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Jun 17, 2014litriocht rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading is the author's first book. In fact, according to the biography on the inside jacket, he wrote this novel to convince his sons Charlie, Joe, and Jack to read; so, even the title reflects Greenwald's attempt to get his children to engage with literature. A humorous romp through the end of Charlie Joe's school year, this book may very well lure reluctant readers to crack it open and keep reading. Right from the beginning, the narrator promises short words, short pages, and short chapters. Plot twists include middle school love interests, plans to outsmart teachers and parents, and a social experiment to break down cliques. Interspersed between chapters, Charlie Joe shares 25 tongue-in-cheek tips to avoid reading. The whimsical cartoons by J. P. Coovert strewn throughout the book add to the book's appeal.