Bound To Stay Bound

Bulletin for the Center... - 10/01/2007 Principal Struggles is, well, struggling to find a new fourth-grade teacher at Aesop Elementary School; it seems the reputation of the incoming fourth-grade class has discouraged applicants. Fortunately, the bizarre Mr. Jupiter turns up just in time, and, while his credentials may not seem to bear much relation to teaching (he previously worked as a dog groomer, an orchestra conductor, and a finder of the lost city of Atlantis), he is willing to take on the job. Each subsequent chapter is a contemporary fable, complete with moral, about Mr. Jupiter’s fourth-grade class. Once readers figure out the gimmick, they will enjoy trying to guess the moral of each story, as such familiar lessons as “Slow and steady wins the race” and “Necessity is the mother of invention” are intermingled with lesser-known teachings (a particularly pointed chapter shows the students spending the entire month of March taking standardized tests and features the moral “Time is often wasted on things of little consequence”). Unfortunately, the intent to match the stories to the morals often takes front seat to the development of the stories themselves, so that many chapters are didactic rather than entertaining. There is an odd mix of realism and fantasy, and the characterizations of the students often strain credibility to conform to the point of the chapter. Still, modern-day fables are often entertaining, and Fleming’s creative effort deserves attention and possibly a creative-writing lesson wherein students attempt to write their own school fables. HM - Copyright 2007 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

Booklist - 07/01/2007 A wish comes true for the principal of Aesop Elementary School when Mr. Jupiter arrives to take over a class with a reputation. With his vast experience and beautiful brown eyes, he charms everyone, including the librarian. Each of the short chapters, good for reluctant readers, describes familiar scenarios: lunchroom antics, name-calling, learning the Dewey Decimal system, and the all-important standardized-testing month. The premise is intriguing even as pieces of the action seems forced; the Aesop-like morals are a curious mix of aphorisms, some in familiar form and others recast to fit the plot. There is plenty of humor here; some of it, however, comes from stereotypical characters, both students and staff. Mr. Jupiter’s first appearance promises a fantasy, but except for one other episode of wish fulfillment, this is, rather, exaggeration for the sake of humor. Fun for some, but other readers may play hooky before the year is over. - Copyright 2007 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 10/01/2007 Gr 3-5-A series of vignettes covers the school year of the infamous fourth graders at Aesop Elementary and the only teacher willing to take them on, Mr. Jupiter. Each story purports to be a modern-day Aesop's fable illustrating a moral (stated at the end). Melvin Moody learns that liars aren't believed even when they tell the truth in "The Boy Who Cried Lunch Monitor." Ashley Z. helps the school bully out of a jam and the bully then stops other kids from teasing Ashley about his feminine name, showing: "One good turn deserves another." Even the teachers are not above learning a thing or two: the librarian, Paige Turner, realizes that appearances aren't everything and the gym teacher, Mrs. Gluteal, should practice what she preaches about healthy eating. "March Madness," a not-so-subtle dig at standardized testing, claims: "Time is often wasted on things of little consequence." Not all of the stories illustrate their morals as effectively as these examples, but overall the collection is entertaining and would make for interesting comparisons with the well-known animal fables. The humor and occasionally bizarre situations the students find themselves in may appeal to fans of Louis Sachar's "Wayside School" books (HarperCollins).-Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information. - Copyright 2007 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

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