The Landry News
Andrew ClementsBrian Selznick (Illustrator)
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
A Division of Simon and Schuster
ISBN 9780689828683
eISBN 9780689850523
ASIN B008O4M174
This is the 17th book by Andrew Clements that I have read in under a year. With each new book I am even more impressed with his writing. A number of his books have achieved 5 out of 5 Stars from me but this is one of the best I have yet read by Clements. As I have stated in other reviews one of the best things about most of Clements writings is it is in a realistic fiction style. By that I mean they are stories you could see happen in real life, with kids your know, or in schools you or your children go to.
Brian Selznick now of Hugo Cabret fame illustrated this book. He has illustrated a number of Andrew Clements books. And his illustrations always add to the stories.
This story is different than a number of Clements other stories in that the Teacher, Mr. Larson plays a key role. This book deals with a number of issues, free speech, responsibility, divorce, anger management and learning to try again. Many years ago Mr. Landry was teacher of the year, but now he sits at the front of the class disengaged and for all appearances just waiting for retirement. His classes are unstructured and he allows the students to self-direct. But an incident with Cara Landry, and her passion for creating newspapers sparks a flame. The flame is sparked in Clara, in Mr Landy, in their class, and through the papers distribution the whole school.
The principal who has had longstanding conflict with Mr. Larson sees this as his opportunity to force Larson into early retirement. And as things escalate, the tension between the two rises and it raises the stakes, all the way to the board, and local and regional news. And things come to a head at a school board meeting. Fortunately by this point Cara and many of the students are now on Mr. Larson's side. The piece that started the conflict was written by a student about his feelings during his parent's separation and divorce.
I will not spoil the story for you other than to state that it is very moving and powerful. This is another great book by an amazing author and I greatly recommend it to you.
Bird Adalbert
Noah and the Ark and the Animals
Santa's Secret Helper
Temple Cat
Mother Earth's Counting Book
Billy and the Bad Teacher
Who Owns the Cow
Bright Christmas: An Angel Remembers
Frindle
(Adapter)Philipp's Birthday Book
Riff's BeBop Book
Real Monsters Go for the Mold
Things That Go EEK on Halloween
Real Monsters Stage Fright
Music Time, Any Time
Double Trouble in Walla Walla
Workshop
Gromble's Haunted Halloween
Hey Dad, Could I Borrow Your Hammer
The Landry News
Look Who's in the Thanksgiving Play
The Mouse Family
The Janitor's Boy
Circus Family Dog
The Christmas Kitten
The School Story
Things Not Seen
The Jacket
A Week in the Woods
Slippers at Home
Naptime for Slippers
The Report Card
The Last Holiday Concert
Slippers at School
Slippers Loves to Run
A Million Is a Lot of Dots
Lunch Money
Things Hoped For
Room One: A Mystery or Two
No Talking
Things That Are
Lost and Found
Extra Credit
Troublemaker
About Average
The Map Trap
The Friendship War
The Losers Club
...
Pets to the Rescue Series
Ringo Saves the Day!
Brave Norman
Tara and Tiree, Fearless Friends
Delores and the Big Fire
Jake Drake Series
Jake Drake Know-It-All
Jake Drake, Bully Buster
Jake Drake, Teacher's Pet
Jake Drake, Class Clown
Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School Series
We the Children
Fear Itself
The Whites of Their Eyes
In Harm's Way
We Hold These Truths
Reading Program Books
Karen's Island
Three Wishes for Buster
Bill Picket: An American Original, Texas Style
Hurricane Andrew
Ham and Eggs for Jack
Life in the Desert
Desert Treasure
Inventors: Making Things Better, Steck-Vaughn
Milo's Great Invention
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