I recently received this book as a Christmas gift, and I wanted to share it with you. Even though it's below my reading level, it was very sweet, like a rom-com, but for littler kids. Louis Sachar is my favorite author (really the only author of multiple books I've enjoyed), and the story is the cutest, heart-warming. Bradley Chalkers, the main character, is misunderstood and disliked by his class, but with the help of a forward thinking, compassionate counselor, he is able to share himself and his ideas with others, and make friends. The writing isn't distracting even though it's targeted towards younger ages, and the fictional story Bradley Chalkers reads from Carla is complete and fun in of itself.
Sexist themes and ideas are woven through, and this made me like Sachar a little less, I'll admit. I couldn't help but notice that the female characters didn't have any conversations or ideas of their own- they were props, paper compared to Bradley's fleshed out profile. Some of the attitudes of the characters- for example a mother splitting up boys on teams, as if they are inherently better than girls at all games- were disappointing, but overall I enjoyed the book. Said attitudes weren't necessarily written as good, but they seemed natural from the writer's pen, so I don't know how that looks against Sachar. Anyways, on plot, I think it is interesting to see how Bradley tries to become a nicer, better person. It's simplified, a fairytale, in that it all ties up neatly, happily, and unrealistically, but it made me smile anyways.
I would recommend this book despite age, and I invite anyone who has read it to tell me what they think. Have a great 2019!
