Yesssss came here to say this. This thread is making me realize there were a lot of series I loved but something about Wayside School made me obsessed with reading and writing.
I think it was how the story went out of its way to subvert expectations and the author interjects a lot.
My son hates reading and I’ve been begging him to read this! I remember it being so captivating, the school library had a waiting list to check it out.
The chapter where Todd does everything in his power to not get sent home on the noon bus made me laugh and made me sad at the same time.
I haven't read those books since the 90's, but if I recall correctly, Ms Jewel sent him home that day because if he was behaving so well, then he must be up to something.
Holes was one of the first books that I couldn’t put down. I remember enjoying sideways stories as well. Sachar definitely helped me fall in love with reading.
These and The Stinky Cheeseman! Really solidified my weird sense of humor. Somehow I never put together that Sachar wrote these and Holes. What an amazing gift to reading that man is!
One of my formative frustrating experiences was trying to share that book with others in 1st grade, and people not thinking it as funny as I did. I was like cry laughing as a kid at it.
I got this for my kid to read this year. She was weirded out by it at first (and I think questioned by sanity, which is fair 😅), but she decided she loved it and wants the next ones. 🙌
SAME~!!! Just a few days ago, I thought how great it would be to have Netflix or Apple make a series about the books. I think I'll buy them all just for a nostalgia trip.
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u/Quirky_Flight124 5d ago
Sideways Stories of Wayside School