Johnny's in the Basement

3.5 stars, rounded up because even in this early work Sachar's insights shine. His kids are real, even though they may not resemble mine, or yours. His parents, too, are neither anywhere near perfect nor dysfunctional, but just regular people. I can't say I'd particularly enjoy being friends with any of them, but it's enlightening for a reader (of any age) to meet individuals in books that may indeed resemble certain individuals they may meet irl. And that's a big reason I read so much - I don't know many ppl irl but I sure do learn a lot about all the varieties of human nature from brilliant story-tellers.

I particularly liked certain bits of this. For example, the reason why "bad dreams are better than good dreams" (read the book to show more learn why, or Josiah's review if you can't make time for this very short book, for the explanation). I liked Christene, a very strange 5 year-old (but aren't most of them, each in their own way?).

I liked how Johnny talked to the moon at night, as a sounding board, but also almost as if it were an imaginary friend because it talked back, in ideas that Johnny didn't realize he had. I liked how he talked to the moon from his rooftop, but his precious bottle cap collection was in the basement (metaphor alert).

I liked that there are subtleties. None of the metaphors or lessons are spelled out. For example, it seems horrid that his parents spring all sorts of additional responsibilities on the boy the moment he turns 11 and is 'not a little kid anymore.' However, an adult or a re-reader can use life experience to know that there's an untold backstory & that Johnny was undoubtedly warned about this in advance, and that he was long excited to be a more grown up, etc.

I also love Christene's insight that will help us forgive and make up after a name-calling argument, as she told Johnny they're good by saying "You just got rid of some words you didn't want."

I will continue to read and reread everything that I can by the author, ever since I fell under the spell of his Wayside School stories. show less

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, 1990)
Johnny's basement is a place of refuge from growing up and the home of his prized bottle cap collection, which his father arranges to sell. His parents are portrayed as insensitive and dense people who proceed with their plans for Johnny with no regard for his feelings and who never seem to hear his younger sister speak. The humor is contrived and weak; the writing, pedestrian. Category: Fiction. 1990 (orig. 1989), Knopf, 126pp.. Ages 9 to 12. Rating: 6: Unacceptable in style, content, and/or illustration.