Books › Wayside School is Falling Down (Wayside School #2)
Wayside School is Falling Down (Wayside School #2)
239 pages
A delightfully absurd and deadpan collection of classroom vignettes where the only rule is that logic does not apply.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping into a funhouse mirror version of elementary school, where gravity is taught by throwing computers out of thirty-story windows and cafeteria food might actually be dangerous. The pace is incredibly brisk, driven by short, episodic chapters that each deliver a self-contained dose of surreal comedy. The narration is masterfully deadpan, treating the most bizarre occurrences with a straight face, which only heightens the hilarity. It creates a mood of joyful, zany chaos that perfectly captures the feeling of childhood imagination running wild. The prose is simple and accessible, yet layered with a subversive wit that respects the intelligence of young readers. It is a perfect fit for anyone who delights in illogical logic, irreverent humor, and the comforting realization that sometimes, nothing makes sense at all.
- Mood
- zany
- chaotic
- surreal
- lighthearted
- Tone
- absurd
- deadpan
- irreverent
- whimsical
- playful
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- absurdity of authority · embracing weirdness · illogical logic · classroom dynamics
- The writing
- Simple, punchy, and masterfully deadpan, using straightforward vocabulary to deliver surreal and subversive punchlines.
- The arc
- A joyful, chaotic romp through episodic silliness that leaves the reader feeling delightfully disoriented and thoroughly amused.
- Who it's for
- Young readers who love subversive humor and bite-sized chapters, as well as nostalgic adults who appreciate a good dose of surrealism.
Content notes
- cartoonish peril
About the book
"Watch Closely," said Mrs. Jewls. "You can learn much faster using a computer instead of paper and pencil." Then she pushed the new computer out the window. The children watched it fall thirty floors and smash against the sidewalk. "See?" said Mrs. Jewls. "That's gravity! I've been trying to teach you about gravity, but the computer showed you a lot quicker!"
That's the way things happen at Wayside School. There are 29 kids in Mrs. Jewls's class and this book is about all of them. There is Todd, who got in trouble every day...until he got a magic dog; Paul, whose life was saved by Leslie's pigtails; Ron, who dared to try the cafeteria's Mushroom Surprise--and all the others who helped turn a day at Wayside school into one madcap adventure after another. But, after the things that happened in Sideways Stories from Wayside School, what would you expect?
Description from Open Library.
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