Friday, March 10, 2017

Who Will Break the Silence?

After learning about Gandhi, Dave Packer decides to keep quiet. He doesn’t tell anyone, he just does it. The fifth graders at Laketon Elementary are so loud that they don’t even notice. But, when Dave overhears Lynsey jabbering away during lunch, his resolve breaks. After some insults are thrown back and forth, a contest is set up to see who can go longer without talking- the boys or the girls? Dave and Lynsey are the team captains, and it’s decided that three words can be spoken when a teacher asks any fifth grader a question. But that’s it. Who will be the first to talk? How will their teachers react to the silence and short answers? Is there a way to make sure no one cheats? Think you can figure out how the contest will end? You will be turning the pages to see if you are right!


No Talking by Andrew Clements  moves quickly. I could easily picture the boys and girls trying not to talk. It made me wonder how long I could last! I know it would be harder than it seems. Who knows, maybe one of my teachers will propose this idea. It could be really fun!  I thought the characters seemed realistic, which made it easy for me to relate to them. This is a book that can be enjoyed by boys and girls from third grade and up who like realistic fiction. I have read many stories by this author and I like the way he creates his characters and finds a unique story to tell about everyday life. 


Has anyone else read No Talking?  Or have you read another book by Andrew Clements? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading-

~L 

58 comments:

  1. that would be a bliss for teachers

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    1. Dezmond- I think it would be an awesome thing for them to try. :) ~L

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  2. I think I would last a minute with no talking. Sounds like a cute book.

    Betty

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    1. Betty- I don't think I would make it long either! :) ~L

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  3. Sounds good! We used to have silent days at school when we were forbidden to talk except in lessons when a teacher asked a question - there was always a lot of whispering in the rest rooms! Hugs, Valerie

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    1. Valerie- I have never heard of silent days at school. Must have been hard, but a fun change too. :) ~L

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  4. My kids wouldn't last 30 seconds with no talking!

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    1. Sherry- You should try it! It would be hilarious. :) ~L

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  5. My two kids can't go more than a minute. I would love to see a whole class try and do it. Funny.

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    1. Heidi- I think it would be so much fun to watch! :) ~L

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  6. Sure sounds like a good one. Would be funny to watch done in real life.

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    1. Pat- I laughed thinking about it! It would be great to see! :) ~L

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  7. This sounds so cute! I don't believe either of us could go very long without talking, especially if you left the two of us in a room together. Lol. Great review! :)

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    1. A Belle's Tales- This would be such a challenge! I don't think I would make it for a long time, especially if Fairday was around. Fun to read about! :) ~L

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  8. It sounds wonderful - for us to read, and for the teachers.

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    1. EC- Glad you enjoyed it. Seems like a teacher's dream! :) ~L

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  9. Haven't read this yet, but it sounds like an awesome story.

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  10. Haha... I would not do well with this, I talk way too much... kudos to people who can do this xox

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    1. Launna- I like to talk too! I give anyone who can make it for a few hours a round of applause. :) ~L

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  11. This sounds like such a fun read! I have to say, this is some interesting reaction to Ghandi :D But I like the idea of the competition, and I wonder who wins out in the end...

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    1. Olivia- Savannah- I think the competition idea is a lot of fun. Not talking is definitely harder than we think. I wonder how many kids will look up Gandhi after reading this one. :) ~L

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  12. Three word responses--at least it will teach them how to be concise! Sounds like a ton of fun.

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    1. Jenny- Three words definitely makes them have to be concise and showcases the power of words and gestures. :) ~L

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  13. Three word responses--at least it will teach them how to be concise! The book sounds great!

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  14. This is so cute! I've tried the I'm-mad-and-I'm-not-talking-anymore thing, but I always cave. I'm too much of a blabbermouth to keep quiet!

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    1. Lexa- I cave too! Hard to keep my quiet. :) ~L

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  15. What a fun story. I can picture the kids now. I bet they giggled some. I taught fifth grade for ten years. They would love this novel.

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    1. Beverly- I think this book is right up the fifth grade alley. :) Tons of fun and great to imagine. I think it would be interesting to see the results from different 5th grades trying and to see what causes the competition to end. You must have been an awesome 5th grade teacher. :) ~L

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    1. The Armchair Squid- It would be funny to watch! :) ~L

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  17. Cute! What a challenge, too. I'd lose if talking to your pets counted. I'm always having little words with them over things. lol

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    1. Anna- Definitely hard not to talk to pets! Probably harder than humans! A fun book for sure. :) ~L

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  18. I could never manage this! And I don't think my students could have, either, back when I was still teaching. But they would have had a wonderful time trying!

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    1. Lark- I think students would have a hard time, but they would have such a blast trying. :) ~L

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  19. Sounds interesting concept.

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  20. Interesting! I'm glad this was a nice read. I'm pretty sure I've read a couple books by the author when I was younger, but not this one!

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    1. Shooting Stars Mag- Andrew Clements has a lot of books. I have read most of them- but there are still some I haven't gotten to yet. This was definitely a fun one. :) ~L

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  21. This book sounds great! I love the idea!!

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    1. Magic Love Crow- I love the idea too! :) ~L

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  22. Not only would this be a challenge in real life, but a challenge to write. I love writing dialogue. Only three words? That would be tough.

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    1. Tamara- You are right! I hadn't thought about the challenge of writing it, only trying not to talk. Wonder if he had a test audience he could watch and see how they reacted to help him write. :) ~L

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  23. I remember reading this book to my girls when they were young. Fun!

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    1. Beth- Yeah! Love to hear that you have read this one and enjoyed it. :) ~L

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  24. I can't imagine how this one will end. It sounds like fun. Thanks for the post. I'll check it out.

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    1. Rosi- It is fun trying to figure out how the competition will end. Glad to introduce you to it. :) ~L

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  25. I haven't heard about No Talking. Sounds like a premise my fifth graders would appreciate. I've enjoyed some of Andrew's books.

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    1. Theresa- This is definitely a book 5th graders will enjoy. After all- they are the stars. :) ~L

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  26. I have a friend who can do that - go a whole day in school without talking. I couldn't. I'd want to, but I might last five minutes. Sounds like a great book! :)

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    1. Erik- I am impressed with your friend! I am like you! :) ~L

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  27. I've read Frindle and About Average--both good reads. This one sounds good, too!

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    1. Marcia- I read and loved Frindle. I haven't read About Average, but I will have to check it out. Thanks for sharing. :) ~L

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  28. I was just looking to see if I could find an Andrew Clements book the other day at the library. No Talking, is one I've been meaning to read for a while. I like the idea of it but if I were the parent of one of these children I'd be worried something was wrong unless they are just not talking at school. Kids should read this book and try it. They are so loud...

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    1. Adriana- It is definitely a hard challenge and the kids make very clear rules about it. I have read a few books by Andrew Clements (Frindle, A Week in the Woods, The Report Card, The School Story, Troublemaker, and The Last Holiday Concert) and I've enjoyed them all. Hope you find a good one the next time you are at the library. :)
      ~L

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