Book details

Macmillan Children's Book

My Life as a Book

The My Life series (Volume 1)

Author: Janet Tashjian; illustrations by Jake Tashjian

My Life as a Book

My Life as a Book

About This Book

Derek Fallon has trouble sitting still and reading. But creating cartoons of his vocabulary words comes easy. If only life were as simple!
Page Count
224
On Sale
07/20/2010
Age Range
9-12

Book Details

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. My Life as a Book is a 2011 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Imprint Publisher

Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

ISBN

9781466830684

Reading Guide

In The News

“This book is visually appealing to reluctant readers and shows that all kinds of stories can surprise us.” —Chicago Tribune

“Janet Tashjian, known for her young adult books, offers a novel that's part Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2007), part intriguing mystery; yet the best element here is really the first-person voice, which captures so completely the pushes and pulls in the life of someone with learning disabilities . . . . Give this to kids who think they don't like reading. It might change their minds.” —Starred, Booklist

“Amusing stick figures accompany Derek's narration, dutifully following his teacher's suggestion of animating any difficult vocabulary word.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

“Sure to engage fans of Jeff Kinney's "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" books (Abrams) as well as those looking for a spunky, contemporary boy with a mystery to solve.” —School Library Journal

“[The] illustrations, drawn by Tashjian's 14-year-old son, Jake, are quite clever.” —Publishers Weekly

“A kinder, gentler Wimpy Kid with all the fun and more plot.” —Starred, Kirkus Reviews

My Life as a Book is a fabulous, fast-paced choice for reluctant and avid readers alike.” —BookPage

“Cartoon drawings by the author's teenaged son decorate the margins and not only re-create Derek's illustrated vocabulary lists but also reduce the amount of text on each page, making the book more approachable for kids like Derek. Derek tells readers, "If my life were a book, I'd have my own cool adventures." It is, and he does.” —Horn Book

About the Creators

My Life as a Book

My Life as a Book

My Life as a Book
My Life as a Book
00:00
/
00:00