This is another great book by Avi. What is best about Avi is his ability to write in so many genres. This fiction pieces is set out west in the 1920s and is about children in a rural area fighting to get an education when the real teacher is called away for the rest of the term. The motley group of children vote the smartest 8th grader in as teacher and agree to keep their experiment in education a secret. Avi does a great job in keeping the reader engaged in what could have been a very dull book. However, Avi has great skill in character development, and never leaves the reader frustrated by a slow plot or static characters. ( )

This is one of those slim children's paperbacks that populate classroom bookshelves in gradeschools, but since it is by Avi, you know it is made from good stuff. This was different from some of the other Avi books I've read -- we all know The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle is one of my favorites -- in the fact that the adventure is a little more subdued, a little more ordinary. It is still adventure, however, and it's of the educational kind, which teachers will appreciate. And, just because your teachers like it, doesn't make it a boring book. :) It may not appeal to the short attention spans of speed-craving 21st century youths, but it's a pleasant book none the less.

Ida wants to get to high school but she can not because the school is shutting down. So she trys to be the teacher. but it does not work out with her eing in school and being teacher and having crushes. ( )

Prince, Cher, Avi. Yeah, doesn't have quite the same ring. but still, he's written some excellent stories for children. Who Stole the Wizard of Oz? springs to mind, as does Midnight Magic. He's also written at least one about which I am not overly enthused. Of course, the name escapes me at the moment, but it involved a book and mean adults (as most of his stories do) some magic and something about green eyes. But, moving on, today the book is the Secret School.
It's not bad. It's no WSWO, but for a school story it's enjoyable. I think his account of the toll that the stress would take on Ida is pretty accurate. The story just seemed a little unfinished, though. There was something just a touch off about it. Richard Peck wrote something along similar lines about the Death of a Teacher in three acts or something. Again with the escaped thoughts. (If you haven't noticed by now, I will just spell it out for you, I have a memory like a sieve. The oddest pieces stick, but most things just slip away)
School Story takes place in the Depression and also hits on gender issues. I think it would take a lot for Avi to turn out a really poor story, so even though I don't think it's his usual standard, it's still better than most.
I think I need more drugs. I'm home sick today and my head hurts.
Originally posted February 2, 2007