I LOVE THIS BOOK. It's hard for me to even write a review of this book I loved it so much. So I guess I will just list things I loved about it.

-I loved Archer's voice.

-I loved the plot structure, bookended by weddings, and told as if Archer is talking to the reader, guiding the reader through his 1st grade year to his 6th grade year.

-I loved Archer's family: his cook/mechanic dad, his psychologist mom, his architect grandpa, his Uncle Paul. Even his irritating sister Holly and his witchy grandma.

-I loved that the book is realistic and not. Events are believable, but things like Lynette's overly mature outlook and the character of Little Lord Hilary are larger than life. See also: how often Archer's school makes headlines and Ms. Roebuck's computer incompetence. Stylistically, this enhances the feeling that Archer is trying to tell the reader a good story and perhaps fudging a bit to make it better, which accounts for things not being entirely believable.

-I love, love, loved Mr. McLeod (I had to Google how to pronounce that name - it's "McCloud"). I've complained in the past about too many children's books relying on the magic teacher trope - you know, like Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society. But Mr. McLeod, in my opinion, isn't a magic teacher stereotype. Sure, he's young and exciting, but there's way more to him than just being a great teacher.

-I love how funny and joyful this book is. Especially in 2016, which I dubbed the Year of Sad after reading offerings by some of kidlit's most prominent authors (see my review of [b:Maybe a Fox|25785754|Maybe a Fox|Kathi Appelt|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1435872440s/25785754.jpg|45636443]).

I sincerely hope this will be one of our Mock Newbery books this year. Last year we got a little bit of resistance with [b:The Thing About Jellyfish|24396876|The Thing About Jellyfish|Ali Benjamin|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1439121354s/24396876.jpg|43981451] because there was a relatively minor gay character. Being that most of our Mock Newbery participants are in 5th grade and this book is pretty squarely about 5th/6th graders, I feel confident we can put it on the ballot if the rest of the committee agrees that it's really high quality literature for kids.

And, you know, if it won the real Newbery, I wouldn't be upset. ( )

This is "juvenile literature". I think juvenile is used as a synonym for children's literature, but used in the sense of a genre categorisation, eg literature about topics that appeal to young readers.

So more specifically, I would call this Young Adult (categorisation by age not genre) - ages 13-18. Although I note that one of the commentators below says she would have enjoyed this as a middle grader, ages 8-12.

About a boy who is the best man at a wedding. Holding my attention mostly due to the narration by Michael Crouch. He's a discovery.

The first person narrator of the novel, Archer, is looking back? at a period from First to Sixth Grade, so the blurb says. The narrator Crouch sounds about 14, 12 at the minimum - I'm not sure what age he is when he is doing the narrating. That's the downside of an audiobook - you can't flick back to see information you've missed or forgotten. ( )

My favorite line in this whole book:

"Mom, I'm not ready," I said again.
"Archer, honey, change doesn't care whether you're ready or not. Change happens anyway." ( )

His grandfather. His father. His Uncle Paul. These are Archer's role models, the men he wants to be like when he grows up. This slice-of-life story follows Archer from first grade to sixth, from the first wedding he was in (there was an unfortunate incident involving a pair of white velvet shorts) to the second (when his Uncle Paul marries Archer's former student teacher, Mr. McLeod, and Archer is best man). I found it an enjoyable read, with some bits that I didn't entirely buy into -- Peck's signature style involves some tall tale flair, which he employs here. I'm not sure if contemporary kids would recognize themselves and their schools in this story, but there's plenty of fun to be had. ( )

2nd read review

I still think this is a wonderful book.
It's warm and heart-felt, filled with humour.
It's a story of growing up.
A middle-grader me would have loved it.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED


1st read review:

This is like the best of awesome.

I SHALL FLAIL IN THIS CORNER FOREVER

Words? What are those? I know not. Wordlessness is the me. Leave me to savour this state of confused incoherent flailing of awesomeness.

This is to be savoured. This to be held in a place of honour on home bookshelves. This book is a precious darling to be cooed over.
You cannot convince me otherwise. ( )