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Having blown through the Wayside books with my girls, I thought I'd pick up another Louis Sachar book. Holes is off limits - Liz and I have set some ground rules with what we allow ourselves to read out loud to the kids.

I saw this book and thought: WOAH. That's by Louis Sachar? No way! I'd always seen this lying around at home - in my sisters room. (A room covered in books.) I was also slightly embarrassed by the cover, which may help explain why I'd never read it.

Then, half-way through the book, I realized I HAD read it. Not only that, but there were parts that stuck with me, and would bother me from time to time. I'd think about it, get a little angry about the scene, and then get angry with myself, because I couldn't remember where I had heard it. On more than one occasion I'd thought about asking about it in the goodreads "What's the Name of That Book?" group, but I never did.

In other news, it seems like boys bathrooms and girls bathrooms and girls and boys bathrooms and boys in girls bathrooms seems to be all anybody can talk about these days. States, cities, and localities are passing laws right and left. (For instance: (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] In case you're wondering, reading this book had nothing to do with that.

As is the case when I read a book with any of my daughters, I'll let them come up and offer the true review. They also determine the number of stars to give the book. I read this one over the course of a month or so, at night, just before they all fell asleep - or were supposed to, at least. I'll go call them up.

There may be some mild spoilers in here. Read on at your own risk.

Dad: So, what'd you think?

Gwennie: I love, love, love, love, loved it!

El: I loved it, too!

Poppy: *scared* I don't know where to sit! *crams onto the bench*

*Just read what we have so far*

Poppy: Hey! I love, love, love, love, loved it TOO!!!

Dad: Poppy, what do you remember about the book?

Poppy: The. The. Uhhh... When he said, "GIVE ME A DOLLAR OR I WILL SPIT ON YOU!!!"

Dad: Did you like that part?

Poppy: Yessss.... Give me a dollar or I will spit on you! (She and Gwennie keep repeating this.)

Dad: Do you think it's nice to spit on people?

Poppy: No.

Dad: So why do you like that part?

Poppy: Uhhhhh... Because I just do.

Eleanor: Is it because it's interesting?

Poppy: Yes.

Dad: Eleanor, what's your favorite part?

Eleanor: I liked it when it was Colleen's birthday party! And my favorite character was Carla.

Dad: Why was Carla your favorite?

Eleanor: Um. Because she was really nice.

Dad: You were going to add some more stuff to that?

El: Yeah. I was going to add some more to my favorite part. I thought it was funny when Bradley tore his pants because he thought you had to have torn pants to go to a birthday party.

Dad: Gwen - your turn.

Gwennie: You mean my saddest favorite part?

Dad: Whatever you want. Go ahead. :)

Gwennie: MY saddest favorite part iiiisss... um... *looks around the room while chewing her hair* It was ... when Carla was leaving.

Dad: What do you mean?

Gwen: I mean, I didn't like it when Carla was going to go work with kindergartners.

Dad: Why not?

Gwen: Because it made Bradley sad.

Eleanor: I didn't like that part either, but I have a question.

Dad: What's that?

Eleanor: Why, when Bradley was going to the barbershop - and said he wanted to go to school - why did his mother- why was his mother like, "Bradley! Don't do that again!" He didn't do anything. I mean, I know that the car swerved, but I feel like it's not Bradley's fault that the car swerved. He just startled his mother a little. Why was she like that?

Dad: Well, Bradley's mother was driving the car, and holding on to the steering wheel. The way he startled her made her jerk the wheel - which made the car swerve.

El: But, he didn't mean to startle her, so why was she like that?

Dad: When you're in the car with a driver, you need to be careful to not startle, or distract the driver.

El: I get it. But I feel like when you're driving the car, and someone's crying really loud in the back seat we don't get in big trouble like that.

Dad: True. But, if I know the crying's going on - it's not the same kind of distracting as something that startles a driver.

Dad: Poppy, should we add anything else to the review?

Poppy: I have nowhere to sit. (She left to go look through some Halloween candy she found in here. No joke. It's March. And it's the day after Easter. And Poppy found some old Halloween candy.)

Gwen: I think I know what to add.

Dad: What are you going to add?

Gwen: I'm going to add that we liked the book.

El: AND I RECOMMEND IT TO PEOPLE! OHHHH!!! We forgot to say how many stars we're going to give the book!!!

Dad: How many stars are we going to give it?

El: Five! How many stars do you want to give it, Gwen?

Gwen: Um. F. I. V. E.

Poppy: (Has been saying five and six continuously)

Dad: Well, I guess it's decided then.