The Janitor's Boy

Can you imagine the supreme embarassment of a fifth-grader who finds himself going to school in the building where his father is custodian? This is Jack Rankin's situation when construction forces a temporary move of his school. The tension between keeping his identity secret and initiating a prank to make the custodian's life miserable leads to an amusing and poignant adventure. It also leads Jack to a new appreciation of his father. B.D. Wong brings Andrew Clements's characters to life. The tone of the all-knowing assistant principal, the taunts of the students, the patience of Helen Rankin, and the quiet determination of John Rankin are distinctly and sincerely presented. And Jack! His heightened sense of smell, his love of watermelon Bubblicious, and his new views of his dad are vibrant in Wong's presentation. The modulation of his voice and reading speed create a spectacular effect. A.R. (c) AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine

August 20, 2001

In a starred review, PW
said that Clements "effectively draws a parallel" between Jack getting to know his janitor father, John, and John's relationship with his own father. "The author's uncanny ability to capture the fragile transformation from child to adolescent and its impact on family relationships informs every aspect of the novel." Ages 8-12.