Customer Reviews

The Janitor's Boy

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Andrew Clements is quickly proving to be one of the finest writers for pre-teens in the country. "The Janitor's Boy" is a funny yet sensitive story about a son and his perceptions of his Father. I read it with my son and we both enjoyed it very much. It also led to several discussions between us. Any book that can foster discussions between parents and children is special. "The Janitor's Boy" is another special book from a gifted writer.

The Janitor's Boy is a classic Andrew Clements school story about real people. In almost every young person's life, there comes a time when their parents become more than 2-dimensional objects. Jack is embarrassed because his father is the school janitor. But soon Jack will learn that there's more to a person than what they do for a living.

One day, his father says hello to him in class and the other kids really start in on the teasing. Jack retaliates against his father by putting a huge mound of gum under a desk. The plan backfires and Jack's punishment is to work with as a janitor cleaning off the gum under desks for 3 weeks after school.

In that time, Jack learns a lot about his father and the work that he does. It's more than just a learn it by walking in his shoes story, though. Jack and his father have time to communicate and Jack might even find that they have more in common than he wanted or expected.

A good book about real people.

AN ADVENTEROUS BOOK !!!!!!!!!!! IT LEAVES YOU ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT. How would you feel if your dad was the janitor at your school? Jack tried to avoid his dad at school as much as possible. That one day came when it was his turn to be embarrassed. A kid in Jack's class vomitted (pee-yoo) and his dad came to the rescue to clean it up. The kids then began to make fun of him with obserd remarks, but Jack had a plan to get back at them. He found these tunnels in the back of the school. He began searching these SECRETPASSAGEWAYS. He came out with more knowledge than he came in with about his school, his father, and even himself. What did he find out? huh, huh . Find out by reading this very adventurous book.

A key! A key that will unlock all the answers. In The Janitors Boy By Andrew Clements Jack is not very fond of his father. Jack is not very fond of his school's janitor either. But Jack's father is the school janitor.
Jack lives in a small town with his father, mother and sister. He goes to a small high school were his dad is a janitor. Jack is ashamed of his father's job. But Jack's father has many things he doesn't now about. Stories his father has never told Jack about. But after defacing a school desk with a big chunk of watermelon bubble gum. Jack is put to work by the principal and is sentenced to three weeks of cleaning gum of tables and chairs. One day in the janitor's office while Jack was getting his supplies he found a case on the wall with hundreds of shiny keys. There was a key for every draw, every lock, and every door in the school. Jack read the keys and took the two that looked the most interesting to him, the keys that said tower and tunnel. After exploring the two places the story of his father all comes together. To find out why Jack's father is who he is be sure to pick up a great book The Janitors Boy. Its fun to read for every age.

The "Janitor Boy" is about a boy named Jack who is in the 5th grade, just like myself. He has to spend fifth grade in the old high school building, and I have to spend fifth grade in the old middle school in my home town.

Jack is not happy about attending school in this building because his Dad is the janitor. He doesn't want his friends to know that his Dad is the janitor, because he is embarassed.

Twards the end of the book, Jack learns how hard it is to be a janitor, and he discovers many hard times his Dad had to go through when he was younger. Jack and his Dad develop an understanding and respect for each other.

In all I think this was a good book, easy to read and it had a good storyline. I would recommend this book to any kid my age.

The Son of a Janitor
The name of this book is The Janitors Boy by Andrew Clements. This book mostly takes place at a school, a steam tunnel and a old truck.

Trapped in a tunnel
This book is about a kid, Jack, and his dad the school janitor, John. Jack doesn't want to be any thing like his dad and he literarily makes a list why he's not like his dad. Jack gets stuck with gum duty and his dad has to drive him home. On the way home his dad talks to him and he finds out his dad is pretty cool. Earlier Jack had found the janitors keys and he "borrowed," 2 of them, 1 of them was to a place called a steam tunnel. The next day he found the door to the steam tunnel. There was no light in the tunnel so he had to bring a flashlight. When he went in the steam tunnel he closed the door behind him and he found out it was a double locked door, he reached in his pocket and couldn't find the key! He was trapped... you'll have to read Andrew Clements The Janitors Boy to find out what happens next.

Twits and Turns
What I really liked about the book is that it is written with a lot of twists and turns like, when Jack is stuck in the steam tunnel you think he's just going to go around and find an exit but something completely different happens. Also Jack wants nothing to do with his dad but he figures out that he might want to be like him. Another time when something unexpected happens is when Jack pulls a prank and expects his dad to clean it up but it backfires. These are only some of the things that make this book great.

Boy Territory
One of the things I really like about this book is it has different perspectives, for example: Jacks mom knows that Jack doesn't like his dad and she can't interfere because of what she calls "boy territory," so she doesn't get in the way because she does not get them. This is one of the few books that have changed my perspective on something do to the "boy territory" part.

Overall a Good Book
This is one of the good books I have read but still definitely not the best that's why I would only give it about 3 and a half stars, still I would recommend it to most of my friends.

This book is amazing. Chapter after chapter, page after page. Its always exciting no matter what part of the book you're in.
I loved ready this book and i also learned about father-son relationships. That no matter what job your dad has, even if he's a janitor you wont be ashamed of him being your dad.
Well in this book a boy named Jack Rankin goes to school where his dad is the janitor. Everybody makes fun of him so he blames it all on his dad. He makes a big mess for his dad to clean up but he gets caught. His punishment was to clean up the school after school is over. He gets to feel just like his dad feels as a janitor. His punishment actually got him and his dad real close.

This is a really good book, you should read it

I really loved this book. I thought the begining was great because it got you into the story. The only thing I didn't like was the ending how it just left you wondering.

A boy named Jack had a bad day. It all started in music class when he was eating a huge piece of watermelon bubblegum and he basically ruined a desk. The principal found out and sentenced him to three weeks of after school gum clean-up for the chief custodian. It turned out that the chief custodian was his dad. It appears to be that working in the basement for so long reavals some amazing surprizes.

My opinion on this book is that it was mysterious and I like books that are mysterious.

This book is about a 5th grade boy who is embarassed by his fathers job. His father is the school janitor. By doing something wrong, he has to work with his father as a punishment. This turns into a great adventure for Jack. It also gives the father and son a chance to really get to know each other for who they really are. It is a wonderful adventure tied into a heartwarming father and son renewal. It keeps the reader wanting to know more and an unforgetable ending.