Jack Strong has had it. There is Cello, Chinese, Baseball, Karate, there are "volunteer" activities, tutors and more. His schedule (listed neatly at the front of the book) is so packed that he literally doesn't have time to play a single computer game, much less hang out on the couch with his beloved grandmother. So, he takes a stand. By sitting down. What could be a preachy, pedantic novel with a "POINT" is very accessible and warm. Mr. Greenwald takes a modern issue many readers will readily identify with and embeds it with good characterizations and lots of humor. Jack feels real. His honest surprise at how his impulsive 7th grade behavior manifests into something he doesn't predict is genuine and keeps the novel from being a "lesson tome." Family members and school friends have layers which create some unexpected twists. The story as a whole is short and enjoyable. As a minor quibble, the drama at the end seems to be a bit much, but willing suspension of disbelief should suffice in letting any doubts go. Greenwald again gets kudos for making the resolution more about complexities than a simple wrap-up. The cartoonish drawings didn't add much to the narrative as far as I was concerned but will make the book more appealing to hesitant readers. Overall a great little read which I wish I could recommend to a parent or two.
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