No Talking by Andrew Clements Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of No Talking
Book Review: Another Classic School Story by Andrew Clements
Summary: 5 Stars
In Andrew Clements' latest book, fifth-grader Dave Packer challenges fellow loudmouth Lynsey Burgess to an original boys vs. girls contest. Although this grade level has been dubbed "the Unhushables," by teachers for their constant chatter, all of the fifth graders compete to see which gender can say the least number of words in two days.
The varied reactions of the teachers and principal to the students' silence, as well as the eventual camaraderie that develops between the boys and girls, make this book a truly delightful read. I would strongly recommend this book, as well as any other Andrew Clements title!
As a fourth grade elementary teacher, Andrew Clements is hands down my favorite author! He writes funny and entertaining school stories that kids can connect with. However, his plots are always clever and original, with his well developed characters often stumbling across profound academic and social truths. The perspectives of teachers and other authority figures are presented along with the students' in a respectful, reflective manner. I use Andrew Clements' books extensively in literature circle groups with my students, as his novels provoke a great deal of discussion from my students.
Book Review: Book Review: No Talking
Summary: 5 Stars
Working in a public school, I am around children every day. Here are two facts that I feel I can state from experience:
1. Kids like to talk
2. There is nothing that gets the youngsters going like boys vs. girls competition
In No Talking, Andrew Clements manages to merge both of these eternal truisms.
At Laketon Elementary, the 5th grade class has a reputation for embracing the spoken word - so much so that they earned the nickname "The Unshushables" from teachers. On top of all this noisiness, the boys can't stand the girls and the girls aren't all that keen on the boys.
One day Dave Packer attempts something that surely has never been done by anyone in his fifth grade class - to make it through the school day without saying a word. He fails, but his experiment leads to a challenge between the boys and the girls: Two days of school. Whichever group talks the least wins.
This book has all kinds of classroom implications, and the rivalry between boys and girls will immediately draw kids in. No Talking is an entertaining story and a quality fiction selection
Book Review: Girls vs. Boys
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is about 5th grade girls and boys who compete over who can talk less. So who is it going to be - the girls or the boys? Read the book to find out!
One day Dave, the main character, is trying to see how long he can go without talking. When he is not talking, he hears some girls constantly talking behind him at lunch. The next thing he knows he has challenged the girls to a no talking contest. The rule of the contest is no talking to each other, and not talking to teachers with more than three words at a time. The boys and the girls do funny things to each other to try to get the other team to talk. Are the teachers going to approve of this, or are they going to savor the quietness? You'll have to read it to find out!!
This book reminds me of how much my friends and I talk. As much as we talk, I still think we could beat these kids in the contest because they NEVER stop talking!!
I think that No Talking is good for both boys and girls ages 8-12. I really like Andrew Clements books, and this one might be my favorite!
So if you like realistic and funny books that take place at school, this is definitely the book for you!
Book Review: Growing up a little. Quieting down a lot.
Summary: 5 Stars
Not all Andrew Clements novels are created equal, and that's a fact. I mean, don't get me wrong. This is true of most children's authors. But sometimes I feel that with Clements, he's always readable. Even if you feel that one book of his is better than another, that doesn't mean that kids aren't going to read them all equally like mad. I maintain the paperback fiction portion of the children's room in which I work, so I've seen firsthand the levels of sheer maniacal energy that go into keeping that area stocked. Turn around for two seconds and FOOM! There go all your copies of Frindle, The Landry News, and Lunch Money. And while I've always kind of enjoyed Clements, none of his books really struck me as something I would have liked to have read when I was a kid. Then I picked up "No Talking". Oh brother, oh sister, oh me, oh my. This. Book. Is. Great. Yes, it has a little bit of learning. A teensy bit of a moral stuffed in there. But to me, this is Clements at the top of his game. Tapping into the essential rivalries that exist between boys and girls, this book is just pure fun and that's a fact. A must read for Clements fans and an enjoyable jaunt for the rest of us.
Let me tell you a little something about the fifth-graders of Laketon Elementary. The teachers there call them The Unshushables for a reason. These kids are the loudest group to cross the threshold of Laketon in years. They also happen to be a bit immature in the whole boys and girls area of things. Where other kids might be growing up at this stage and toning down the gender rivalries, this group is led by two leaders. You've Dave on the boys' side and Lynsey on the girls. But when a dare breaks out between the two as to whether or not the boys or the girls can keep from talking the most over the course of two days, neither side is prepared for the consequences. With rules firmly in place, the kids begin their contest only to find that it has inadvertently raised the ire of their normally competent principal. Now the kids will join together to face a common enemy in the quietest manner possible.
The moral of the story would make it pretty ideal for bookgroups discussions. The principal's opinion on everything is summed up nicely in Chapter 15. "These children need to learn to be quiet when it's right to be quiet, and they need to talk and participate at the right times too." This isn't a rigid stance until the kids stop talking en masse (something I'm sure educators countrywide would love to encourage) and of their own volition. Suddenly, the idea of silence as a weapon comes to mind. The principal trying to make kids talk becomes the kid-friendly equivalent of the old villainous statement, "We have way of MAKING you talk." So when authority figures tell you that you have to talk and be silent only when they say so, isn't that an untenable situation? It's worthy of further thought.
I've maintained for years that the best children's authors are the ones who can finesse different forms of writing seamlessly into a fictional narrative for the young. Clements is a perfect example of this. First of all, his writing is... I hesitate to use the word "pure" but it's just so straightforward. Accessible, amusing, and without ever feeling forced or unnatural. Then, on top of that, "No Talking" utilizes flashbacks, at the beginning of the story, beautifully. And as with Frindle or some of Clements' other works, "No Talking" boils down to kids versus adults. That's a popular topic right there. Then it adds in the boys versus girls element, which never goes out of style. Finally, it tops the whole shebang off with a contest with a set series of rules and regulations. The kids may speak in class when called upon to do so, but they can only speak three words at a time. They cannot speak at home and will use the honor system to keep track of their own foibles. Then Clements works in all the situations in which a person really needs to speak, and the book just gets more and more fun.
I was intrigued by the illustrations provided by a Mr. Mark Elliott. To my mind, illustrators of children's novels never get enough credit. Mr. Elliott's name, by rights, should appear on the front of this book. That's just not how things are done, but I wish publishers would reconsider. And Elliott in particular has a kind of classic feel to him. You go through his images and you're reminded of Paul O. Zelinsky's work on books like Dear Mr. Henshaw. The pictures here are done in graphite with clear outlines and gentle shading inside. I'm a fan of realism as it is, and this book shows that Elliott is an artist worth keeping an eye on.
You know, there are some children's books I read where writing their review requires hours, literally hours, of hair pulling and groans on my part. Where every sentence I plunk down feels forced. And then there are books like "No Talking" that are just a joy to speak (ha ha) about. I think it's safe to say that this is my favorite Andrew Clements novel, case closed. Also, with its boys vs. girls mentality, this book would pair beautifully with this year's other great kid-friendly (and fellow favorite) read, The Lemonade War. Consider these two to be the sheer-fire crowd pleasers you absolutely must stock on your library shelves.
Book Review: Loads of fun
Summary: 5 Stars
The basic plot: A couple of 5th graders decide to see if their class can go 48 hours without talking. Boys against girls. If a teacher addresses you, you may respond with the maximum of three words.
No Talking is an adorable story. It's a fun concept, and the author takes the idea and moves it along at a quick, easy pace. I loved the sweet ending. It was very much a "happy book" - one that leaves you with a smile. Highly enjoyable . . . it almost made me want to try the kids' experiment, too.