Citation:
Block, F.L. (2016). My Miserable Life. New York, NY: Henry
Holt and Company.
Summary:
Being a 5th
grader is not easy, and Ben Hunter knows that from first hand-experience. This
humorous novel takes readers through Ben’s school year as he overcomes
obstacles at home with his sassy older sister, overprotective and embarrassing mom,
and navigates friendships at school, including the realization that his
arch-nemesis is in the same class as him. With a little help from his teacher,
Ms. Washington, Ben makes new friends and realizes some important things about
himself. By the end of the year, he sees that his life isn’t so miserable after
all.
Response:
This book gives a
realistic portrayal of some of the lighter and more everyday issues that
students this age face. Ben is an honest narrator that students will relate to.
He captures what we as adults sometimes forget- the big impact that small
remarks or actions can make on young children. Ben deals with a quasi-bully,
struggles with his perceived loss of a friendship, and eventually bridges
connections with new friends. He also struggles with a lack of self-esteem, but
through a classroom activity, he is able to see himself through the eyes of
others and realizes that he does have worth and that his life isn’t as bad as
he once thought. Another factor that might appeal to students is that Ben comes
from a non-traditional family setting, being raised only by his mother who
conceived him through a sperm donor. Though this isn’t something that is
stressed in the story, the dynamics of a single-parent household may resound
with readers who also have this family background.
Textbook Connections:
Genre: fiction
Audience: older
elementary or younger middle school students
Topics include
friendship, fitting in, finding oneself, and family relationships
Other Resources:
Goodreads book review
Macmillan book
reviews
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