There's a boy in the girls' bathroom by Louis Sachar

Meet Bradley Chalkers in his classroom. He is seating in the back of the room : last seat, last row. His teacher Mrs Ebbel barely notices him. He hasn't got any stars on the sticker chart next to his name. He is failing in every school subjects. One day, there is a new kid coming to school. His name is Jeff Fishkin. He is coming from Washington DC. To start with, Bradley is very unfriendly with Jeff. He does not make him feel welcome when he says “Nobody likes sitting next to me” with a strange smile.

Bradley lives with Claudia, his four years older sister and his two parents. He is a very lonely boy. He hates everyone and everyone hates him. Back home, he talks to his little toy animals and keeps on lying to his family members and teachers. His mum promised to take him to the zoo (she hasn't...). He's been to the White house (he hasn't...). He's had a good grade in English language (he failed his test...). He likes to eat dog food (he doesn't...). He often goes to the library (he wasn't even allowed to check books out of the library...). Bradley is considered to be the most horrible, rotten boy in the whole school. His parents are both very concerned and wonder if their son wants to be a criminal when he grows up.

The writer does not explain much about Bradley's anger. We only understand that from the beginning of the story that his dad works in the police department. He has been shot in the leg four years ago while chasing a robber. The police never caught the man who had shot him and we can suspect that from that point Bradley started changing. He wonders who shot his father.
The mum thinks that deep down he really is a good boy and hope that the meeting with the school cousellor, Carla will help him to feel better and do well at school. To start with, Bradley is very reluctant to talk about school or other personal issues, but Carla has her own way of making him feel comfortable and her approach is working really well.

I read a long time ago another book writen by Louis Sachar. That was “Holes” in french. I was still a teenager but I remember enjoying it and I still have the copy of the book.

That white, big title in the middle of the blue cover did catch my attention. I think it's a funny title and I felt very much intrigued by the content. The story takes places in a school and the writer makes you understand what goes through the mind of a lonely boy and isolated student. He focuses more about his attitude and social behaviour rather that understanding why but it's very interesting to notice the change once he starts spending time with the counsellor.
The picture of the school system is a disaster. Bradley's teacher frustrated him so much. She keeps on comparing him with the other students and you wonder why these people choose to work in eduaction. If Bradley was sitting in a back corner surrounded by empty desks, it was because that was her decision. The writer also likes to mention the angry parents who are very suspicious with the school counsellor, thinking that the head teachers should better spend the money in computers rather than one person who actually cares about the students and helping them learn to think for themselves .
Lovely, lovely book. Easy to read, Lots of great and interesting conversations.

Plenty of stars on the cover picture to share my recommendation !