Selzer, Adam. How to get suspended and influence people.SELZER, Adam. How to get suspended and influence people. Random House, Delacorte. 192p. c2007. 978-0-385-73369-4. $15.99. (Lib. bdg: 978-0385-90384-4. $17.99.) J Eighth-grader Leon is in the advanced studies class, and their latest assignment is to make a health and safety "advisory" video to show to younger students. Smart aleck smart al·eck n. Informal 1. A person regarded as obnoxiously self-assertive. 2. An impudent person. [Perhaps after Aleck Leon chooses sex education as his topic. He plans to make his video avant-garde and arty, hoping to get away with showing nudity (from famous paintings): he titles it "La Dolce dol·ce Music adv. & adj. In a gentle and sweet manner. Used chiefly as a direction. [From Italian, sweet, from Latin dulcis.] Adv. 1. Pubert." He enlists his friends to help him, especially Anna, on whom he has a crush. Naturally, Leon runs afoul of a·foul of prep. 1. In or into collision, entanglement, or conflict with. 2. Up against; in trouble with: ran afoul of the law. a prim teacher and ends up suspended, but the whole school hears of his project and he finds he's become a minor celebrity. This first novel features some memorable characters, such as Leon's kooky parents: his father fancies himself an inventor, and they're "food disaster hobbyists," trying all kinds of awful recipes from old cookbooks. The action feels a bit dragged out, but junior high students will be entertained by Leon's wiseass wise·ass also wise-ass n. Vulgar Slang A smart aleck. comments (with occasional profanity Irreverence towards sacred things; particularly, an irreverent or blasphemous use of the name of God. Vulgar, irreverent, or coarse language. The use of certain profane or obscene language on the radio or television is a federal offense, but in other situations, profanity ). Paula Rohrlick, KLIATT J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers. |
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