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Children's Fiction School & Education

Tabloidology

by (author) Chris McMahen

Publisher
Orca Book Publishers
Initial publish date
Apr 2009
Category
School & Education, Friendship, Humorous Stories
Recommended Age
9 to 12
Recommended Grade
4 to 7
Recommended Reading age
9 to 12
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781554690091
    Publish Date
    Apr 2009
    List Price
    $9.95
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781554695454
    Publish Date
    Apr 2009
    List Price
    $12.99

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Where to buy it

Description

Take one prankster, put her together with the editor of the world's most boring school newspaper, add one over-worked principal, and you've got a recipe for the most chaotic few weeks in the history of Upland Green Elementary. The unlikely duo of Martin Wettmore, editor and expert grammarian, and Trixi Wilder, prankster extraordinaire, is given the task of improving the pathetic sales of their school newspaper. Martin and Trixi clash over everything from journalistic integrity (Trixi has none) to imagination (Martin has none). But when the paper starts to wreak havoc at the school, Principal Baumgartner shuts it down and assigns Trixi to Saturday morning bus-washing duty. To redeem themselves, Martin and Trixi resolve to create one very special edition of the Upland Green Examiner.

About the author

Chris McMahen is an elementary school teacher-librarian living near Armstrong, British Columbia. When he's not busy writing, teaching or spending time with his family, he can be found cycling the back roads of the Spallumcheen Valley or making peculiar pottery.

 

Chris McMahen's profile page

Awards

  • Commended, CCBC Best Books

Excerpt: Tabloidology (by (author) Chris McMahen)

"Photocopier malfunctions are not newsworthy," Martin said. "Not newsworthy?" Trixi said. "Listen to me, Marty. This week at our school, you had the best stories any newspaper editor could hope for. Just think of the headlines you could have had! Photocopier Goes Wild! This Week Origami! Next Week, Paper Airplanes?"
"That’s ridiculous," Martin said.
"Or how about Toilets Reciting Poetry at Upland Green School! What Will They Do Next? Sing Opera? Tap Dance?" "That's even more ridiculous. In my newspaper, I just report the facts," Martin said.

Editorial Reviews

"This light-hearted book will keep younger readers going just to see what happens next. But underneath the mayhem is a strong message about working together and compromise. It's a great read-aloud, but only if you can stop laughing long enough."

Victoria Times Colonist

"A perky and engaging addition to the ranks of funny school stories for middle readers."

Booklist

"The lessons that Tabloidology delivers are important: issues of representation—truth, falsehood, exaggeration and omission—are combined with a lesson in achieving balance that many readers will be beginning to learn themselves."

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