The Tuesday Cafe (Books for Young Children) [Paperback]

Don Trembath (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1996 | Series: Books for Young Children

-- Young Readers Choice -- Nominee -- ALA Popular Paperbacks for YA -- Alberta Book Award -- Winner -- ALA Best Books -- Nominee

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9?Harper Winslow, 15, is the cynical, disaffected child of affluent, preoccupied parents. Brought before a judge for setting a garbage can on fire in his Emville, Alberta, high school, Harper is sentenced to 40 hours of community service and a 2000-word essay on "How I Plan to Turn My Life Around." His efficient mother enrolls him in a local writing class called "The Tuesday Cafe." Thrust into this unpretentious, educationally and intellectually challenged group, Harper gradually sheds his aloof, defensive facade. He learns that self-worth and friendships derive from openness, honesty, and accountability. His coming-of-age testimonial exposes the contemporary malaise of wealthy teenagers who need parental communications more than material advantages. Adolescent sarcasm and perceptions lighten the narrative and clearly depict the personalities of the judge, parents, guidance counselor, and the motley "Tuesday Cafe" crew. Harper's introspection, candor, and resolutions ring true. The engaging conversational style, upbeat ending, and "take control of your life" message combine to create an appealing package.?Gerry Larson, Durham Magnet Center, Durham, NC
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 7^-10. Harper Winslow got into writing accidentally after taking an offbeat writing class to help with an essay he had to write ("How I Plan to Turn My Life Around"), a 2,000-word composition mandated by the local judge as a sentence for the teen's misdemeanor. But that was last year, as some readers may recall from Trembath's popular first novel, The Tuesday Cafe (1996). Now we're back with a rehabilitated Harper, who, if not exactly a star student or Mr. Popularity, is so quick-witted and engagingly honest about his life that it's hard to put down this latest misadventure. Harper turns his boring reporting assignments for the school newspaper into a scathing, anonymous column about school life, and it becomes a big hit. Writing as Alfred in one of his "A Fly on the Wall" pieces, Harper enrages the bully boyfriend of lovely Veronica MacLeish. Then he gets ensnared in having to reveal who Alfred is so the bully can demolish him. Expect a complicated plan to protect the sharp-tongued columnist's identity and a searingly honest look at life through adolescent eyes. Anne O'Malley

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Product Details

• Paperback: 121 pages
• Publisher: Orca Book Publishers (January 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551430746
• ISBN-13: 978-1551430744
• Product Dimensions: 4.3 x 6.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,140,857 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Catcher in the Cafe, September 22, 2004

By 

Jayla Cartier (Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Tuesday Cafe (Books for Young Children) (Paperback)

One of the most irritating things I found about this book was the phrase "if you want to know the truth" which I also found irritating in "The Catcher in the Rye", but Trembath uses it over and over again, and does seem to be imitating Salinger quite a bit. That is probably why this book was awarded prizes. (Usually a sure sign I won't enjoy a book.) He also begs the reader to "promise you won't laugh" towards the end. Believe me, there is no reason to laugh in this book. Or cry, or invest any emotion other than disgust. That's my opinion, if you want to know the truth!

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The Tuesday Cafe, August 13, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Tuesday Cafe (Books for Young Children) (Paperback)

I found this book to be very boring and most of the time it went slow and hardly had a plot. The characters were boring and not dynamic. This book was on a reading list or I would not have read it not to mention almost all the bookstores in my area did not have this book. I had to order it.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book., May 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Tuesday Cafe (Books for Young Children) (Paperback)

I liked this book. You should read this book if you like to hear people talk. It it had great fire seens, but lacked action.