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How I Became a Writer and Oggie Learned to Drive

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The foundation of Archie and Oggie's idyllic childhood has already crumbled because their dad's departure to an apartment with his new girlfriend results in their mom's move from their cozy house into a rough neighborhood. Their schedule ping-pongs them back and forth between the households. And now, Oggie has heard that Cindi the Girlfriend is pregnant. Furthermore, the boys dread any unnecessary communication between their parents, who are at each other's throats. Archie, who is an eleven year-old aspiring writer, works at keeping himself and six year-old Oggie sane by creating an alternative universe--the story of The Mysterious Mole People:

"The main thing about the Mysterious Mole People is that they were normal humans once. They lived in regular daylight, in ordinary houses, and held down honest jobs like racing stock cars or selling famous-name sports equipment.

"But they got fed up with the way things were, like how everybody kept getting robbed at gunpoint and forests kept getting chopped down. Many years ago, the Mole People went underground. They developed thick, furry hides and powerful claws, and built a whole secret kingdom down under the earth. From there, to this day, they wage their revenge..."

But the boys' real life, which has them becoming increasingly ensnared in the activities of the local gang, begins to become entangled with the world Archie has created.

The relationship between Archie and Oggie is absolutely endearing. Oggie is a little kid who is into cars the way other six year-olds obsess over dinosaurs. There's plenty of action including a good dose of cops-and-robbers stuff. HOW I BECAME A WRITER & OGGIE LEARNED TO DRIVE is a great read and read-aloud, especially for nine to twelve year-olds.

Dear Reader,

This book is a must read book for anyone. This book combines gangs with normal kids. Also normal problems, like the ones in the story, Oggie's wallet gets stolen by ? you will have to read and find out! Another problem in this story is Jupiter and Saturn or mom and dads house, yes there separated. Do they get back together ? you should the book.
The main characters are Oggie his older brother Archie, Raven, and last but not least the bad guy that every story has to have "catman"(not his really name). Dose anything happen between the characters ? you are going to have to read.
Don't forget the mysterious mole people. How they fit into the story will keep you puzzled till the end.
This story takes place mostly on Garden St. California. The name of this thrilling story is..................How I Became A Writer And Oggie Learned To Drive. This story is filled with 155 pages of excitement. I enjoyed this book and would read it again and still with excitement. I love this book and if you like surprising books you would too

How I Became a Writer and Oggie Learned to Drive is by Janet Taylor Lisle, there is one hundred and fifty-pages. It is about Oggie and Archie who's parents are split up. Their mom's house is Jupiter and their Dad's house is Saturn. His dad has a girlfriend her name is Cyndi. Archie is writing a book and would tell Oggie a little more every night. Cyndi smokes and she has Archie pick up her cigarettes. One day at the store where Archie picks up cigarettes he stopped a thief. There was this one gang that asks him to join; he does it to get Oggie's wallet back, but almost gets arrested. This is a great book if you like fiction books this is the one for you.

How I Became a Writer and Oggie Learned to Drive by Janet Taylor Lisle





Months after Archie and Oggie's parents separate the kids are still feeling hopeful, but after their dad's girlfriend finds out she is expecting a baby, they loose hope. The only way the kids feel safe is when Archie is telling Oggie a story about The Mysterious Mole People. One day when Oggie is coming home he gets mugged by the night riders. Now Archie is on a mission to find Oggie's stolen wallet and in doing so meets many new people, some of which can be trusted but Archie is not so sure about the others. Archie is an eleven year old average kid who just wants nothing more than to bring his parents together again. Oggie is a spunky little kid who has a thing for cars and money; he


loves his family but doesn't always know what's going on. Raven is a hard working girl who has gone where no other girl has ever gone before. She is fun and always has the answer to everything. This book was a very fast read and although it did have its slow moments, the book was a fun read. This book would be good for readers who like suspense, humor, and realistic fiction.

My third grader and I read this together as it was on the school's recommended reading list. I did not feel she was ready to read this book given her current level of maturity. The two children in the book are currently living with their father and his live-in girl friend while their parents undergo a divorce that is not yet finalized. At one point the 6 year old in the story is very confused and upset as he overheard the live-in girl friend talking about her positive pregnancy test. The book also deals with gangs and some street violence. As my third grader read this aloud to me, she had several questions that lead to topics of discussion that I would have like to have held off on for another year or so. I saw this as the beginning of desensitizing my child to moral and ethical delimas of the world we now live-in...if they see it or read it enough it becomes common life and no longer has shock value.

Archie is 11, and his sensitive brother Oggie is 6. Their parents recently divorced and now they go back and forth between preoccupied Mom's house and hotheaded Dad's house. In their menacing new neighborhood they have to deal with mean kids and criminals, but Archie distracts Oggie as much as he can by telling him a fantastic story of the Mysterious Mole People, who live underground and mercilessly try to right the wrongs of the above-world.

Things turn even more scary when Archie tries to get Oggie's stolen wallet back from a neighborhood gang, but the brothers count on each other and have inventive ways of coping with their situations. This YA novel was dark for my tastes, but people do live this way and the two boys' ability to adjust and grow stronger will reassure and encourage a lot of kids.

Writers of all ages will enjoy Archie's perceptive observations on writing. Divorced parents should read it too, to learn how to keep their own concerns from blinding them to their children's needs.