Zen and the Art of Faking It by Jordan Sonnenblick
Audience: Middle school
Rating: A-
Synopsis:
“Do real Zen masters blush? Because fake ones do” (pg 125). When San moves to a new town, he may have accidentally led his new class to believe that he was a Zen enthusiast. Once this knowledge spreads, he’s not sure how to tell the truth, especially since his Zen-self has caught the eye of a girl and made him more popular than he could’ve imagine. This book is a hilarious, fast read and I enjoyed every page.
Chatter:
(Spoiler Alerts! ) This was the funniest book I’ve read in a long time. Not too many books make me laugh out loud, but this book did, repeatedly. I thought the characters were realistic and likable and the plot was interesting and engaging.
I thought that the way San’s dad was caught was awful. I can’t imagine how much guilt (or relief?) San feels when his black eye ends up uncovering his father’s history of scams and deceptions. He’s remarkably calm despite what he’s been through. I imagine I’d be a lot angrier if I found out that my father had been lying to me for my whole life, and then if I lost everything I owned on top of that, I’d be a bit more disgruntled than San is. Maybe he is a Zen-master after all.
Speaking of which, what’s to say he’s not? Okay, so he’s not Buddhist, and he wasn’t raised within the Chinese culture, but he does find relief from meditation, and he applies the Tao philosophy in his life. Doesn’t that make him a Zen-master? Or at least a Zen-novice?
Woody reminded me a bit of the character Stargirl in the book Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli because of the way she changes her name to show that she’s changed. Also, because Woody plays the guitar in the cafeteria, goes out of her way to avoid thinking, and goes out of her way to do nice things for others.
Peter was an interesting character too. He’s protective of Woody from the first moment San flips his chair. How does he know that San will be a threat? But he also gives San plenty of opportunities to come clean. As much as I wanted to be annoyed at him, once I knew his motivation, I had to admit he’s a pretty great brother and his actions are understandable.
Questions:
What name should Woody go by now?
Should San forgive his father? What could he say during their first phone conversation?
What was the funniest part of the book?
Keep reading!
-Paige
Buy Zen and the Art of Faking It from Amazon
BTA Says:
What was the funniest part of the book?
I think the funniest part of the book was when San was in the gym with Woody shooting free throws. His pants were really big and his underwear was flapping I thought was histerical.
Should San forgive his father? What could he say on his first phone conversation?
I think he should because he hasn’t talked to him in awhile and I think he has had enoguh time apart from his father. On their first phone conversation, I think they should take about San’s basketball game and how school i and how San’s dad is doing in jail.
XX[=PURPLEPOWERANGER=]XX Says:
This was a great book it was very fuuny
Slim Jim Says:
I thought that the book was so funny. I enjoyed every minute that I read of it. It is almost impossible to pick a favorite part, but if I had to it would be when San and Woody were practicing Zen basketball for their project. That was when San’s gym shorts were down to his knees and he had his huge shirt that looked like a dress. I loved when San said ‘”Yo look I’m a buda gangster”. I think that Jordan Sonnenblick should come out with a another book with San in it. As a matter of fact my class sent him a email on his website to write a new book. Everyone who loved this book should send him an email to come out with a sequel, and then maybe he might.
Crash Says:
I thought this book was great. The author used so much stlye. One of my favorite parts in the book was when san said he was a Budda gangster when him and woody/emily were practicing zen hoops. Also when he was thinking about his gym shorts hanging so low that he thought woody could see his LA Kings boxers. Then at the end of the gym class woody said well i guess your an LA Kings fan. I thought that was funny maybe the best part. I hope he makes a sequel with san in high school and if he does there will probably be san and woodies gushey relationship.
Schooled by Gordan Korman | Turning the Paige Says:
[...] Alerts! ) Great suggestion, Mrs. Schmidt’s class. This funny book reminds me a lot of Zen and the Art of Faking it too! They are both really funny and deal with kids trying to fit in at a new school. My favorite [...]
Bri Bri Says:
I loved this book a lot! I loved how it showed San that you should always be yourself, even if the person you like, doesn’t like your real self! Also, never lie, because it always come back to get you! (As it did for San at the bread house when he was cleaning the dishes.) Even though San wanted to be somebody, he should have been himself. That way, Woody would like him, and he wouldn’t have to lie and pretend to be someone he’s not~=]