A Word to the Wise

I read and reread this book frequently as a child, and my recent reread as an adult reminded me why I used to enjoy this book so much. It's about a small group of kids who are reading-challenged and have to be in "O Group," the group for the slower kids. They aren't allowed to use the big shelves in the library, and aren't motivated to learn to read better. But one day one of the books from the big shelves is accidentally left on the O Group table. It has all the allure of forbidden fruit, and the children steal it on a whim. It turns out to be a thesaurus, and the children take turns with it. The power of language and knowledge found in the thesaurus helps each of the children deal with some problem in his or her life. For Henry, the show more overweight boy, it gives synonyms for "fat" that inspire him to start exercising and go on a diet. For Beegee, the synonyms for "stupid" give him ammo to use on the bigger kids when they push him around at school. For Jonathan, the thesaurus provides a strong speech for his father who is running for a city office. For the rich girl Amanda, it gives all the words that mean "friend." And so on.

I love how this story is so character-driven. Each child is depicted with a realistic personality and believable dialogue. The story is a bit younger than I remember (the kids are in fifth grade), but I thought their interactions with each other and their teachers were age-appropriate. I'm convinced the teacher who made all the fuss about the O Group not being allowed to have the book and then questioning them sternly about it when it was missed had plotted the whole thing from start to finish. And the culminating scene, of the O Group leading a campaign against the disgusting school lunches, shows that words have the power to effect change, and it doesn't matter how old you are if you have an idea to make things better.

This is a fun little story and one that I will be sure to share with my children. Recommended. show less