My Life as a Book

My Life as a Book presents an alternative approach to learning in its plot, the protagonist’s character arc, and the novel’s writing style and illustrations. The book thereby highlights the value of alternative approaches to learning. Janet Tashjian intended the book and the My Life series to acknowledge and address “how reading is difficult for so many kids […] [and depict] a kid’s struggle to make himself a better reader” (Interview, 218). Tashjian has experience with children who want to read but can’t seem to get into the process of it, and the book helps children with this issue relate and find new ways of learning to read. In addition, the book speaks to the important responsibility on behalf of educators and parents to be flexible and willing to try unconventional methods to help their children succeed. Like many kids his age, Derek is a “reluctant reader” and rebels against attempts to help him learn to love reading. He insists that he does like reading—“if everyone just left [him] alone with Calvin & Hobbes, Garfield, Bucky, and Satchel, [he] could read all day” (4). However, because he’s 12 years old, his teacher and parents want him to start reading books without pictures.