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Max Quigley, Technically Not a Bully is following a trend in children’s literature. Much like Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life (previously reviewed here), Max Quigley, Technically Not a Bully follows the hand-scribbled diary format. Not that this is a bad thing. This trendy format is especially enticing to reluctant readers and preadolescenct males, two groups in need of reading incentives. Add the convincing voice of Max Quigley to the format and you’ve got an enticing look at bullying from the bully’s point of view.

Max is an unreliable, sarcastic narrator. He thinks that just because he doesn’t physically hit anyone, he’s not really a bully. Max’s idea of a good time is picking on Triffin Nordstrom, or Nerdstrom as Max’s renamed him. But Max’s teasing goes too far causing Triffin’s mother and Max’s parents to form an alliance. Their concocted plan is twofold: educate Triffin in social skills while Max gets help with his slumping math scores. And even though Triffin may be a loner, he’s none-too-thrilled to hang with Max. This comes as a great shock to the ever-popular Max.

Author James Roy does several unique and successful things with Max Quigley, Technically Not a Bully. He molds a character, one that could easily come off as unlikable, into a relatable, even if unreliable, voice. He sets the tale in Australia, which provides American readers a chance to learn some fantastic Aussie speak (Mum, mate, cheeky). He keeps the moralizing in check with short chapters, realistic dialogue and lessons learned through actions rather than telling. When Max begins to slide in the direction of empathy by the story’s end, Mr. Roy never allows Max to lose his core personality.

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Recommended for readers who enjoy the sort of potty-humor associated with Louis Sachar or Dav Pilky, 4th – 8th grade males and reluctant readers. For both classroom and library use

Book Trailer:


Thank you to The Picnic Basket for my copy

Buy Max Quigley, Technically Not a Bully Here


Visit Author James Roy's Website Here
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The Road to Revolution! is the first in series of graphic novels, titled The Cartoon Chronicles of America, featuring fictional characters interacting within the specifics of American history.

Nick is a street-smart orphan-boy. Penny’s the indefatigable daughter of a Boston tavern owner. The British are everywhere, exerting their power over the colonists. Very quickly Nick and Penny are thrown into the heat of the action building up to the start of the Revolutionary War. The Old North Church lanterns, the midnight ride, the Battle at Bunker Hill as well as numerous American revolutionaries stumble through the fast-paced story. As Nick and Penny witness the revolution unfold, readers learn key information about this time in American history without the didactic feel of a textbook or even a nonfiction account.

The Road to Revolution! is an excellent addition for both classroom and elementary libraries serving students in grades 3-6 and is especially beneficial for reluctant readers or for use during units of study involving the American Revolution.


This title will be released on July 21, 2009. Preorder The Road to Revolution! Here

Author website: Stan Mack

Publisher Website: Bloomsbury USA

Author quote from Publisher’s Weekly: “…These stories will be straight, juicy adventure stories. The history will be solid but young readers won’t need to know the history to enjoy the books.” … And while all the books in the series will feature a young boy and girl, Mack emphasized that the girl will have an equal role in the narrative….”

Thanks to Media Masters Publicity for my copy.

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Everyday summer activities offer excellent opportunities for increasing a child’s background knowledge; and, there’s an abundance of research supporting the importance of varied and strong background information on future learning success. It just makes sense: the more a child learns in real life, the more he’ll carry into a classroom-learning environment. So, what’s the best prescription for building background knowledge this summer? Simply enjoy a full summer: Play in the park, visit the zoo, watch a baseball game, thrill to the roller coasters at a theme park or go on a nature walk.

In other words, do all the fun stuff you’d normally do, but reinforce the importance of those activities by taking note.

1. As you walk, ride, swim or watch, talk about it. Ask questions. Discuss the science behind the roller coaster, the white fur on a polar bear at the zoo, the insects buzzing all around your picnic.

2. Make notes in a question/answer book either during or after the activity. Illustrate the sites you’ve visited. Press flowers within the pages and write descriptions of the events surrounding the day.

3. Take your experiences a step further by visiting your local bookstore, library or even educational website to find information on the field trips you’re about to take or the ones you’ve already taken. A physics book on roller coasters, a story about visiting the ocean, a rulebook on the ins and outs of baseball or a graphic novel about Abe Lincoln will seem all the more relevant when combined with a field trip.

By coupling a book with an actual summer experience, you are reinforcing the importance of the activity, leaving a concrete reminder for when the subject is introduced within the classroom environment.

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Next up in the Summer Literacy Series: A Photographer Remembers

Note: This activity provides practice in mastering skills included in Florida’s Reading/Language Arts State Standards. For more on Florida’s Sunshine State Standards: www.floridastandards.org

Originally published on Examiner.com for my gig as the Miami Literacy Examiner.

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I leaving on a jet plane in 30 minutes, but didn't forget about the Dork Diaries Giveaway ! The winner via random.org was #25, Katrina V. Thanks so much for visiting Reading Rumpus everyone :-)

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They wait all school year for it. They squeal as the final school bell rings, “Summer Vacation!” Yet, we’re only a few weeks into the break and already they’re moaning, “I’m bored!” Parents swore that this year would be different. “No more cartoons and video games!” they promised themselves.

Thus begins my summer literacy series: activities that promote family fun time and increase essential literacy skills.

We’ll begin today with an activity for the entire summer: Scavenge for the answers!

1. Hang a sheet of paper and a pencil in handy place (like on the refrigerator). Each day, as you go about your normal summer fun, compile a list of questions. When a question arises, make a big to-do about adding it to the list. Examples: How do fireflies glow? Why does water get in your ears when you swim? Who invented hot dogs? Which star is the brightest?

2. Buy or make a fancy decorated answer book or folder to record your findings. On a specified day (perhaps bi-weekly), copy the list, tape it inside the answer book and head out for the local library.

3. At the library, help the kids look for nonfiction books, magazines and even DVDs that match the questions. Don’t forget to ask the youth librarian for assistance. Older kids can also search kid-safe Internet sites for answers. You can start your safe web search on the American Library Association’s Great Web Sites For Kids link page: HERE.

4. Either check out the books or settle into one of the nice big tables that are usually located in the youth section. Assist the kids in finding the answers, allowing them to write the answers (in their own words) inside their special answer book. They may also enjoy illustrating the answers.

At summer’s end, you’ll have a fantastic memory book as well as a lot of new background knowledge to begin the school year off right!


Originaly published on Examiner.com for my gig as the Miami Literacy Examiner (thanks to Lori Calabrese for the idea). Photo courtesy Franklin Park Library via Flickr Commons
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