BOOKS
My Life As a Joke
written by Janet Tashjian
cartoons by Jake Tashjian
Henry Holt, 2014
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Books in this series
written by Janet Tashjian
cartoons by Jake Tashjian
Henry Holt, 2014
Summer’s finally here, and Derek Fallon is looking forward to pelting the UPS truck with water balloons, climbing onto the garage roof, and conducting silly investigations. But when his parents decide to send him to Learning Camp, Derek’s dreams of fun come to an end. Ever since he’s been labeled a “reluctant reader,” his mom has pushed him to read “real” books — something other than his beloved Calvin & Hobbes.
As Derek forges unexpected friendships and uncovers a family secret involving himself (in diapers! no less), he realizes that adventures and surprises are around the corner, complete with curve balls.
Resources
Common Core Guide and Worksheets for the My Life As series, prepared by Maureen Connelly, EdD, and Janet Tashjian
Reviews
“Derek Fallon, the hyper nonreader, returns, and, at 12, he wants to act more grown-up. His efforts don’t quite work out, until he volunteers to help with donations for the Toys for Tots drive. After arriving late to a meeting, he is appointed the task of collecting dolls. When he learns that one of those dolls, Baby Karen, is a collectible, Derek conveniently forgets to put it in the donation box—and then figures out how to put it on eBay. What seems like a great idea — a $200-plus idea — all goes awry: expenses eat into the profits; the remaining profits are spent too quickly; and the buyer wants her money back when it turns out Baby Karen isn’t quite as advertised. As in previous books, author Tashjian’s son, Jake, provides the cartoons, which serve as a dictionary for the book’s more sophisticated words. At times laugh-out-loud funny, this is a strong addition to a popular series, nicely formatted for ease of reading. Its solid lesson, wrapped in high jinks, gives kids something to think about while they giggle.” (Ilene Cooper, Booklist)
“Twelve-year-old Derek Fallon resolves to take life more seriously, but of course, things never go Derek’s way, resulting in many humorous situations. An exciting frog dissection lesson goes horribly wrong as Derek sends his frog flying through the air and onto the teacher, and he winds up fainting in front of the class. After trying to show off on a rope in gym class, he smacks the floor with his face and busts his lip so badly that it causes him to be unable to correctly pronounce the words in a speech he has to give. He is laughed out of the auditorium after a mangled rendition of the national anthem. Having volunteered to help in a toy drive, he is assigned to collect dolls, resulting in more ridicule as he gathers Barbies and baby dolls. One of the dolls contributed is one he recognizes as a collector’s item. He and his friends, Matt and Umberto, hatch a plan to sell the doll on eBay for some easy money. Of course, it doesn’t go as planned, and Derek is faced with refunding the money after it is already spent. Readers will connect with likable Derek and his efforts to improve himself that don’t ever go right. Adding to the fast-paced chapters are his vocabulary journal illustrations, which showcase his take on life. It’s sure to be a hit with fans of the previous installments.” (Laura Fields Eason, School Library Journal)