My Weird Writing Tips

May 20, 2013
Facing off against the convention wisdom among some that “CUL8R is the same as see you later” and that “Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are boring,” Gutman provides compelling evidence why those kids should change their thinking: “You sound like a dumbhead.” With help from Andrea and A.J., two characters from his My Weird School series, Gutman walks readers through the basics of writing and revising stories (“Move it along. Get to the point. You don’t want your readers to die from old age while they’re reading your story”), before moving on to common grammatical pitfalls and spelling woes. With pitch-perfect humor and forthright, no-nonsense encouragement, it’s an ideal writing and grammar guide for kids who typically wouldn’t touch one with a 10-foot poll. Er, pole. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Liza Pulitzer Voges, Eden Street Literary.

April 1, 2013
Practical advice on writing from a best-selling author. Hoping to counter the texting culture with an upbeat volume on how to write well and why to care about good grammar and clear writing, Gutman draws on his own career in writing, especially his My Weird School series. Though disingenuous at times and too self-consciously fun, the little guide does impart important advice in a straightforward manner. Short chapters and cartoonish illustrations keep the lessons light, covering such essentials as the importance of paragraphing, cutting unnecessary adjectives, using a dictionary, proofreading and structuring longer pieces. To students who think being illiterate is cool and that spelling, grammar and punctuation are boring--that sentences like "The girls's lined up in sise order" are just fine--Gutman says, "Sounding like a dumbhead isn't cool." This junior version of Strunk and White's The Elements of Style may just help young writers "trim the fat" and learn to care about even small issues such as "Who or Whom?" and "Me or I?" The handy guide concludes with the one tip that will improve students' writing more than any other: "If you want to be a better writer, read everything you can get your hands on. Read like crazy!" A user-friendly guide to writing that just might make a difference. (Nonfiction. 8-12)

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September 1, 2013

Gr 3-6-With the help of his characters Arlo, Emily, and Andrea, Gutman makes grammar entertaining. However, his introduction is immediately off-putting as he states that anyone who regularly uses bad grammar sounds like a "dumbhead." In a school environment where students juggle two or more languages, along with the other aches and pains of growing up, calling someone a "dumbhead" for not using proper grammar is unacceptable. Gutman fills the book with helpful information, including how to start writing a short story, how to organize research for nonfiction writing, and how to master confusing words like "their, they're, there." The book is readable, with kid-friendly language and valid suggestions and tricks. Perhaps teachers could use excerpts, rather than handing students the book itself.-Sarah Knutson, American Canyon Middle School, CA

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2013
Grades 3-6 It would be hard to find a funnier children's guide to writing and grammar than this oneor a writer with greater credibility on the topic than Gutman, whose My Weird School and Baseball Card Adventures series have persuaded many young readers that they can handle chapter books and, even better, enjoy them. Always entertaining and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, this guidebook leads off with an introduction, entitled Don't Be a Dumbhead, explaining why readers should care about the topic. The first half of the book deals with writing and revision, while the second half presents grammar, complete with confessional comments ( Lie or Lay? I get this one wrong all the time ); spelling tricks; and amusing sample sentences. Cartoon-style drawings add to the fun. A broad range of readers will find the book helpful. Insecure students will benefit from the disarming presentation, while motivated ones will appreciate the short list of websites that publish student writing. A comical yet practical introduction to writing.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2014
Using characters from his My Weird School series as guides, Gutman walks readers through the basic paces of writing, from idea sources to secondary characters. The structure of Gutman's advice is telling (e.g., his lessons on grammar come after the discussion of getting published), but his tone is both humorous and straightforward, and aspiring authors will surely find points of inspiration.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)