The Alfred G. Graebner Memorial High School Handbook of Rules and Regulations: A Novel

After re-reading Dreams of Victory, a childhood favorite, a few years ago, I somehow acquired a copy of this book. Finally pulled it off the shelf and read it.

Julie Howe is a high school sophomore, navigating schedules, friends' problems, clubs, and unexpected situations. Each chapter is written with a rule from the high school rule book at the start, and then a humorous story on how that rule is working - or not - for the narrator and her classmates.

The first chapter was particularly funny. The students' schedules have been created by the newly installed computer and are printed on computer punch cards. Julie has PE first class, a student has been assigned to 3 home economics classes, 2 lunches, 2 study halls and woodshop each day, show more and another friend has all seven of her classes with the worst teachers in the school. Each student ultimately resolves the schedule problems. I found the comments about computers particularly amusing - the more things change, the more they stay the same.

I enjoyed this book immensely. It reminds me so much of my own high school years, and the times in which it was published. (1976; I was a young teen at that time.) That said, any teens reading it today would have to read it as historical fiction - and references from the times that might inspire a trip to Wikipedia. For example, ditto machines. A teacher's looks are compared to Robert Redford, who today is elderly and plays evil villains in Marvel movies. Pastel colored loose-leaf paper. Julie's family receives a letter from her brother at college.

I do plan to keep this book and read it when I need a light-hearted trip down memory lane. show less