Landry News [Hardcover]

Andrew Clements (Author), Salvatore Murdocca (Illustrator)

Book Description

From the Editor's Desk

A Question of Fairness

There has been no teaching so far this year in Mr. Larson's classroom. There has been learning, but there has been no teaching. There is a teacher in the classroom, but he does not teach.

Cara Landry is a budding journalist. When she posts a scathing editorial about her burned-out teacher on the bulletin board one afternoon, everything changes. Prodded into action for the first time in years, Mr. Larson challenges his fifth-grade students to create a real newspaper. Soon The Landry News gets more attention than either Cara or her teacher bargained for, as the principal uses the paper to try to get Mr. Larson fired. While the whole town is swept up in a dramatic debate over The Landry News and the First Amendment, Mr. Larson uses the controversy as raw material for some of the finest teaching of his career. And Cara and her classmates learn the importance of tempering a newspaper's truth with mercy. But will their lessons cost Mr. Larson his job?

Written by the author of the immensely popular Frindle, this is a compelling new novel about the collision of a student in need of a teacher with a teacher in need of inspiration.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-A thought-provoking novel from the author of Frindle (S & S, 1996). Mr. Larson has taught for 20 years and he's burned out. His idea of the open-classroom method is to start his fifth graders on a project and then sit back and relax with coffee and a newspaper. So when Cara Landry writes a newspaper with an editorial about the lack of teaching going on in room 145, the former "Teacher of the Year" gets very upset. Realizing that the girl is stating the truth, he starts a unit on journalism and the class enthusiastically begins a newspaper. With Cara as editor, the project blossoms. However, when she allows a very personal and poignant story on divorce to be printed, the principal sees it as an opportunity to get rid of Mr. Larson. The teacher then uses the proceedings as a real-life lesson on the First Amendment. The children rally to his support, as does the faculty, and at a public hearing he is vindicated. With chapter headings reading like headlines, the plot moves quickly. Bits of humor lighten the theme of "Truth with Mercy." The author has created believable characters, from the beleaguered Mr. Larson to the intelligent and thoughtful Cara. Readers will cheer for both of them as they move toward the satisfying conclusion.
Anne Knickerbocker, Cedar Brook Elementary School, Houston, TX
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Grade 4-6-A fifth grader's scathing editorial criticizing her burned-out teacher spurs him to take his duties seriously. A terrific read about free speech, the power of the pen, and the need to temper truth with mercy. (July)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers; 1st edition (May 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689818173
• ISBN-13: 978-0689818172
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (69 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #811,624 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Most of my characters are fairly normal people who are dealing with the basics of everyday life--getting along with others, finding a place in the world, discovering talents, overcoming challenges, trying to have some wholesome fun along the way, and getting into some scrapes and a little mischief now and then, too. I guess I hope my readers will be able to see bits and pieces of themselves in the stories, particularly the novels that take place in and around school. School is a rich setting because schools and education are at the heart of every community. The stories that are set in school seem to resonate with kids, teachers, parents, librarians--readers of all ages. Everyone's life has been touched by school experiences. And I also hope, of course, that kids and others will enjoy reading, enjoy the use of language, enjoy my storytelling.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Small things become big events in this story with "heart!", February 28, 2002

By 

Volkert Volkersz (Snohomish, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Landry News (Hardcover)

A couple of weeks ago I read "Frindle," by Andrew Clements, and decided it was one of the best kids' books I'd read in a long time. As a result, I decided to read "The Landry News," and my reaction is just as positive. I'm an elementary school librarian, and I can tell you I'll be ordering several more copies of these books--as well as other titles by Clements--for our library.

Clements has a way of writing a deceptively simple story--with many interweaving layers--that make his tales appealing to both children and adults. As in "Frindle," where a fifth-grade boy invents a new word, Clements takes a small, seemingly insignificant event, in this case the creation of a single newspaper posted on the wall by a new girl in class, to set in motion a growing chain of events that gets bigger and bigger. It's almost as if Andrew Clements is saying that there is no such thing as an insignificant event. As John Donne wrote, "No man is an island."

Some of the seemingly small things that moves the plot along in this engaging story are: not one, but two divorces; the newspaper on the wall; a burned-out teacher reading newspapers and drinking coffee; a mother reading a couple of verses from the Book of Psalms to her daughter; apologies; a helpful librarian; a "concerned" principal; an inquisitive small town newspaper reporter; new friends; the Bill of Rights and; "truth and mercy."

If these two first books are any indication, Andrew Clements is an author worth paying attention to. His stories have "heart."

This book, written at a 6th grade level, would make an excellent read-aloud for upper elementary classes. Having said that, I think this story is inspiring enough to be read to any class--even up through high school--that is involved in journalism or some kind of "newspapers in education" curriculum. This is one of those stories that has staying power and is filled with wisdom. Highly recommended!

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!, December 15, 1999

By 

bmfc1 "bmfc1" (Silver Spring, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Landry News (Hardcover)

This book is an exciting look at an atypical fifth grade teacher and an an atypical fifth grade student. At first, the two cross paths in an adversarial manner. Then, they see things from the other's perspective and it changes each of them for the better.

The book is educational (you learn about the First Amendment), exciting and very touching. Clements is a wonderful writer. My son and I loved this book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't miss this one!, September 2, 2000

By 

D.C. (Livermore, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Landry News (Paperback)

A timely back-to-school read for parents, students and teachers (even principals!). I started reading after dinner and didn't put the book down until I finished. Without giving away the twists and turns of the story, the book touches upon the essence of teaching and learning. Best of all the story values empathy, initiative, and student self-expression. My fifth grade son was so inspired while reading, he sat down and tapped out his own "newspaper" on the computer. Buy this book for upper grade students, and make sure your school library has a copy. This story is sure to make a few teachers squirm, and many parents think twice about the challenges of teaching. Who knows how many student/classroom newspapers the story will inspire!