49 pages • 1 hour read
Sideways Stories from Wayside School
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
144
Novel • Fiction
Wayside School • 1980s
1978
Middle grade
8-12 years
530L
Super Short Summary
Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar consists of absurd, humorous vignettes centered around the quirky students and teachers of a school mistakenly built 30 stories high. Each self-contained chapter features a quirky character from Mrs. Jewls's class facing a unique and often illogical problem, blending magical realism with themes of problem-solving and learning.
Humorous
Playful
Fantastical
Mysterious
Adventurous
Reviews & Readership
103,231 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar is lauded for its humor, quirky characters, and imaginative setting, making it a hit with children and nostalgic adults. Some critics, however, find its episodic structure disjointed and the absurdity overwhelming. Overall, it's praised for its creativity and playful tone, though its unconventional style may not suit everyone.
Who Should Read Sideways Stories from Wayside School?
A reader who would enjoy Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar is typically aged 8-12 and loves humorous, imaginative, and whimsical storytelling. Fans of Roald Dahl's Matilda and Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid will delight in the quirky characters and absurd situations in this offbeat school setting.
103,231 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Mrs. Gorf
Mrs. Gorf
The initial teacher at Wayside School, feared by students for her harsh methods and magical ability to turn students into apples.
Louis
Louis
The playground supervisor who interacts with the students in both authoritative and peer-like ways, known for his colorful appearance and unorthodox approaches.
Dana
Dana
A student noted for wearing glasses, with a memorable feature being how her beautiful eyes shine through them.
Rondi
Rondi
A student recognized by the absence of her two front teeth, often receiving compliments for her appearance.
John
John
A student who faces challenges reading and can only read upside-down.
Joe
Joe
A student who struggles with counting.
Todd
Todd
Frequently punished for talking in class and ends up on a discipline list daily.
Paul
Paul
A student known for pulling Leslie’s pigtails, struggling with behavioral issues.
Calvin
Calvin
Assigned an imaginary task of delivering a nonexistent note to a nonexistent teacher.
Jenny
Jenny
A student who arrives at school late to find unexpected situations.
144
Novel • Fiction
Wayside School • 1980s
1978
Middle grade
8-12 years
530L
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.