Standing Up to Mr. O [Paperback]

Claudia Mills (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1900 | Grade Level: 3 and up

Twelve-year-old Maggie comes to dread biology class because her favorite teacher is insisting that she dissect a worm, an assignment that makes her feel very squeamish and awakens her to the question of animal rights.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-7-Seventh-grader Maggie McIntosh is a good student and loves biology class. She especially loves the teacher, Mr. O'Neill. She feels she can talk to Mr. O. about anything, except her reluctance to do dissections in class. The other kids don't seem to mind killing worms, but Maggie feels it is wrong. When she takes a stand and refuses to do the dissection, Jake, a good-looking troublemaker, is her only ally. Later, her lab partner stands by her when he feels that her anti-dissection essay should have won a prize and Mr. O. was one of the judges. Maggie's inner struggle is well drawn as she attempts to articulate her beliefs and what she is willing to fight for. Her pain in disappointing, and possibly alienating, her favorite teacher is believable. Her arguments with her friends provide other viewpoints in a natural way without any didacticism. The tension is maintained until Maggie and Jake are caught "rescuing" the frogs that are next to undergo dissection. Maggie's fight to follow her conscience will hold readers, and her growth as a person will be applauded even when she makes mistakes. Her interest in Jake forces Maggie to make other decisions, all of which help her define her beliefs. A thought-provoking book.
Jennifer Ralston, Harford County Public Library, Belcamp, MD
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 4^-7. Like Mills' Dinah for President (1992), this is a school coming-of-age story for those who love a stimulating argument. The issue this time is animal rights, specifically, the dissection of animals in seventh-grade biology class. Maggie McIntosh is against it; she refuses to cut up worms, fish, and frogs ("It was wrong to kill something on purpose, just to cut it up to see what its insides looked like"), even if it means getting an F in biology instead of her usual A. Her smug, clever lab partner, Matt, argues forcefully against her; her best friend agrees with her but is too scared to take a stand. Hardest of all for Maggie is going against her beloved biology teacher, Mr. O., who has always been special to her, almost a father figure for her absent dad. Mr. O. is furious at her opposition, and he lets her down. Then there's the brooding, attractive outsider, Jake, who supports her, but does he care about the issue, or does he just want trouble? What makes the book so compelling is that Mills really opens up the arguments; she is fair to all sides, and no one really wins. The issues matter, but there is no self-righteousness. Maggie is as rueful as she is passionate, and there are some very funny lines ("What do frogs eat?" her mother asks when Maggie brings home a pet frog. "Are they allowed to eat real bugs, or do we have to find bugs made out of soybeans?"). Maggie turns 13 and learns no easy answers. People disappoint you, even your best friend lets you down, even your beloved mentor, and you go on. Hazel Rochman --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (January 1, 1900)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786814047
• ISBN-13: 978-0786814046
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,897,266 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Standing up to Mr.O, March 14, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Standing Up to Mr. O (Paperback)

A girl named Maggie dreads the day when she has to dissect in her biology class. Maggie decides to refuse dissect and rather receive a F for a grade. She afterwards becomes a vegetarian. This book has a point on dissection and it is a good example as an arguement against killing or dissecting animals. The author somehow seems to persuade reader's that killing animals is wrong.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book!, November 22, 2005

By 

Alicia Baker - See all my reviews

This review is from: Standing Up to Mr. O (Paperback)

I found this book to be a very good read! Seventh-grader Maggie adores her biology teacher, Mr. O. - not only is he the "coolest" teacher she knows, he provides her with something of a father-figure since her own father deserted her and her mother when Maggie was four. When Mr. O. says EVERYONE must dissect animals, Maggie is faced with a terrible dilemma: let her favorite teacher down(and possibly fail the class) or compromise her own beliefs by going along with the dissection. Several supporting characters add interest and depth to this story for middle-school or older kids. Overall, I think this is a great book to introduce animal protection-related issues to kids. Other issues involved are absent fathers/single parenting, juvenile delinquents, best friends, and boy-girl relationships.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Standing up to Mr.O, March 15, 2002

By 

Susan Wu - See all my reviews

This review is from: Standing Up to Mr. O (Paperback)

A girl named Maggie dreads the day when she has to dissect in her biology class. Maggie decides to refuse dissecting and rather receive a F for a grade. She afterwards becomes a vegetarian. This book has a point on dissection and it is a good example as an arguement against killing or dissecting animals. The author somehow seems to persuade reader's that killing animals are wrong. Even though Maggie does not has a very good reason for not killing animals she still has a point. People have to realize that killing animals are wrong. It isn't fair that animals have to suffer and have their lives taken away just for kids at school to learn about the inside of their body.