I'd forgotten all about Marvin Redpost before discovering one of the libraries I belong to had some e-books of the series. I was a few years beyond the intended audience for this book when it was published in 1994, so I didn't read it during childhood, but I remember my younger sister reading the series and liking it. I decided Alone in His Teacher's House qualifies as "Old School" since it is now over 20 years old, even if it is still in print and now available for Kindle.
Marvin is an average third-grader who faces problems relevant to the lives of most kids. In Alone in His Teacher's House, the fourth book of the series, he's given the important job of caring for his teacher's old, beloved dog while she goes on vacation. He will earn twenty-five dollars all together, but only if there are no problems. Quickly things start to fall apart when the dog refuses to eat, and then, one day, just won't wake up. On top of that, the substitute teacher has him pegged as a hooligan, and his friends are convinced his real teacher will never forgive him when she returns.
It's hard to believe that an author like Louis Sachar, who often writes such off-the-wall stories, is also the author of these short, sweet tales of a bewildered little boy just trying to make his way through the world. Marvin is a real underdog sort of character, and the writing in this book is so gentle and easy to take in, it seems impossible that the same imagination created Mrs. Gorf and Stanley Yelnats.
The chapters - and indeed the entire book- are very short, which is sure to ease any nerves new readers might have about taking on a chapter book. Personalities come alive through dialogue, and illustrations give important visual cues to help readers decode certain key scenes. Marvin's friends ring very true, even if Marvin sometimes comes across as a bit too well-behaved, and even the teacher seems to have a bit of personality beyond just educator and disciplinarian. Perhaps the only thing that didn't really seem authentic was a teacher asking one of her students to care for her pet. I don't think even in my small town growing up that teachers felt that close to their students. But I also don't think it needed to be completely plausible to work in this story. Lots of kids are interested about what their teachers' home lives are like, and this book indulges the fantasies kids have about that and humanizes their teachers as people with feelings and relationships of their own outside of the classroom. Kids will also like the idea of Marvin taking on a job and earning his own money.
Pretty much nothing dates this book to the early 90s, which is probably a big part of why it is still available. Aside from some toilet humor, the story is also likely to satisfy sensitive parents looking for interesting but wholesome books for their new chapter book reader. Kids as young as five can enjoy hearing this story read aloud, and second- and third-graders will take great pride in reading it on their own.
Recommend this and other titles in the Marvin Redpost series to fans of Alvin Ho, Martin Bridge, Ready Freddy, Jake Drake, and Andy Shane.
I borrowed Marvin Redpost: Alone in His Teacher's House in Kindle format from my local public library, and read it on my smartphone.
0 Comments on Old School Sunday: Review: Marvin Redpost: Alone in His Teacher's House by Louis Sachar as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment