Knucklehead by Jon Scieszka

Jon Scieszka is an author of a lot of  very funny picture books.  This is not a picture book but is a memoir of what it was like to grow up in his family.  He was one of the older children in a family of 6 boys.  He was born in the 50's and raised in Flint Michigan.  It was a better time for kids.  He and his brothers would play outside, make up games, and spend all summer at his grandparent's cabin.  The stories in the book are very funny and it makes one nostalgic for the time before computer games.  He grew up attending a catholic school and he talks about the time when he got caught goofing off in class.  The teacher, who was a nun, asked him if he wanted to share the joke with the class.  She was, of course, expecting him to say, "No" and sit down and be quiet.  But it had been a really good joke, and he decided, instead to tell it to the class. He said it defined his future life. I won't tell you what the joke was.  You will just have to read the book yourself.  This is a great book for reluctant readers who have to read a biography that is at least 100 pages. I bet he made it just more than 100 on purpose.  He is a great champion of reluctant reader boys.  (109 p)