasn't going to happen because Timmy said,"No".And Charlie really need someone to read the book for him for this report he needs to do in school. The conflict is person vs person because Charlie Joe Jackson has to face his teacher forgiving him the report to do and timmy who just decides not to help but the main thing that that Charlie has to face is "BOOKS".
I was suprised when i started to read this book because this book is about how to get out of reading and the only way to do is by reading,weird twist isn't it.My favorite part about reading this book is was that it took place in middle school and i think that the author choose this setting because he is trying to relet to us that even middle schoolers still dont enjoy reading and maybe there was a message to the story saying that books could get you somewhere in life and if you don't enjoy reading it will catch up to you and in this case Charlie Joe Jackson's book's caught up to him.
I had predicted that charile joe jackson would still not injoy reading because his whole point was how to get out of reading and he is giving the readers tips on how to not read, but then it turned out he had a liking to reading.And that was a major event that change the the character point of view.and now that i think about it ,it was also the main character promble.
I would read this book a five because I really love the twist in the story and I find this book really humorous and interesting and I think that it didn't deserve anything below a five because it was everything I was looking for something I could relate to and something that will make me laugh. I would recommend this book to someone who hates reading but wants to find a book that will make them like reading.
July 10, 2012
Charlie Joe Jackson is an avid non-reader. He has never read a book cover to cover, and he's proud of it. (Except for . Which has, like, sixty-two words in it.) This book will inspire all reluctant readers in their efforts to avoid the written word, and give helpful tips on how to do it.
The great thing about this book is that it will satisfy both the middle-school reader and his/her parents, which is a thing wondrous and rare. On the one hand, Charlie is actually a nice, funny, "good" kid, one whom said parents would approve of their son being friends with. He's got his heart in the right place, and he's not stupid or a slacker or "too cool for school" either. He's just not a reader. There's no bad language or smoking or drugs and very little middle-school-boy level humor, and Charlie gets his "just desserts" (that is, grounding) very thoroughly when he needs it.
On the other hand, he still acts like a kid and not a model of everything that parents tell their kids they should be and that the kids, in turn, want to beat up after school, and there's plenty of humor and snarkiness and avoiding schoolwork, and there's no obnoxious, patronizing moral at the end. No "And so I discovered the joys of books and spent the rest of my days making up for all the time I could have been spending reading." Nothing is more likely to turn kids off, and really, hopeless book addict though I am, it would have turned me off, too.
I am slightly conflicted about the rating, which is not usual for me. My impulse is to give it four stars for "I really like it," but I can't quite trust my own opinion till the end-of-book afterglow goes away. It wasn't life-changing, but I don't regret the time I spent reading it, either--which is just further proof that I am not this book's intended audience. (The initial proof being that I read it at all and am now writing a review about it on goodreads.) Maybe I'll come back in a few weeks and change it to four stars. If I forget to do that, then I guess it really was just a three star.
The great thing about this book is that it will satisfy both the middle-school reader and his/her parents, which is a thing wondrous and rare. On the one hand, Charlie is actually a nice, funny, "good" kid, one whom said parents would approve of their son being friends with. He's got his heart in the right place, and he's not stupid or a slacker or "too cool for school" either. He's just not a reader. There's no bad language or smoking or drugs and very little middle-school-boy level humor, and Charlie gets his "just desserts" (that is, grounding) very thoroughly when he needs it.
On the other hand, he still acts like a kid and not a model of everything that parents tell their kids they should be and that the kids, in turn, want to beat up after school, and there's plenty of humor and snarkiness and avoiding schoolwork, and there's no obnoxious, patronizing moral at the end. No "And so I discovered the joys of books and spent the rest of my days making up for all the time I could have been spending reading." Nothing is more likely to turn kids off, and really, hopeless book addict though I am, it would have turned me off, too.
I am slightly conflicted about the rating, which is not usual for me. My impulse is to give it four stars for "I really like it," but I can't quite trust my own opinion till the end-of-book afterglow goes away. It wasn't life-changing, but I don't regret the time I spent reading it, either--which is just further proof that I am not this book's intended audience. (The initial proof being that I read it at all and am now writing a review about it on goodreads.) Maybe I'll come back in a few weeks and change it to four stars. If I forget to do that, then I guess it really was just a three star.
January 9, 2021
DISCLAIMER: I don’t mean to offend anyone, I personally just didn’t like the book.
Honestly, I don’t know what I expected. I thought it was the story of a boy that discovered reading is not so bad after all, but instead? INSTEAD, this boy is teaching children that reading is unnecessary and for losers, and that you shouldn’t spend your time reading. The message is obviously stupid. I strongly hope that you don’t ever see this book in your life. If you see it, do yourself a favor. Don’t buy/read it.
Thank you for reading this review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2016
There were sine helpful tips in here but I won't use them anytime soon.
May 5, 2021
O carte pentru adolescenți destul de bună. Recomand, aștept să citesc și restul volumelor.
January 30, 2015
Are you not a big fan about reading? This book is for you. Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide To Not Reading, literally had some "facts" (excuses to not read) in the book that probably every kid has tried to say to parents and or teachers. I enjoyed this book more than I expected. If you don't read, take a chance and read this book! This is a realistic fiction book that like I said, has humor in it and life lessons. I recommend this book to those non-readers and just anyone in general.
The setting of my book takes place in Charlie's middle school and at other times at home. Charlie Joe absolutely hates reading, he'll do anything to get out of reading. He's practically made it through his whole life without actually reading a book from the beginning to the end. Charlie has made a deal with his friend, Timmy for quite awhile now, Timmy reads the book for him and comes back with a brief summary of what happened, in return for some ice cream sandwiches from which Charlie buys him. Except, when a major book report was due in just a few days or so, Charlie has a little chat with Eliza, who claims to be the most popular girl there, from that chat everyone somehow finds out about Charlie's and Timmy's arrangement and even Charlie's parents find out. Oops! Things don't end up good, eventually Timmy stops doing what Charlie tells him. Now, he's in some major trouble.. Desperate for help, events start to occur, such as lying, betrayal, and even broken hearts. Will all this trouble convince Charlie to read? Or will he continue to avoid reading and basically get in trouble every now and then? Everything starts building up to the point where Charlie is alone and well, runs out of tips from all that has occurred. Then, it's the end of the school year and a "position paper" is due (a book report) and now he gets Jake, who happens to be quite a nerd, to read the books for him, in return of Charlie paring him up with his "never to be girlfriend," Hannah, but will his plan work in order for him to write a successful paper? The type of conflict is person vs person because he needs to now face his friends, his parents and teacher about the truth, or will he be able to get away with it by lying..?
I absolutely enjoyed reading this book! I loved the way the main character, Charlie, expressed his feelings towards books. He would never lie about it, he'd just kind of straight up tell you why he was never much of a reader. Charlie would give out tips such as, "you can go to the movies and still read." From the sound of that, you can honestly tell he tries and thinks he's reading by what, reading the credits at the end? His tips aren't so great by the way, but it's full of humor to see how he describes his feelings towards reading that it makes me want to keep reading, a little humor in a book is needed. Also, I'd say Charlie's main problem here was not the fact that he didn't have an interest for books, but he thought they are too long, boring, and there's no point, honestly it's just being lazy. Well, in his case laziness seemed to be his main problem, but I mean I'm pretty sure most of us were too lazy to read a book or think, "this book is too boring," or "345 pages, that's a lot." It's just that this book is filled with lots of exciting, sad, and honest moments.
I can relate to Charlie because when I was around let's say 9 or 10, reading was boring to me. I'd to whatever to get out of reading. So while I read this book I just kind of kept thinking, "wow, I remember this being me." I will admit I wasn't a huge fan of reading, I disliked it, reading isn't a hobby of mine, but nor do I dislike it. You kind of just have to find your interests in books, but Charlie still refuses to read, but yes indeed I can honestly say, I was Charlie when I was younger. I liked the way the author made this book simple yet brilliant. Even though this book was about 200 pages, I found it short since the chapters were short and little sketches were in it too. One major reason why I enjoyed this book and the way the author wrote it was because we got to see the kids point of view, what he thought about reading, not a teachers, parents, or any adult, just the perspective of a middle schooler and maybe that's why certain people might be able to understand, and enjoy the book more.
I'd give this book a 4 out of 5 stars because even though I was really into the book, it wasn't the best I've read. I say a few more details would be needed during some of the chapters but in the end, I'd read this book again. I recommend this book to people who might not enjoy reading, I think this book is great, probably an easy read and understandable. Who knows maybe you'll end up actually liking the book, and end up using some of his tips.. (Not the greatest idea though..)
The setting of my book takes place in Charlie's middle school and at other times at home. Charlie Joe absolutely hates reading, he'll do anything to get out of reading. He's practically made it through his whole life without actually reading a book from the beginning to the end. Charlie has made a deal with his friend, Timmy for quite awhile now, Timmy reads the book for him and comes back with a brief summary of what happened, in return for some ice cream sandwiches from which Charlie buys him. Except, when a major book report was due in just a few days or so, Charlie has a little chat with Eliza, who claims to be the most popular girl there, from that chat everyone somehow finds out about Charlie's and Timmy's arrangement and even Charlie's parents find out. Oops! Things don't end up good, eventually Timmy stops doing what Charlie tells him. Now, he's in some major trouble.. Desperate for help, events start to occur, such as lying, betrayal, and even broken hearts. Will all this trouble convince Charlie to read? Or will he continue to avoid reading and basically get in trouble every now and then? Everything starts building up to the point where Charlie is alone and well, runs out of tips from all that has occurred. Then, it's the end of the school year and a "position paper" is due (a book report) and now he gets Jake, who happens to be quite a nerd, to read the books for him, in return of Charlie paring him up with his "never to be girlfriend," Hannah, but will his plan work in order for him to write a successful paper? The type of conflict is person vs person because he needs to now face his friends, his parents and teacher about the truth, or will he be able to get away with it by lying..?
I absolutely enjoyed reading this book! I loved the way the main character, Charlie, expressed his feelings towards books. He would never lie about it, he'd just kind of straight up tell you why he was never much of a reader. Charlie would give out tips such as, "you can go to the movies and still read." From the sound of that, you can honestly tell he tries and thinks he's reading by what, reading the credits at the end? His tips aren't so great by the way, but it's full of humor to see how he describes his feelings towards reading that it makes me want to keep reading, a little humor in a book is needed. Also, I'd say Charlie's main problem here was not the fact that he didn't have an interest for books, but he thought they are too long, boring, and there's no point, honestly it's just being lazy. Well, in his case laziness seemed to be his main problem, but I mean I'm pretty sure most of us were too lazy to read a book or think, "this book is too boring," or "345 pages, that's a lot." It's just that this book is filled with lots of exciting, sad, and honest moments.
I can relate to Charlie because when I was around let's say 9 or 10, reading was boring to me. I'd to whatever to get out of reading. So while I read this book I just kind of kept thinking, "wow, I remember this being me." I will admit I wasn't a huge fan of reading, I disliked it, reading isn't a hobby of mine, but nor do I dislike it. You kind of just have to find your interests in books, but Charlie still refuses to read, but yes indeed I can honestly say, I was Charlie when I was younger. I liked the way the author made this book simple yet brilliant. Even though this book was about 200 pages, I found it short since the chapters were short and little sketches were in it too. One major reason why I enjoyed this book and the way the author wrote it was because we got to see the kids point of view, what he thought about reading, not a teachers, parents, or any adult, just the perspective of a middle schooler and maybe that's why certain people might be able to understand, and enjoy the book more.
I'd give this book a 4 out of 5 stars because even though I was really into the book, it wasn't the best I've read. I say a few more details would be needed during some of the chapters but in the end, I'd read this book again. I recommend this book to people who might not enjoy reading, I think this book is great, probably an easy read and understandable. Who knows maybe you'll end up actually liking the book, and end up using some of his tips.. (Not the greatest idea though..)
June 7, 2011
Chapter 1
"If you're reading this book, you don't like reading.
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."
In Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading, Tommy Greenwald creates a character who is very honest with readers. Charlie Joe tells us that this book serves two purposes: "One, it will show people how to get out of reading. And two, on those unfortunate occasions that you are not able to get out of reading and are forced to read a book, it will be a nice easy book to read."
I already have a list of students in mind for this book! What developing or dormant reader wouldn't be thrilled with reading a book about how to get out of reading?
Charlie Joe has lots of tips on how to avoid reading and make the process less painful. For example, readers could try Tip #1: IF YOU HAVE TO READ A BOOK, MAKE SURE IT HAS SHORT CHAPTERS. Or perhaps readers could try Tip #11: BOOKS THAT ARE DIVIDED INTO PARTS SHOULD BE AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS. If these tips don't work, may I suggest Tip #18: IF YOU HAVE TO READ, READ ABOUT GIRLS. IT HELPS YOU UNDERSTAND THEM BETTER.
Of course, while turning the pages and taking notes on how to avoid reading, the person holding this book actually gets sucked into Charlie Joe's problems--school and girls--and thus, into a pretty great story!
As a person who loves books, chocolate, and Bon Jovi (inside book-joke!), I was loving this read for the simple joy that this will be one of the first books-I-read-this-summer that I will booktalk next school year! My sixth graders won't be able to resist it!
In a book that reminded me of Gary Paulsen's Liar, Liar, Tommy Greenwald has hit a sweet spot for middle grade boys (and girls, too!). Due to be released July 5, make sure you pick this book up for the non-reader in your life! They may actually thank you!
FUN FACT: The main character is actually named after the author's three sons...Charlie, Jack, and Joe. Get it? Tommy Greenwald says that he struggled to get his boys to read. He decided to write the perfect book for them, a book about not reading!
"If you're reading this book, you don't like reading.
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."
In Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading, Tommy Greenwald creates a character who is very honest with readers. Charlie Joe tells us that this book serves two purposes: "One, it will show people how to get out of reading. And two, on those unfortunate occasions that you are not able to get out of reading and are forced to read a book, it will be a nice easy book to read."
I already have a list of students in mind for this book! What developing or dormant reader wouldn't be thrilled with reading a book about how to get out of reading?
Charlie Joe has lots of tips on how to avoid reading and make the process less painful. For example, readers could try Tip #1: IF YOU HAVE TO READ A BOOK, MAKE SURE IT HAS SHORT CHAPTERS. Or perhaps readers could try Tip #11: BOOKS THAT ARE DIVIDED INTO PARTS SHOULD BE AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS. If these tips don't work, may I suggest Tip #18: IF YOU HAVE TO READ, READ ABOUT GIRLS. IT HELPS YOU UNDERSTAND THEM BETTER.
Of course, while turning the pages and taking notes on how to avoid reading, the person holding this book actually gets sucked into Charlie Joe's problems--school and girls--and thus, into a pretty great story!
As a person who loves books, chocolate, and Bon Jovi (inside book-joke!), I was loving this read for the simple joy that this will be one of the first books-I-read-this-summer that I will booktalk next school year! My sixth graders won't be able to resist it!
In a book that reminded me of Gary Paulsen's Liar, Liar, Tommy Greenwald has hit a sweet spot for middle grade boys (and girls, too!). Due to be released July 5, make sure you pick this book up for the non-reader in your life! They may actually thank you!
FUN FACT: The main character is actually named after the author's three sons...Charlie, Jack, and Joe. Get it? Tommy Greenwald says that he struggled to get his boys to read. He decided to write the perfect book for them, a book about not reading!
July 19, 2011
Tommy Greenwald’s new book Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to NOT Reading is a perfect book for the non-reader or reluctant reader in your life! Charlie Joe has made it all the way to Middle School without ever, EVER, reading a book cover to cover. It hasn’t been easy, but he has come up with an arrangement that has carried him this far successfully� until now. When his teachers discover what he’s been up to, will Charlie Joe be able to keep up his track record?
In this hilarious book, Charlie Joe speaks directly to you, reader, and as he relates his own story, he shares tips and tactics to help you avoid reading at all costs. Middle School boys (and girls!) will appreciate the many references to modern tween pop-culture, such as facebook, texting, and X-Box, among others. “Exclusive Non-Reading Tips� are sprinkled throughout, offering advice such as “IF YOU HAVE TO READ A BOOK, MAKE SURE IT HAS SHORT CHAPTERS� and “NOT ALL BOOKS ARE BAD (exceptions: comic books, yearbooks, checkbooks, Facebook).� Along with these interspersed lists of tips, short chapters and simple illustrations help keep book moving at a quick pace.
The surprise ending brings the story full circle, and readers who picked up what they thought would be a guide to NOT reading will discover that they have, in fact, just finished (and enjoyed!) an entire book! Laugh-out-loud funny, clever, and relevant, I believe Tommy Greenwald has written a book that will appeal to kids of all reading tastes. After all, I love books more than anything, and even I appreciated the fun and humor of Charlie Joe’s tale! ~KSD
In this hilarious book, Charlie Joe speaks directly to you, reader, and as he relates his own story, he shares tips and tactics to help you avoid reading at all costs. Middle School boys (and girls!) will appreciate the many references to modern tween pop-culture, such as facebook, texting, and X-Box, among others. “Exclusive Non-Reading Tips� are sprinkled throughout, offering advice such as “IF YOU HAVE TO READ A BOOK, MAKE SURE IT HAS SHORT CHAPTERS� and “NOT ALL BOOKS ARE BAD (exceptions: comic books, yearbooks, checkbooks, Facebook).� Along with these interspersed lists of tips, short chapters and simple illustrations help keep book moving at a quick pace.
The surprise ending brings the story full circle, and readers who picked up what they thought would be a guide to NOT reading will discover that they have, in fact, just finished (and enjoyed!) an entire book! Laugh-out-loud funny, clever, and relevant, I believe Tommy Greenwald has written a book that will appeal to kids of all reading tastes. After all, I love books more than anything, and even I appreciated the fun and humor of Charlie Joe’s tale! ~KSD
July 14, 2012
I'm conflicted about my rating for this title. It isn't quite a four for me, nor is it really a three. I'd give it three and half stars if I could. I'm clearly not the intended audience for this book, which I'm sure is impacting my score.
I enjoyed the book's humor and found myself liking Charlie Joe, despite his willingness to go to incredible lengths to avoid reading a book. I have to applaud the author for a few things which are difficult to find in books for young people these days: Charlie Joe has a positive relationship with his sister, his descriptions of other people are honest without being snarky, and Charlie Joe is able to admit to his own flaws.
Fans of the Wimpy Kid series and Big Nate series will likely enjoy this book, although I think it's smarter, so I'd liken it more to The Strange Case of Origami Yoda. I think it would make a great read-aloud with a fifth or sixth grade class.
I enjoyed the book's humor and found myself liking Charlie Joe, despite his willingness to go to incredible lengths to avoid reading a book. I have to applaud the author for a few things which are difficult to find in books for young people these days: Charlie Joe has a positive relationship with his sister, his descriptions of other people are honest without being snarky, and Charlie Joe is able to admit to his own flaws.
Fans of the Wimpy Kid series and Big Nate series will likely enjoy this book, although I think it's smarter, so I'd liken it more to The Strange Case of Origami Yoda. I think it would make a great read-aloud with a fifth or sixth grade class.
June 3, 2011
Alright I lied. I read the first quarter and the last quarter.
Too listy and the premise didn't work for me.
Too listy and the premise didn't work for me.
March 3, 2017
I have just finished reading Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide To Not Reading and I learned a lot of great tips on how to get out of reading. The author of this book is not Charlie Joe Jackson, but it is by Tommy Greenwald. The lexile is 830 and the genre is fiction. This book’s main theme was to don’t try and get out of reading or else some very bad things will happen to you. Even though the book is called a guide to not reading it still kind of teaches us some good things about not reading, but mainly what will happen if you don’t read. At the start of the book it was going great for Charlie Joe and not reading because he had a deal with his friend, whenever they had to read a book for a report Charlie Joe’s friend named Tommy would read it for him and tell him what happened for an ice cream sandwich. Pretty simple, but you know how kids are they always get jealous. For example, Tommy really liked lacrosse, but thought Charlie Joe was going to make the team because the coaches daughter liked Charlie Joe. So of course Tommy got jealous and wanted more ice cream sandwiches and still didn’t tell Charlie Joe what happened in the story. So of course Charlie Joe got mad and made an agreement that he wouldn’t even go out for the lacrosse team. Then Tommy kept reading his books and they got caught. They both were grounded and got in trouble, so now Charlie Joe had to break his streak of not reading and read an actual book. Still he didn’t read and his sister read it for him and helped give him the details. So now the end of the year rolls around and they had to do this big book report. So Charlie Joe decided he would do the book on cliques. So he got the biggest nerd to date Charlie Joe’s girl of his dreams. So they were dating and it wasn’t really real and they ended up liking each other. The biggest nerd’s name was Ned. Now Ned was reading Charlie Joe’s books. It all went great because the report was done and Charlie Joe presented it and everybody liked it. Then the final dance of the year came around and they presented king and queen. The winners were Ned and his girlfriend. Ned then accidentally told everybody that he read all the books for Charlie Joe. Next Charlie Joe’s parents had to go pick him up for the dance and he was in big trouble. So the punishment was he had to write a 150 page book over the summer. So the message is no matter how much you dislike reading you are going to still have to do it and it will help you in the long run.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2019
Наръчник как да не четеш? Парадоксалното е, че за да научиш тайната просто ТРЯБВА да го прочетеш! Духовитото начало на поредицата за Чарли Джо Джаксън е способно да накара дори и скараните с книгите да забият нос в тях. Като започнат конкретно с тази. В „Наръчник на Чарли Джо Джаксън как да не четеш� (изд. „Студи� Арт Лайн�) писателят Томи Грийнуолд и карикатуристът Дж. П. Кувърт ни срещат с един училищен тарикат, чиито номера и остроумия спокойно конкурират Дръндьото на Джеф Кини. Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле":
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January 9, 2024Această carte este distractivă și te învață ponturi despre non-citit.
Mi-a plăcut foarte mult!
O recomand!
Mi-a plăcut foarte mult!
O recomand!
February 26, 2018
I really enjoyed this fun YA read. I actually used it in one of my classes for modeled reading. The short chapters and humorous tone of the story kept readers engaged.
May 18, 2017
Plots and schemes are what fill this book right to the core. This genre would be comedy or realistic fiction. At first I did not think that I would like this sort of book but it was surprisingly really good. I could relate very much with the narrator. I was glad that I stepped out of my usual go-to type of books.
This story takes place in middle school near the end of the year. The time period is similar to the present. Charlie Joe Jackson hates reading and he does everything he can to avoid it. For two years he has had a deal with his friend, Timmy McGibney, where Charlie buys him lunch and Timmy gives a description of what happens in books that are assigned in class. However, one day Timmy decides that he doesn't want to do this anymore and Charlie has to find a new idea because there was no way he was going to start reading books just yet. Especially since there was a paper due on Billy Bargain and the Position Paper project was coming soon, Charlie had to find someone else who would be willing to read for him. He persuades his crush, Hannah, and friend, Jake, to go out together. Since Jake is a nerd and always wanted a cool girlfriend he was happy to get to go out with the popular Hannah. In exchange Jake read the books for Charlie on the Position Paper and gave a detailed analysis. Finally, Jake and Hannah grew to like one another, which crushed Charlie but not as much as when he was busted for having Jake read his books. It was almost summer and Charlie already did his project the adults decided to either have him read ten books and write an essay for each one or make his own book with more than 100 pages during summer. Obviously Charlie chooses to write his own book which is why this story is told in his point of view. Though at the end Charlie still didn't change his mind about hating reading. The type of conflict in this book is person vs. society. I think the theme would be honesty is the best policy.
Charlie’s motivation to not read is what gets him to create schemes because he is determined. Without this motivation then there would be no conflict in the story. Charlie never liked reading but he didn’t always hate it either. On his sixth birthday, Charlie’s dad bought him the entire three collections of Mark Twain, Roald Dahl, and Matt Christopher. Expecting something awesome, Charlie ran away crying and he still cries when he hears Mark Twain. This traumatic event caused him to love not reading. According to the book, �...it would probably help to understand exactly where my deep-seated love of not reading comes from...All of a sudden my dad comes through the door, bursting with packages. It’s my birthday!...I proceed to rip open book after book after book-the entire works of Mark Twain, the entire works of Roald Dahl, and the entire works of Matt Christopher...I burst into tears and ran to my room. To this day, whenever I hear the name Mark Twain, I burst into tears and run to my room.� Charlie’s motivation keeps the book exciting for the reader. The setting adds to the conflict because in middle school you feel pressured to do things, to wear things, and to hang out with a certain group of people. This could be like drama people are together and popular students are together. For Charlie’s Position Paper he does it on how cliques are bad for kids. To represent this he has Jake, unpopular nerd, and Hannah, loved by all, go out together. Charlie wanted to show how two people from completely different backgrounds and social status can like one another. He did this in secret so that people didn’t know it was for his project. According to the book, “‘Because my Position Paper is going to be about why cliques are bad for kids. And if I can get the two of them to go out, it would prove that two kids from totally different worlds could ignore peer pressure and go out�...kids in today's society are under so much pressure to excel, and they spend so much time in studies and extracurricular activities, that they don’t develop the necessary social skills to interact with all their peers…� Being in middle school can be really tough but Charlie uses it to create a plan and make an amazing project. Another theme that recurs throughout the book is that a person’s actions have consequences, because Charlie had a punishment when his deal with Timmy was discovered, although that didn’t stop him, and with his deal of having Jake read all his books for the Position Paper. The first consequence was grounded one week, set the tables two weeks, load the dishwasher three weeks, and finally no cell phone for a month. As a result of the Position Paper, Charlie was to write his own book over the summer. According to the book, “It’s very difficult to sit there facing your mom and dad and be told you did something wrong, which in fact you did, and come up with some kind of quick, clever comeback...Read ten books or write one...I was born a non-reader, and I was going to die a non-reader. ‘I think I’ll write the book,� I managed to whisper mournfully.� As a person we should all think before we do stuff because even if you do something wrong in secret there will be some sort of punishment or result afterwards.
I was interested in this passage, “Never read a book with a moral. It’s bad enough if you have to read a book. But books with morals are worse, because morals always involve behaving in an extremely honorable fashion, which we all know is completely unrealistic. I don’t need a book reminding me I’m not perfect. I’m well aware of that already.� This quote was pretty amazing to me because it showed how most books have morals. Although to be honest instead of making us feel good it shows more imperfections of ourselves. I can connect with this book and the character. Reading this quote helps me accept myself for who I am because Charlie knows how I feel. We are both imperfect but that doesn’t make us bad people. I thought the ending of the book was sufficient enough because the author brought it all together and the excitement went down. It was better than endings in other books. However, I would have liked to know one of the other character’s opinion on his book or what his grade is. The last few sentences were about Charlie thinking of what Kate was going to text him. This makes me think that they may end up together or he may like her. Why else would he be the last thing on his mind before school starts again? According to the book, “And then I’m going to text Katie and tell her to meet me. And she’ll text me back that she’ll be there in fifteen minutes. And I’ll text her back that I’m sorry I wasn’t around much over the summer..And then we’ll text each other that we can’t believe school starts tomorrow. And then it will be tomorrow.� This ending was cute and relatable. It just goes to show how time goes by so fast.(it’s almost the end of the year) I liked the way the author was able to capture the role of a middle school, lazy boy so well because as I read the book I could feel and tell what a goofy teenage boy Charlie is. The author has left me with a clear image of Charlie and how he acts. I feel that especially since I am near Charlie’s age I can relate with him but I get the feeling the most readers could relate with him too. The author includes so many metaphors, similes, jokes, and deep sayings in the book, which is what really made it awesome. According to the book, “Have you ever noticed that really pretty girls think being pretty is like a license to talk loud?...If you want us to be able to concentrate, don’t take away our distractions...My parents invented “the room.� It’s an imaginary place where they put all the adults they know that never shut up about themselves, or their families, or their kids, and how amazing they all are, without ever taking a breath long enough to ask you anything about how you’re doing...My mom rolled down the window and called me over.’It’s like I have a sign on my forehead that says ‘talk my ear off,’� she whispered.� The author did an extraordinary job at making the characters with their own unique personality.
I would rate this book 4 stars because I really did like it but it would have been better longer and more events. I would recommend this book to middle-school kids, pre-teens, and people who like comedy with reality. Even though this book was at a low level I still highly enjoyed it and liked Charlie for being true to himself. I look forward to other books written by this author.
This story takes place in middle school near the end of the year. The time period is similar to the present. Charlie Joe Jackson hates reading and he does everything he can to avoid it. For two years he has had a deal with his friend, Timmy McGibney, where Charlie buys him lunch and Timmy gives a description of what happens in books that are assigned in class. However, one day Timmy decides that he doesn't want to do this anymore and Charlie has to find a new idea because there was no way he was going to start reading books just yet. Especially since there was a paper due on Billy Bargain and the Position Paper project was coming soon, Charlie had to find someone else who would be willing to read for him. He persuades his crush, Hannah, and friend, Jake, to go out together. Since Jake is a nerd and always wanted a cool girlfriend he was happy to get to go out with the popular Hannah. In exchange Jake read the books for Charlie on the Position Paper and gave a detailed analysis. Finally, Jake and Hannah grew to like one another, which crushed Charlie but not as much as when he was busted for having Jake read his books. It was almost summer and Charlie already did his project the adults decided to either have him read ten books and write an essay for each one or make his own book with more than 100 pages during summer. Obviously Charlie chooses to write his own book which is why this story is told in his point of view. Though at the end Charlie still didn't change his mind about hating reading. The type of conflict in this book is person vs. society. I think the theme would be honesty is the best policy.
Charlie’s motivation to not read is what gets him to create schemes because he is determined. Without this motivation then there would be no conflict in the story. Charlie never liked reading but he didn’t always hate it either. On his sixth birthday, Charlie’s dad bought him the entire three collections of Mark Twain, Roald Dahl, and Matt Christopher. Expecting something awesome, Charlie ran away crying and he still cries when he hears Mark Twain. This traumatic event caused him to love not reading. According to the book, �...it would probably help to understand exactly where my deep-seated love of not reading comes from...All of a sudden my dad comes through the door, bursting with packages. It’s my birthday!...I proceed to rip open book after book after book-the entire works of Mark Twain, the entire works of Roald Dahl, and the entire works of Matt Christopher...I burst into tears and ran to my room. To this day, whenever I hear the name Mark Twain, I burst into tears and run to my room.� Charlie’s motivation keeps the book exciting for the reader. The setting adds to the conflict because in middle school you feel pressured to do things, to wear things, and to hang out with a certain group of people. This could be like drama people are together and popular students are together. For Charlie’s Position Paper he does it on how cliques are bad for kids. To represent this he has Jake, unpopular nerd, and Hannah, loved by all, go out together. Charlie wanted to show how two people from completely different backgrounds and social status can like one another. He did this in secret so that people didn’t know it was for his project. According to the book, “‘Because my Position Paper is going to be about why cliques are bad for kids. And if I can get the two of them to go out, it would prove that two kids from totally different worlds could ignore peer pressure and go out�...kids in today's society are under so much pressure to excel, and they spend so much time in studies and extracurricular activities, that they don’t develop the necessary social skills to interact with all their peers…� Being in middle school can be really tough but Charlie uses it to create a plan and make an amazing project. Another theme that recurs throughout the book is that a person’s actions have consequences, because Charlie had a punishment when his deal with Timmy was discovered, although that didn’t stop him, and with his deal of having Jake read all his books for the Position Paper. The first consequence was grounded one week, set the tables two weeks, load the dishwasher three weeks, and finally no cell phone for a month. As a result of the Position Paper, Charlie was to write his own book over the summer. According to the book, “It’s very difficult to sit there facing your mom and dad and be told you did something wrong, which in fact you did, and come up with some kind of quick, clever comeback...Read ten books or write one...I was born a non-reader, and I was going to die a non-reader. ‘I think I’ll write the book,� I managed to whisper mournfully.� As a person we should all think before we do stuff because even if you do something wrong in secret there will be some sort of punishment or result afterwards.
I was interested in this passage, “Never read a book with a moral. It’s bad enough if you have to read a book. But books with morals are worse, because morals always involve behaving in an extremely honorable fashion, which we all know is completely unrealistic. I don’t need a book reminding me I’m not perfect. I’m well aware of that already.� This quote was pretty amazing to me because it showed how most books have morals. Although to be honest instead of making us feel good it shows more imperfections of ourselves. I can connect with this book and the character. Reading this quote helps me accept myself for who I am because Charlie knows how I feel. We are both imperfect but that doesn’t make us bad people. I thought the ending of the book was sufficient enough because the author brought it all together and the excitement went down. It was better than endings in other books. However, I would have liked to know one of the other character’s opinion on his book or what his grade is. The last few sentences were about Charlie thinking of what Kate was going to text him. This makes me think that they may end up together or he may like her. Why else would he be the last thing on his mind before school starts again? According to the book, “And then I’m going to text Katie and tell her to meet me. And she’ll text me back that she’ll be there in fifteen minutes. And I’ll text her back that I’m sorry I wasn’t around much over the summer..And then we’ll text each other that we can’t believe school starts tomorrow. And then it will be tomorrow.� This ending was cute and relatable. It just goes to show how time goes by so fast.(it’s almost the end of the year) I liked the way the author was able to capture the role of a middle school, lazy boy so well because as I read the book I could feel and tell what a goofy teenage boy Charlie is. The author has left me with a clear image of Charlie and how he acts. I feel that especially since I am near Charlie’s age I can relate with him but I get the feeling the most readers could relate with him too. The author includes so many metaphors, similes, jokes, and deep sayings in the book, which is what really made it awesome. According to the book, “Have you ever noticed that really pretty girls think being pretty is like a license to talk loud?...If you want us to be able to concentrate, don’t take away our distractions...My parents invented “the room.� It’s an imaginary place where they put all the adults they know that never shut up about themselves, or their families, or their kids, and how amazing they all are, without ever taking a breath long enough to ask you anything about how you’re doing...My mom rolled down the window and called me over.’It’s like I have a sign on my forehead that says ‘talk my ear off,’� she whispered.� The author did an extraordinary job at making the characters with their own unique personality.
I would rate this book 4 stars because I really did like it but it would have been better longer and more events. I would recommend this book to middle-school kids, pre-teens, and people who like comedy with reality. Even though this book was at a low level I still highly enjoyed it and liked Charlie for being true to himself. I look forward to other books written by this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2015
Do you really not like to read? Well if you don't this would be a perfect book for you because in this book it gives you good tips on what reading can do to your body. This book is a realistic fiction with a little bit of comedy. In my opinion I thought this was a terrific book because I relate him to me by hating reading so much.
Charlie Joe Jackson hates reading more than anything. He had to read a book for a test about clinques were bad for kids. Also, every time he had to read a book he'd get his "friend" Timmy to read the book for him and Charlie would always be him a ice cream sandwich. Charlie got in big trouble because Timmy told on him. Since he was grounded he also thought Timmy would be grounded also. He went to the movies and there he saw Timmy and Hannah (the love of Charlie Joe Jackson's life) was there also. Hannah and Timmy were drinking a shake together and Charlie went up to Timmy and said "What are you doing here aren't you grounded?" Timmy replied "Of course I'm grounded I'm just here with Hannah studying for the science test". If you want to read this book Charlie Joe would say "You would have to read the next chapter to find out." The setting of this book is mostly the school and present time. The type of conflict in the story is person vs himself because he really hated reading but he had to get a good grade on the test so he had to read.
I can relate to the character because I'm one of those people that hate reading like Charlie Joe Jackson. Charlie Joe Jackson's guided to NOT READ is a good tittle for the book because in the story he gives a lot of true and great tips on what you should only read about and why you shouldn't read at all. Why didn't Charlie like the prettiest girl in the school after she liked him? I understood why Charlie made Timmy read books for him because he really didn't care until he got really tired of reading for him. Also, Timmy only did it because he got a ice cream sandwich.
I was surprised when Charlie Joe helped Timmy and Hannah go out with each other because that is the love of his life. My favorite part of this book was him giving his own tips on NOT READING. I liked those tips because I really think there true and there sometimes pretty funny. I was gald that he got in trouble for making someone else read his books for him. I was glad because it really gave this story a good twist to it and that really shocked me.
I would rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars because it was really one of my favorite books of all time. I would recommend this book for people of really hate reading like Charlie Joe and like good tips to make your day. If you don't like reading this is the prlerfect book for you to read.
Charlie Joe Jackson hates reading more than anything. He had to read a book for a test about clinques were bad for kids. Also, every time he had to read a book he'd get his "friend" Timmy to read the book for him and Charlie would always be him a ice cream sandwich. Charlie got in big trouble because Timmy told on him. Since he was grounded he also thought Timmy would be grounded also. He went to the movies and there he saw Timmy and Hannah (the love of Charlie Joe Jackson's life) was there also. Hannah and Timmy were drinking a shake together and Charlie went up to Timmy and said "What are you doing here aren't you grounded?" Timmy replied "Of course I'm grounded I'm just here with Hannah studying for the science test". If you want to read this book Charlie Joe would say "You would have to read the next chapter to find out." The setting of this book is mostly the school and present time. The type of conflict in the story is person vs himself because he really hated reading but he had to get a good grade on the test so he had to read.
I can relate to the character because I'm one of those people that hate reading like Charlie Joe Jackson. Charlie Joe Jackson's guided to NOT READ is a good tittle for the book because in the story he gives a lot of true and great tips on what you should only read about and why you shouldn't read at all. Why didn't Charlie like the prettiest girl in the school after she liked him? I understood why Charlie made Timmy read books for him because he really didn't care until he got really tired of reading for him. Also, Timmy only did it because he got a ice cream sandwich.
I was surprised when Charlie Joe helped Timmy and Hannah go out with each other because that is the love of his life. My favorite part of this book was him giving his own tips on NOT READING. I liked those tips because I really think there true and there sometimes pretty funny. I was gald that he got in trouble for making someone else read his books for him. I was glad because it really gave this story a good twist to it and that really shocked me.
I would rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars because it was really one of my favorite books of all time. I would recommend this book for people of really hate reading like Charlie Joe and like good tips to make your day. If you don't like reading this is the prlerfect book for you to read.
February 14, 2013
Charlie Joe hates reading. So far, he's managed to not read any books his entire school career. However, the big project is coming up where you have to pick a topic and research it including reading several books. Who can Charlie Joe find this time to read his books for him now that his parents and teachers are on to his tricks? Interspersed with the story are tips from Charlie about how to avoid reading.
This book made me think of and other books in that series because they are both about conflicts at school. The main characters get advice from other friends at school that lead to problems with their parents and/or teachers.
This book made me think of and other books in that series because they are both about conflicts at school. The main characters get advice from other friends at school that lead to problems with their parents and/or teachers.
February 21, 2016
This is not a book I would have picked up for myself, as I tend to go for the more serious "stuff". I was pleasantly surprised because although I do not like the fact that middle schooler Charlie Joe Jackson doesn't like to read his character is hilariously funny and I do see his character in some of my students. You know who you are. Charlie never ends up liking to read by the end of the story, but he does manage to learn and he learns a lot about growing up and navigating middle school relationships. This is a very quick read and for my students who do not like to read I am sure you can finish this one in less than a few days. The chapters are short and quite funny. In between the chapters are tips in list form how not to read.
July 17, 2011
Charlie Joe Jackson REALLY hates to read. For twelve glorious years he has managed to avoid it almost completely (exception: Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree" because it only has 62 words). But middle school is proving difficult ground to manipulate his way around the written word. It doesn't help that his best book-reading buddy has begun to blackmail him, and now there are girls to pay
attention to too. But Charlie Joe comes up with a daring master plan that almost works. This is a quick and fun read for this adult and has plenty of laughs to keep a reluctant reader, especially a boy, turning the pages.
attention to too. But Charlie Joe comes up with a daring master plan that almost works. This is a quick and fun read for this adult and has plenty of laughs to keep a reluctant reader, especially a boy, turning the pages.
August 8, 2011
The cover of this book may say that this book is for kids who hate to read, but it will appeal to those kids who like to read as well as those who don’t. Filled with humor, it nevertheless illustrates the error of trying to deceive teachers and parents. You may not have a “Charlie Joe� in your life, but if you know a middle schooler, make a gift of this book to him or her. You will be encouraging a nonreader to become reader, or maybe even inspire a reader to become a writer. I received this book free through ŷ First Reads.
September 6, 2011
If a sixth grader liked DIARY OF A WIMPY KID an wanted another book that was similar, I would recommend CHARLIE JOE. It doesn't contain as many cartoon drawings, but it is funny, thoughtful, and original. Even some of the teachers are nice! There are some cartoons, and the premise of the book, about a boy who avoids reading, is believable. He is smart and can read, but doesn't think books are cool. Lots of funny lists are included, which add interest. Some nonstereotypical girl characters make this for a wide audience - both boys and girls.
September 26, 2012
I didn't think I'd like this book, but I had to read it so I could lead a book club on it. Even two or three chapters in, I thought it was going to be just another smart-ass wimpy kid knock off that underestimates the brainpower of juvenile readers and assumes that the class of kids now known as "reluctant readers" will only pick up shallow swill. (Ahem...let me climb down from my accidental soap box now...)
And mostly it was.
The End.
Addendum: The avid upper elementary readers in the book club liked it.
And mostly it was.
The End.
Addendum: The avid upper elementary readers in the book club liked it.
October 30, 2016
I picked this book with expectations of it being one that would both amuse and entertain. I hoped that it might even appeal to my reluctant readers. Unfortunately it failed on all points. This is simply a story about a kid who takes pride in not reading. As a result he goes to great lengths to maintain his nonreader reputation. So, as far as I'm concerned, just another attempt to tell kids that it's okay to be mediocre. Fortunately, the book is too long and involved to get my reluctant readers to pick it up. Definitely won't be recommending this one or it's sequels anytime soon
November 3, 2016
Charlie Joe Jacksons guide to not reading was not a good book in my opinion. It was kind of boring and not funny even though the author was trying to be funny. The character's in it are of course Charlie Joe. Another character is Timmy who helps Charlie Joe. The conflict in the book is Charlie does not want to read so he asks some one to do it for him. This does not turn out good. Something I liked about the book is all the tips he gives us about how to not read. Something I did not like is it was not interesting. It did not have me on the edge of my seat. I recommend this book to grades 4-6.
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