Wayside School is Falling Down

By Louis Sachar

'Watch closely,' said Mrs Jewls. 'You can learn much faster using a computer instead of paper and pencil.' Then she pushed the computer out of the window. The children all watched it fall thirty floors. 'See?' said Mrs Jewls. 'That's gravity . . .'

That's the way things happen at Wayside School. There are twenty-nine kids in Mrs Jewls' class and this book is about all of them: there is Todd, who is in trouble every day, until he gets a magic dog; Paul, whose life is saved by Leslie's pigtails; Ron, who dares to try the cafeteria's mushroom surprise; and all the others who help turn a day at Wayside School into one madcap adventure after another.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
• Release date: Nov 1, 2010
• ISBN: 9781408812488

Louis Sachar

When Louis Sachar was going to school, his teachers always pronounced his name wrong. Now that he has become a popular author of children’s books, teachers all over the country are pronouncing his name wrong. It should be pronounced “Sacker,” like someone who tackles quarterbacks or someone who stuffs potatoes into sacks. Mr. Sachar's first book, Sideways Stories from Wayside School, was accepted for publication during his first year of law school. After receiving his law degree, he spent six years asking himself whether he wanted to be an author or a lawyer before deciding to write for children full-time. His books include Sideways Stories from Wayside School, Wayside School Is Falling Down, Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger, and Holes, winner of a Newbery Medal and National Book Award.

Reviews for Wayside School is Falling Down

[shannon.allen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was the first book I ever bought at a school book fair and it will remain one of my favorites. I recently decided to read one chapter of it each night to my 6 year old son. I loved the sounds of his giggles and howling laughter as I read the stories that made me laugh so hard I couldn't breathe as a child. I was afraid that he wouldn't love the stories as much as I had as a child. I was also afraid that I wouldn't find the stories as entertaining this time around. I was very wrong! The delightful little children on the top floor of this silly school still put me in stitches and kept my son's usually waivering attention. I am so glad I decided to revisit this part of my childhood and brought my son along for the hilarious ride.

[rbeene-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fun book.

[lppeters · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This, just like the first book, is a fun read that will have the class on the edge of their seat and laughing! I would implement this book in my classroom as well and continue the theme of using it as a positive reinforcement as a read aloud time each day. I think that these books are encouraging to students because they will see that it is a chapter book and think of a more challenging aspect and maybe start to think as reading as fun!

[mdemock_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A great sequel to Sideways Stories! More hilarious short stories.

[laf_78 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is pretty much like the first Wayside School book except with different stories. The stories were just as funny and strange as the ones in the first collection. One boy in this book was going to get a tattoo. He could get any one he wanted, but at the end he chose a potato. It was sort of a small, scrawny potato. In the end, this was a story with a moral: you don't know what you're talking about unless you're the one in the situation. These strange, funny stories really make you think.

[librarybrandy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's been forever since I read the original, but this is pretty close in keeping with what I remember. A couple of dud stories, but some honestly laugh-out-loud funny parts, too.

And for those who don't already know, Wayside School Louis Sacher is way different from Holes Louis Sacher.

[baileyr-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one of my favorite books. I enjoy how each chapter is a new story about the students and teachers of Wayside School. The stories are very funny and some of the events that happen are out of the ordinary and almost impossible. I loved reading this book as a child, I love reading it now, and I am sure I will read this book to my children and they will love it too.

[dwaterman-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is great even though it is about school it is a great comedy and it is not just a regular school it is about a 30 story school with very weird things going on in it. A top 5 book for sure!

[anneofia · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a wild and wacky book; certainly a precursor to the Newbery-medal- winning Holes which was to come after. There is no real plot here, just individual stories of the children in Mrs. Jewl's 30th story classroom; interconnected in surprising ways. Kids should love this - I sure did!

[amberthehuman · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Just as good as the first. If not better. Without the constrictions of the first book (each chapter named after a kid) Sachar can write about what he likes. And don't worry if you can't remember which kid is which. Looking forward to reading the last one in the new year!

[menaramore · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is another great tale from Sachar about Wayside School. The crazy teachers and students are at it again and the stories are sillier than ever. The students love to laugh at these books.

[rosenstern · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love these books. The dead pan humor is refreshing and hilarious. The cast of characters are easy to love and plus they're hugely easy books to read. It takes about an hour to read each book. Mostly comprises of short adventures that the kids at wayside school get themselves into. The little details make the book amazing though. The principal who always says- people going up the staircase stay to the left and people coming down stay to the right. And his inability to remember to turn off the speaker system before he insults the students.

[caitlyn24 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

this book is so funny.Every chapter feels like your about to explode with laughter!!!!!!! I cant wait to read the ret of them.

[theokester · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Thanks again to Cindy for introducing my kids and I to this series. We're absolutely loving it. We just finished Wayside School is Falling Down reading one story/chapter each night. I personally liked this book's stories a bit more than the first book. Each of the stories was a little bit longer than in the first book and they also went even farther along the creativity continuum in terms of using new and intriguing storytelling elements.As with Sideways Stories, each chapter (with a notable exception) was a self contained story with its own humorous description of some interaction with the students at the school. Sachar went above and beyond his previous endeavor by taking the strange perceptions of students and faculty at the school even farther than before.I loved the story told in reverse and the Twilight-Zone-esque use of the "19th story." The characters each received added depth and fun new treatment. Themes carried throughout the entire book were done so more prominently (such as Mark Miller aka Benjamin Nushmutt).While the stories are a lot of fun just as humorous and ridiculous anecdotes, they're also great opportunities for discussion with kids about different themes.Once again, we've enjoyed our journey through the stories of Wayside School and I'm sure we'll pick up the third book and see just how Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger.****4 stars

[khayra.b · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A really imaginative way of telling the story as well as an imaginative story.

[elliebstevens · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Not my favorite in the trilogy, but still pretty goofy.

[stipe168 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

stories from the world of wayside school. each chapter has something strange and great to offer.

[mspioneer_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was about kids that go to Wayside School who do weird things. Each chapter is about a new crazy thing that happens.

[yona-414000 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Even funnier than the first. What a cast of characters. I think I laughed at this more than I laughed the rest of the months of December and January together. Some of this humor was surprisingly imaginative.

[esproull_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is the second of a humorous series written by Louis Sachar. Each chapter has a story of it's own, depicting different episodes of all the wacky and bizarre things that take place in Mrs. Jewls' classroom on the 13th floor of Wayside school. These strange and crazy stories are hilarious, imaginative, and most even have an underlying moral or lesson to be learned. Children in elementary classes would certainly love the Wayside stories and will want to keep reading more and more!

[noah shilkin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is over all a good book !!! Love it

[eas7788 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Didn't quite do the standalone/hang together thing as well. Some repetition that didn't work as well. But still delightful and still captures the feeling of elementary school.

[snickel63 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love that Louis Sachar wrote a second book where we could continue hearing about Mrs. Jewel's class. My students love reading these novels and I enjoy reading them each year with them.

[t1bclasslibrary · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is beyond hilarious! Wayside school is as crazy as ever, and every chapter is funnier than the last. We’ve got a computer teaching gravity, how the triangle got its name, the saga of Benjamin Nushmutt, a substitute teacher, and the final demise of Wayside School.