Our Teacher Is a Vampire and Other (Not) True Stories
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- $5.99
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- $5.99
Publisher Description
Mrs. Penrose has a secret, and Alexander H. Gory, Jr., thinks he knows just what it is.
To spread the word, Alexander passes around his notebook, in which he details his proof that their mild-mannered teacher has become a blood-sucking creature of the night. The news spreads like wildfire, and soon the whole class is speculating. Will the librarian be her next victim? Can they protect themselves with garlic necklaces?
But when Mrs. Penrose confiscates the notebook, she admits to the class that she does have a secret. She isn't turning into a bat, though—she's going to have a baby. To encourage her students to write, she lets them keep the notebook, which becomes a chronicle of jokes, stories, and—when Mrs. Penrose's baby comes earlier than anyone expected—their fears, frustrations, and hopes for her and her child.
Told in the varying voices of an elementary class, with all their unique observations, quirks, and spelling mistakes, Our Teacher Is a Vampire is a celebration of collaboration. Through their shared storytelling, Mrs. Penrose's students support one another through difficult times, improve as writers, and become fast friends. Ideal for aspiring writers, this (not) true story of classroom intrigue will keep readers turning pages, from the first wild rumor to the last, heartfelt letter.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The title of this entertaining novel belies the truths it reveals as Amato (the Good Crooks series) blends fiction written by an elementary-school class, comments and banter they share in a blank book, and real-life issues they confront. Misinterpreting Mrs. Penrose's reference to a secret she's keeping, Alexander is certain that his teacher is a vampire, and he solicits his classmates' help in writing a story about her. After Mrs. Penrose reveals that she's actually pregnant, she suggests that her students collaborate on another story. As the kids use the blank book to share ideas, a spirited and sometimes contentious conversation unfolds, revealing several big, distinct personalities, including fastidious Omar, wisecracking Nick, and silent newcomer Harrison, who finds his voice on the page (various fonts represent the different children chiming in). After the dangerously premature birth of Mrs. Penrose's son, the kids swap competitiveness for cooperation and create a story for Mrs. Penrose's baby. Readers will appreciate how the characters' writing improves as they discover the rewards of collaboration and acceptance, as well as the healing power of the written word. Ages 8-12.
