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Space Station Seventh Grade #1
Space Station Seventh Grade
Now a seventh grader, Jason finds out the hard way just how different things are where ninth graders are the kings.
235 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
38 people are currently reading
416 people want to read
About the author
Jerry Spinelli
113 books4,020 followersWhen Jerry Spinelli was a kid, he wanted to grow up to be either a cowboy or a baseball player. Lucky for us he became a writer instead.
He grew up in rural Pennsylvania and went to college at Gettysburg College and Johns Hopkins University. He has published more than 25 books and has six children and 16 grandchildren.
Jerry Spinelli began writing when he was 16 — not much older than the hero of his book Maniac Magee. After his high school football team won a big game, his classmates ran cheering through the streets — all except Spinelli, who went home and wrote a poem about the victory. When his poem was published in the local paper, Spinelli decided to become a writer instead of a major-league shortstop.
In most of his books, Spinelli writes about events and feelings from his own childhood. He also gets a lot of material from his seven adventurous kids! Spinelli and his wife, Eileen, also a children's book author, live in Pennsylvania.
He grew up in rural Pennsylvania and went to college at Gettysburg College and Johns Hopkins University. He has published more than 25 books and has six children and 16 grandchildren.
Jerry Spinelli began writing when he was 16 — not much older than the hero of his book Maniac Magee. After his high school football team won a big game, his classmates ran cheering through the streets — all except Spinelli, who went home and wrote a poem about the victory. When his poem was published in the local paper, Spinelli decided to become a writer instead of a major-league shortstop.
In most of his books, Spinelli writes about events and feelings from his own childhood. He also gets a lot of material from his seven adventurous kids! Spinelli and his wife, Eileen, also a children's book author, live in Pennsylvania.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
August 8, 2025
Jerry Spinelli must have made quite a splash back in 1982 with his debut novel, Space Station Seventh Grade. I can imagine that he really opened eyes with his almost unprecedented use of realistic dialogue; there are scores of "Yeah? Yeah" and "Uh-huh? Uh-huh" moments in the dialogue that goes back and forth between his junior high characters, which is pretty much true to life. Speaking in full, carefully thought out sentences might be an excellent tool when it comes to communicating, but Jerry Spinelli understands that most people tend not to speak like that. As a result, the conversations that go on between the characters in this book may seem a little bit awkward at times, but it's a good kind of awkwardness.
Even "way back when", Jerry Spinelli was one of the most instinctively smooth writers I've ever read. His descriptions of the stars and moon at night are captivating, and no one else can so mesmerizingly paint the details of a first encounter with love. Jerry Spinelli writes what it feels to be in that situation, to experience all of the subtle, minute feelings that crop up when we come near someone we really like. There's just nothing like it in the world, and Jerry Spinelli is the best I've ever known at successfully transferring those sweet and unsure feelings onto the page.
Jason is a typical new seventh grade student, in almost all respects. He's no saint, and he deals with the same sorts of troubles that most students face as they reach the onset of junior high. He even has a "broken" family, complete with a stepfather and younger stepbrother, all of which cause him trouble at various intervals of the story. I think that most readers will zero in on the specific problems that best apply to them personally, but where we will all find ourselves drawn into the plot is when Jason falls hard for a popular cheerleader named Debbie. Jason isn't exactly in her social class, but he isn't going to let that stop him from trying to get her to notice him, and maybe even to like him in return eventually, if he's lucky. Who among us wouldn't go to the same lengths when struck by the nascent feelings of love? It's very, very easy to identify with Jason as he continues along in his seventh grade school year.
Many surprises and perhaps a bombshell or two later, we see Jason come out on the other end of this story. He may not have learned all of the important lessons that offered themselves to him (actually, he learned very few of them), but he's on his way to somewhere that he eventually wants to be. Where that is, exactly, it's impossible to say, but I believe that he is on the right track. That's good enough for now, I think.
I guess I wouldn't trade the chance to read a book by Jerry Spinelli for that of any other author in the world. I'm glad to have read Space Station Seventh Grade, and I hope that it continues to affect readers for years to come. Don't let go of the rare gift of a sweet story. I would give two and a half stars to Space Station Seventh Grade.
Even "way back when", Jerry Spinelli was one of the most instinctively smooth writers I've ever read. His descriptions of the stars and moon at night are captivating, and no one else can so mesmerizingly paint the details of a first encounter with love. Jerry Spinelli writes what it feels to be in that situation, to experience all of the subtle, minute feelings that crop up when we come near someone we really like. There's just nothing like it in the world, and Jerry Spinelli is the best I've ever known at successfully transferring those sweet and unsure feelings onto the page.
Jason is a typical new seventh grade student, in almost all respects. He's no saint, and he deals with the same sorts of troubles that most students face as they reach the onset of junior high. He even has a "broken" family, complete with a stepfather and younger stepbrother, all of which cause him trouble at various intervals of the story. I think that most readers will zero in on the specific problems that best apply to them personally, but where we will all find ourselves drawn into the plot is when Jason falls hard for a popular cheerleader named Debbie. Jason isn't exactly in her social class, but he isn't going to let that stop him from trying to get her to notice him, and maybe even to like him in return eventually, if he's lucky. Who among us wouldn't go to the same lengths when struck by the nascent feelings of love? It's very, very easy to identify with Jason as he continues along in his seventh grade school year.
Many surprises and perhaps a bombshell or two later, we see Jason come out on the other end of this story. He may not have learned all of the important lessons that offered themselves to him (actually, he learned very few of them), but he's on his way to somewhere that he eventually wants to be. Where that is, exactly, it's impossible to say, but I believe that he is on the right track. That's good enough for now, I think.
I guess I wouldn't trade the chance to read a book by Jerry Spinelli for that of any other author in the world. I'm glad to have read Space Station Seventh Grade, and I hope that it continues to affect readers for years to come. Don't let go of the rare gift of a sweet story. I would give two and a half stars to Space Station Seventh Grade.
June 16, 2009
I like this book so much I can hardly stand it. I'm not even exaggerating that much. This was one of my very very favorites growing up, and I totally remember why. How cliche is the whole "I laughed. I cried!" review? Well.....it made me laugh. Out loud. I laughed when I first read it (at probably age 11) and I laughed reading it as a 32 year old. I cried, hard. I cried reading it at age 11, and I cried reading it at age 32. The book is heavy on theme and character. Not so heavy on plot.
Told from the POV of 12 (soon to be 13) year old Jason Herkimer, Space Station Seventh Grade is a story about becoming a teenager and being completely out of control of your body and your thoughts. It's about becoming a different person for those few years. It's about raging hormones. It's about young unrequited love. It's about the bonds of friendship.
Jason is just beginning Junior High. He's a short runty kid, who's a whiz at Little League shortstop. His best friend is a kid named Richie. Other friends include Calvin (who wants nothing more than to be a doctor), Peter (who is Korean and has a really annoying younger brother Kippy who will never leave them alone), and Dugan (who goes to Catholic school and just seems to show up out of the blue whenever more than two of the other guys get together).
Jason starts to recognize right away that the ninth graders in Junior High seem much more...grownup than the seventh graders. Jason and Richie estimate that only about 25 of their seventh grade classmates even have pubes yet (Jason doesn't!). There is a whole chapter devoted to pubes, by the way. Which is just.....brilliant. Jason falls hard for Debbie Breen, a seventh grade cheerleader. She's nice enough, but clearly doesn't return the strong feelings. Which I like, because how many books have the cheerleaders being total bitches? So extra points to Spinelli for making a nice, normal friendly cheerleader.
Jason also starts to get in to trouble. He can't seem to control himself. But the class clown, Ralphie Smitht (yes, with the extra T) suddenly seems so hilarious and Jason becomes his partner in laughter. One day during a talent show, a tall lanky seventh grade girl gets up on stage and starts tooting on her trombone. People are already laughing, but Jason makes the loudest moosecall (I've never been exactly sure what a moosecall is) and gets suspended. He has to apologize to the girl, Marceline McAllister.
Marceline makes a few other appearances in the book. She is paired up with Calvin in Home Ec Class. And she and Jason compete against each other on the track team as the lowly seventh grade milers. (Marceline wins every race until the final meet of the year).
Now up until a certain point, the book was meandering and funny. Then the end throws you for a loop, and the last few chapters are some of the most well-written YA tragicomedy I have ever read. **MAJOR SPOILER AHEAD**
Jason invites Peter and Richie over for a campout in their backyard. Peter, naturally has to bring along four year old Kippy. Jason's stepbrother is the same age and the boys are really annoying. Jason and his friends play a prank on the two little ones, scaring Kippy so bad that he has to go home. Jason spends the remainder of the chapter complaining about little brothers. The next day, Kippy Kim is killed in a car accident. After the funeral, Jason becomes afraid of the dark. He can't sleep. He is basically scared of the world and suddenly frightened of his lack of knowledge of things.
He starts riding his bike. A lot. One day he decides to head out for a long bike ride to the country. Who does he come across, but Marceline McAllister. And a funny thing happens. Jason and Marceline get along. They push each other's buttons, but Jason has this completely open and honest moment with Marceline when she accuses him of torturing animals just like other boys his age (Jason had thrown a bottle at a raccoon days earlier). "I ain't no raccoon killer! I love raccoons! I felt rotten ever since I threw the bottle at that one! I gave my Valentine's candy to Esther Kufel! I teach little kids stuff! I can't sleep ever since Peter Kim's litte brother got killed. I'm a good kid! You hear? My stepfather says so! I'M A GOOD KID!" They make up, settle in and enjoy the rest of their bike ride (though Marceline does hit a cow). And off they ride, Jason and Marceline. Together.
**END OF SPOILERS**
What's not to love about this book? I know I've said it before, but truly I can not stress enough,: Jerry Spinelli can fucking write. Some examples:
"Summer has a funnel shape. It seems real wide at first, and deep. Like it will last forever. You just float on top of it. But all the time it's getting smaller and smaller. And before you know it the summer days are getting sucked down faster and faster. You're helpless. You can't stop it."
and after Jason has trouble falling asleep:
"One night it rained. Then stopped. I listened at the window. The whole night was crackling and popping, like everything was ready to come to a boil. No wonder. Baseball....Kippy Kim in a coffin.....sunshine.....dead crows....Debbie Breen.....grinning old hags..... bugs.... bicycles.... bellybutton lint-God! How can such different kinds of stuff all fit in the same world? Much less the same thirteen-year-old head?"
Other things I totally love about this book (other than the excellent writing):
* Spinelli uses foul language. I hate YA books where the characters will say "Aw shucks," instead of "oh shit." I said shit when I was 12/13 and I know the boys did to. The best example? At the Valentine's dance, Debbie Breen doesn't dance with Jason. He stalks off and here's what he says, "Shit. Shit. Horse shit. Dog shit. Monkey shit. Pig shit. Shit shit." That's a whole lotta shit!
* Did I mention there's a whole chapter on pubes? Yeah, that's funny.
* The funniest line of the book though is when Jason and Richie join the football team. They have to go to the doctor, who does the "turn your head and cough," routine. (I honestly don't really know what the doctor is looking for by grabbing fellas in the nuts and having them cough....but I've never needed to know.) Richie and Jason wonder if the doctor does something similar to girls. And Richies response? "Maybe he grabs their tits and tells them to fart."
* Another hilarious part is that Jason's father wants to become a Jew. Not because he really believes in the tenants of Judaism. Oh no. He wants to become a Jew because of the good food. Which is funny enough, but when Dad gets a Jewish girlfriend, Jason starts pretending that they are already Jewish, though his knowledge of all things Jew is laughably miniscule.
* Jason is complaining about the school nose-picker. And he says in a not-quite non-sequiter "While I'm on the subject, I have this theory: Emeralds are petrified dinosaur snots."
* Jason on girls (before he falls in love with Debbie Breen): "girls can hardly ever do anything because they might go bleeding." "Mothers are actually just girls who had babies." And he thinks it's just nature that he, as a boy, would be able to beat up ten girls at once. If he wanted to. And he insists that when he's married, he's not going to get undressed in front of some wife.
* Why am I suddenly so terrified of my own son becoming a teenager?
I get warm fuzzy happy feelings just thinking about this book. It's not perfect (Jason can be a naive dick about race) but there is something about it that feels so....honest. Love it, love it, love it. Next review, Jason and Marceline, which takes place their ninth grade year.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2009
I love Jerry Spinelli's books. His skill at putting "Voice" into his novels is awesome. The best thing about "Space Station" is the believable narration of 7th grader, Jason Herkemer (sp?). I loved it! At the same time--word of warning--there is some off-color language and a number of references to male genitalia. Still, I think every middle school teacher should have to read this book and get in the head of our crazy 7th graders. Highly entertaining.
April 21, 2018
Space Station Seventh Grade. This book was amazing. When Jerry Spinelli wrote this he had power and determination which showed off really well in his work. This book was really well made with a ton of details showing the characters emotions at its best. I personally love Jerry Spinelli and all of his work. In my reading experiance this was one of Jerry's best.
In the story Jason Herkimer lives with his mom, step dad named Ham, his little brother Timmy, and his "cootyhead" sister Mary. As Jason starts Junior High he starts liking a girl named Debby Breen. If you think it's going to work out well you will have to read the book to find out. During Jason's school time he builds this space ship in his backyard. Jason and his many varieties of friends and family make this novel such a joy to read. Want to find out how Jason does in Junior High? That is what drove me to read this book. All of Jerry's books are great with lots and lots of scary, questionable, and wonderful twists and turns.
If you need a book. Well, consider it done. Space Station Seventh Grade is perfect for kids who love humor. This book is good for grades 4th-7th, Well that's just my opinion. Read Space Station Seventh Grade. it's a Blast. I know you will enjoy it.
In the story Jason Herkimer lives with his mom, step dad named Ham, his little brother Timmy, and his "cootyhead" sister Mary. As Jason starts Junior High he starts liking a girl named Debby Breen. If you think it's going to work out well you will have to read the book to find out. During Jason's school time he builds this space ship in his backyard. Jason and his many varieties of friends and family make this novel such a joy to read. Want to find out how Jason does in Junior High? That is what drove me to read this book. All of Jerry's books are great with lots and lots of scary, questionable, and wonderful twists and turns.
If you need a book. Well, consider it done. Space Station Seventh Grade is perfect for kids who love humor. This book is good for grades 4th-7th, Well that's just my opinion. Read Space Station Seventh Grade. it's a Blast. I know you will enjoy it.
March 9, 2020
Jason is a believable 13 year old good kid. With all the angst that being a teenager brings he is remarkably down to earth ok with his parents divorce and new partners , doing ok with middle school and learning about girls!
Many great topics here , lots to think about and deal with.
Many great topics here , lots to think about and deal with.
February 17, 2014
Well, the first book by Jerry Spinelli I read was Stargirl, and I totally loved it. The FAQ section of Spinelli's website says his favorite book he wrote was "Space Station Seventh Grade," so when I saw it at a library sale I had to pick it up.
The book's tone was a bit of a shock at first, and I had to check the year it was published. 1982. And the language and the action fits that time (No video games, anywhere, in the entire book, which I have to say, I liked a lot.) Jason has a coarse, slightly dull way of speaking, unlike the middle grade/early YA that I've read recently. At the same time, Spinelli is great at conveying Jason's feelings without overexplaining. After a few pages, Jason's I'm-a-good-kid-I-just-screw-up-sometimes attitude and the uncontrollable hormones grew on me, and I laughed at and liked his adventures.
The one thing that stood out was the racial undertone. I was a toddler in 1982, so I don't have much of a frame of reference. Maybe Jason's attitude was typical of the time, or maybe Spinelli was trying to make a point. But Jason's mocking of his Korean-American friend Peter made me uncomfortable. Peter stood up for himself, which I liked, and the two ended up becoming closer. But Jason didn't outwardly change, and then the penultimate incident [spoiler] left their relationship rather unsatisfactorily unresolved. Also felt that incident was not really explained or resolved. It almost seemed unnecessary, an obligatory, random dramatic happening to change the tone of the book and make Jason feel remorse. Only, he didn't, really--there was more emotion earlier in the story, related to a different matter. Maybe Spinelli is trying to say that some emotions can be processed by some people/ages, and some can't? (shrug) At any rate, the resolution of that scene was disappointing.
Overall I'd give 3.5 stars, and I'm interested in the sequel, Jason & Marceline (who I also liked a lot. :) But I think I am more interested in what happens with Jason and Peter than what happens with Jason and Marcelline!
The book's tone was a bit of a shock at first, and I had to check the year it was published. 1982. And the language and the action fits that time (No video games, anywhere, in the entire book, which I have to say, I liked a lot.) Jason has a coarse, slightly dull way of speaking, unlike the middle grade/early YA that I've read recently. At the same time, Spinelli is great at conveying Jason's feelings without overexplaining. After a few pages, Jason's I'm-a-good-kid-I-just-screw-up-sometimes attitude and the uncontrollable hormones grew on me, and I laughed at and liked his adventures.
The one thing that stood out was the racial undertone. I was a toddler in 1982, so I don't have much of a frame of reference. Maybe Jason's attitude was typical of the time, or maybe Spinelli was trying to make a point. But Jason's mocking of his Korean-American friend Peter made me uncomfortable. Peter stood up for himself, which I liked, and the two ended up becoming closer. But Jason didn't outwardly change, and then the penultimate incident [spoiler] left their relationship rather unsatisfactorily unresolved. Also felt that incident was not really explained or resolved. It almost seemed unnecessary, an obligatory, random dramatic happening to change the tone of the book and make Jason feel remorse. Only, he didn't, really--there was more emotion earlier in the story, related to a different matter. Maybe Spinelli is trying to say that some emotions can be processed by some people/ages, and some can't? (shrug) At any rate, the resolution of that scene was disappointing.
Overall I'd give 3.5 stars, and I'm interested in the sequel, Jason & Marceline (who I also liked a lot. :) But I think I am more interested in what happens with Jason and Peter than what happens with Jason and Marcelline!
April 24, 2009
This is Diary of a Wimpy Kid in prose rather than comics, and a more vulgar version. While Jason Herkimer & Greg Heffley of "Wimpy Kid" have similar self-absorbed attitudes and behaviors, Jason has an inkling of a conscience and is subtly maturing, while Greg Heffley stays true to his obnoxious self. The subject matter is always light in Wimpy Kid, while this novel does gently poke into some serious subject matter. Two scenes made me laugh, one with gut-busting laughter (the home-economics teacher)and one a chuckle.
The speaker is crude; there are quite a few profanities (real ones) in this book, which I appreciated because it made it realistic, but Spinelli, in doing so, perhaps dated the book so as to turn off future teenage audiences. I'm worried about the protagonist's reference to "grown ups", his "cootyhead sister", and his insults which range from "hemorrhoid head," to "pissant" because one thing you can count on with middle-schoolers is that they are very particular about their expressions. I'm not sure my kids ever refer to adults as "grownups" and they are definitely too old for "cootyhead." I'm afraid that little things like this will turn my kids off early into the novel, prompting them to turn their nose up to Jason as a dork, but I'm not sure....
I'll let you know after I have a kid actually read it. It's a bit long (which is a sad thing to say, I know) and therefore will intimidate the type of immature students who would be the ideal audience. I've purchased a copy 3 times and 3 times it's disappeared, which could be a good sign or perhaps just a result of a student borrowing it, reading 1 word, and leaving it in the cafeteria or his locker for the next year, where it would ultimately end up in the trash.
I predict that my "Marcelines" would never be interested in this boy nonsense.
Overall, I recommend this to 6th & 7th graders only (8th would be too old), and be worried about the parents picking it up and scanning it.
The speaker is crude; there are quite a few profanities (real ones) in this book, which I appreciated because it made it realistic, but Spinelli, in doing so, perhaps dated the book so as to turn off future teenage audiences. I'm worried about the protagonist's reference to "grown ups", his "cootyhead sister", and his insults which range from "hemorrhoid head," to "pissant" because one thing you can count on with middle-schoolers is that they are very particular about their expressions. I'm not sure my kids ever refer to adults as "grownups" and they are definitely too old for "cootyhead." I'm afraid that little things like this will turn my kids off early into the novel, prompting them to turn their nose up to Jason as a dork, but I'm not sure....
I'll let you know after I have a kid actually read it. It's a bit long (which is a sad thing to say, I know) and therefore will intimidate the type of immature students who would be the ideal audience. I've purchased a copy 3 times and 3 times it's disappeared, which could be a good sign or perhaps just a result of a student borrowing it, reading 1 word, and leaving it in the cafeteria or his locker for the next year, where it would ultimately end up in the trash.
I predict that my "Marcelines" would never be interested in this boy nonsense.
Overall, I recommend this to 6th & 7th graders only (8th would be too old), and be worried about the parents picking it up and scanning it.
September 25, 2021
I can’t be bothered wasting my time to write a paragraph about why I didn’t like this. Just one word really: confusing.
Edit:
I take it back—I CAN be bothered wasting my time to write a paragraph. Reading this book was a big culture shock for me (like many books are lmao). This one gave me an insight to how/what goes on in the minds of racist, ignorant over-patriotic Caucasian people that think they’re superior. It really did. Some of the stuff the main character said and did angered me so much I wished he was real just so I could slap some sense into him. But then it also intrigued me because life is so different in Western countries and in this book its like they’re cocooned in an old fantasy of white supremacy still. It genuinely reflected the actions and thoughts of people I know in real life. It was cool getting a peek into that thought process but having to stick with a main character like that for the entire book…yeah, I couldn’t do it. There was also a lot of sexual innuendos that baffled me because this is about a twelve year old (like wtf…maybe this is another cultural thing idk) but it weirded and grossed me out.
Anyway, it’s safe to say that this was yet another horrible book I had the displeasure of reading.
Edit:
I take it back—I CAN be bothered wasting my time to write a paragraph. Reading this book was a big culture shock for me (like many books are lmao). This one gave me an insight to how/what goes on in the minds of racist, ignorant over-patriotic Caucasian people that think they’re superior. It really did. Some of the stuff the main character said and did angered me so much I wished he was real just so I could slap some sense into him. But then it also intrigued me because life is so different in Western countries and in this book its like they’re cocooned in an old fantasy of white supremacy still. It genuinely reflected the actions and thoughts of people I know in real life. It was cool getting a peek into that thought process but having to stick with a main character like that for the entire book…yeah, I couldn’t do it. There was also a lot of sexual innuendos that baffled me because this is about a twelve year old (like wtf…maybe this is another cultural thing idk) but it weirded and grossed me out.
Anyway, it’s safe to say that this was yet another horrible book I had the displeasure of reading.
November 24, 2014
Jerry Spinelli is my favorite author and he has helped me select this book because he wrote it. Something in the book that impressed me was the title. At first some people don't know what it is about just by looking at it but as you read you understand the title and why he chose to call it that and why it is important. The reason why they call it that is because the main character, Jason is starting seventh grade while doing a project he greatly admires. He is making his own space station. But he is totally distracted by his seventh grade problems. In the text it says, "The first week of school is over. I hated it. I'm not going back."(Spinelli 21). This shows how Jason has to get used to his new life of being a seventh grader. I was a seventh grader too and I had to go through the same problems as Jason but I got used to them and had a great year.
March 21, 2008
I just LOVE this book. The topics that the protagonist talks about in the book is probably what most kids his age thought about.
Jerry Spinelli in my opinion did a great job of writing a book from the perspective of an adolescent. Usually when adults write stories about teens and tweens, their really corny, but this book is an exception.
Jerry Spinelli in my opinion did a great job of writing a book from the perspective of an adolescent. Usually when adults write stories about teens and tweens, their really corny, but this book is an exception.
November 23, 2008
What an honest, no bs, funny telling of a year in the life of a 7th grader. Even though this is set some years ago (I assume it's a veiled autobiography), the emotions and angstyness, as well as the straight up fun, rings very true to what my 7th graders are experiencing now. I'm doing this as a read aloud in my class, and my students are enthralled.
October 28, 2008
Being a seventh grader is in turns funny, sad, gross, amazing, and just plain weird. If you’re past that tumultuous age, you can read this book and remember. And appreciate. And laugh, as I did.
May 4, 2023
I advise that you read it as historical fiction. (No video-games, free-range explorations of the town, etc.)
The anti-racism message is insufficiently nuanced for today's audiences. I'm not giving racism a pass; I'm saying that I can understand why today's readers can take offense even though Spinelli was true to his character and time & place.
Less awful is the (anti-)sexism. Again, the reader is supposed to understand/learn that girls are people and that sexism is wrong.
But neither message is spelled out. The author tried to meet his audience of 1982 halfway, not preaching or nagging them with holier-than-thou moral lessons. To communicate with the reader, Spinelli had to speak their language and understand their concerns. This is what (mostly white) teen boys were like back then. I know; I lived there & then and had brothers.
And he reaches his audience very well; he, too, knows what young teen boys are like.
I'm ready to read Jason and Marceline now. And to make sure I've not missed anything else by the author.
Would I recommend this to you? Only if you are an adult who knows something about what life was like in the 80s and you like MG fiction and you appreciate an excellently deft and engaging writer and you can devote thoughtfulness to the read. So, if you don't qualify on all counts, go ahead and skip.
3.5 stars rounded up because *I* enjoyed it a lot.
LFL find.
Edit to add - forgot to mention I love the mom's loving lesson about an alternative to a New Year's Resolution. Her parent called it 'Double Dips.' One reflects on the year past, and makes a two column list of Good and Bad things that happened that year. Given human nature, it's easier to remember a larger number of Bad things. However, are they as weighty, do they have as much Value as the Good things? Probably not. Jason was advised simply to give a point value of One to each Bad thing and Two to each Good thing, and so when he did that it was revealed that he had a Good year. But we adults can be more nuanced, and work harder to remember more Good things, and probably most years can be considered Good years if we do indeed remember to assign appropriate Value to each event.
And one doesn't have to do this on Jan. 1, either. Maybe on last day of school. Or birthday, or anniversary....
The anti-racism message is insufficiently nuanced for today's audiences. I'm not giving racism a pass; I'm saying that I can understand why today's readers can take offense even though Spinelli was true to his character and time & place.
Less awful is the (anti-)sexism. Again, the reader is supposed to understand/learn that girls are people and that sexism is wrong.
But neither message is spelled out. The author tried to meet his audience of 1982 halfway, not preaching or nagging them with holier-than-thou moral lessons. To communicate with the reader, Spinelli had to speak their language and understand their concerns. This is what (mostly white) teen boys were like back then. I know; I lived there & then and had brothers.
And he reaches his audience very well; he, too, knows what young teen boys are like.
I'm ready to read Jason and Marceline now. And to make sure I've not missed anything else by the author.
Would I recommend this to you? Only if you are an adult who knows something about what life was like in the 80s and you like MG fiction and you appreciate an excellently deft and engaging writer and you can devote thoughtfulness to the read. So, if you don't qualify on all counts, go ahead and skip.
3.5 stars rounded up because *I* enjoyed it a lot.
LFL find.
Edit to add - forgot to mention I love the mom's loving lesson about an alternative to a New Year's Resolution. Her parent called it 'Double Dips.' One reflects on the year past, and makes a two column list of Good and Bad things that happened that year. Given human nature, it's easier to remember a larger number of Bad things. However, are they as weighty, do they have as much Value as the Good things? Probably not. Jason was advised simply to give a point value of One to each Bad thing and Two to each Good thing, and so when he did that it was revealed that he had a Good year. But we adults can be more nuanced, and work harder to remember more Good things, and probably most years can be considered Good years if we do indeed remember to assign appropriate Value to each event.
And one doesn't have to do this on Jan. 1, either. Maybe on last day of school. Or birthday, or anniversary....
July 2, 2015
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Jason Herkimer encounters problems, throughout the first three chapters: Food, The End, and School. Jason gets accused by his crazy step father who claims theft of an eaten chicken. In other words, Jason's step father brought out a bag of chicken bones and specifically accused Jason for eating the actual chicken rather than one of Jason's siblings. Moreover, Jason doesn't see a large amount of food in his life. So, when he sees a deaf women with a full trolley with food he volunteers to accompany her to her home thinking he will get somehow get rewarded and observe a rich woman's house. As a matter of fact, the woman had no way to communicate with Jason and he didn't get rewarded nor did he say the cool wonders he expected. This turns out to be that Jason is sadly unlucky towards any action he does.
Jason feels like summer went really fast, so he decides to benefit before school starts. Jason plays baseball with his friends every now and then and keeps track of home runs he completes every year. For instance when Jason says, " Every morning we meet at the field in the park:me, Richie, Calvin Lemaine, Peter Kim, and Dugan" (Spinelli 20). Furthermore, Jason is the expert in paper airplane construction and the seventh grader that younger kids look up to. In other words, there are always kids in a corner at summer and whenever Jason passes by they don't let him get through unless he makes for them paper airplanes and settles their childish arguments. Long story short, Jason is not satisfied with school time approaching.
Jason is fully not satisfied with school after moving to seventh grade. In addition, Jason is greatly scared from the capabilities of the ninth graders. For instance, " I saw a seventh-grader, a puny little kid...a mob of ninth-graders came running-up. They just went right over him. Never turned back.Like he was grass" (Spinelli 22). Likewise, Jason encounters some ninth-graders at the bathroom using inappropriate language. For example, "Watta you lookin' at, faggot-face?" (Spinelli 22) More or less, Jason wishes he could still stay at sixth grade since the hallways are safer and there is only a little chance that he might meet a ninth-grader.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Jerry Spinelli displays a change in the protagonist, as well as thoroughly highlights the primeval conflicts becoming natural teenager instincts. Moreover, Jason indirectly shows that he is indeed making-up his mind, when halloween comes. For instance, “We all decided it would be our last year we got dressed up” (Spinelli 66). In addition, Jason is now a teenager that has to overcome the annoying pimples on his face. In other words, “It had a yellow head…I squeezed it…until there was nothing but…red blood” (Spinelli 87). More or less, Jason Herkimer has to take care of both natural teenage instincts and school.
Jason is indeed on the verge of extremely changing behaviors. Moreover, Jason begins to indirectly satirize other cultures. For instance, “…Korean which is what Peter Kim is…Calvin him being black.Like, why did they ask me what they ought to be ? They already were something…it seemed kind of funny” (Spinelli 66). Likewise, Jason crosses the limits after assaulting Dugan’s halloween costume. For example, when Jason says that Dugan came as himself, except for this mask that he might have found in the garbage. Long story short, the fact that Jason’s behavior is beginning to get serious for it may lead to fantastic effects.
The setting is indeed slightly changing to obviously provide a better understanding of the events and general idea. Moreover, with the help of the slight change in terms of setting from summer vacation to Halloween, the story seemed to be more comprehensible. For instance, the shift between Jason receiving teenage instincts and before was more explicit with the setting because at summer vacation Jason mentioned that his birthday of 13 would be in October and right after Halloween, Jason began to receive pimples. Furthermore, when places are mentioned it’s easier to capture the general idea. For instance, “Hayrides…it was just for the seventh graders, and it was going to be up at this place called Gwendolyn Orchards.” (Spinelli 53). To conclude, the setting of this novel is present when need be which helps readers understand the context more.
Thursday,October 9,2014
The plot, towards the end of the book indeed touches great spontaneous events. Furthermore, on Valentine's day Jason wanted to hand Debbie,his girlfriend, a chocolate box, however he noticed that Debbie was dancing with another boy which resulted in great melancholy. For instance, when Jason planned on giving Debbie the gift and thought about all the romantic effects such as a date, kiss, endless love. Moreover, Jason didn't get selected for the football team because of the ninth graders in it. For example, when Jason went home mad for a few weeks until he decided to go for track which would enhance his speed, however despite the fact that he was often beaten (girls) by the end of the season he was able to approach the fastest runners' record in the team. Long story short, as unexpected events come up, the story becomes more appealing to read.
The characters generally developed and adapted to the events. Furthermore, unfortunately Kippy Kim, the brother of Peter Km, who is in the group of Jason, died hence he died in a car accident. For instance,"I dug deep-about six inches...My god! It's the dinosaur!...Pee-er!Yet's go! I'm cared!..." (Spinelli 207,211). In addition, Jason decides to go as far as the country where he meets Marceline Mc Allister, a misfit girl in his class, who seems to complain a lot. For instance, when Jason got suspended for skipping Marceline's trombone performance and had to apologize. More or less, the characters indeed developed according to the novel's atmosphere.
The atmosphere or mood towards the end of the story is partially happy and sad. Furthermore, Kippy was often depicted as anguish who frequently interfered in Jason's group. Jason couldn't prevent his presence, however at the end of the book he dug a hole representing a dinosaur foot print to scare of Kippy, as Kippy disappeared Mrs.Kim called Mrs. Herkimer saying Kippy died in a car accident. For instance,"The whole night was crackling and popping, like everything was ready to come to boil.No wonder. Baseball...Kippy Kim in a coffin...sunshine...dead crows..." (Spinelli 219). Moreover, throughout the novel Marceline was badly depicted to the readers, however the fact that Jason at the end fell in love with her equalized both a happy and sad ending. For instance, when Jason and Marceline went biking they began to talk about themselves which then shaped a loving relationship to the end of the story. More or less, this story is indeed better with the usage of feelings and a pretty equalized ending in terms of whether it is happy or sad.
Jason Herkimer encounters problems, throughout the first three chapters: Food, The End, and School. Jason gets accused by his crazy step father who claims theft of an eaten chicken. In other words, Jason's step father brought out a bag of chicken bones and specifically accused Jason for eating the actual chicken rather than one of Jason's siblings. Moreover, Jason doesn't see a large amount of food in his life. So, when he sees a deaf women with a full trolley with food he volunteers to accompany her to her home thinking he will get somehow get rewarded and observe a rich woman's house. As a matter of fact, the woman had no way to communicate with Jason and he didn't get rewarded nor did he say the cool wonders he expected. This turns out to be that Jason is sadly unlucky towards any action he does.
Jason feels like summer went really fast, so he decides to benefit before school starts. Jason plays baseball with his friends every now and then and keeps track of home runs he completes every year. For instance when Jason says, " Every morning we meet at the field in the park:me, Richie, Calvin Lemaine, Peter Kim, and Dugan" (Spinelli 20). Furthermore, Jason is the expert in paper airplane construction and the seventh grader that younger kids look up to. In other words, there are always kids in a corner at summer and whenever Jason passes by they don't let him get through unless he makes for them paper airplanes and settles their childish arguments. Long story short, Jason is not satisfied with school time approaching.
Jason is fully not satisfied with school after moving to seventh grade. In addition, Jason is greatly scared from the capabilities of the ninth graders. For instance, " I saw a seventh-grader, a puny little kid...a mob of ninth-graders came running-up. They just went right over him. Never turned back.Like he was grass" (Spinelli 22). Likewise, Jason encounters some ninth-graders at the bathroom using inappropriate language. For example, "Watta you lookin' at, faggot-face?" (Spinelli 22) More or less, Jason wishes he could still stay at sixth grade since the hallways are safer and there is only a little chance that he might meet a ninth-grader.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Jerry Spinelli displays a change in the protagonist, as well as thoroughly highlights the primeval conflicts becoming natural teenager instincts. Moreover, Jason indirectly shows that he is indeed making-up his mind, when halloween comes. For instance, “We all decided it would be our last year we got dressed up” (Spinelli 66). In addition, Jason is now a teenager that has to overcome the annoying pimples on his face. In other words, “It had a yellow head…I squeezed it…until there was nothing but…red blood” (Spinelli 87). More or less, Jason Herkimer has to take care of both natural teenage instincts and school.
Jason is indeed on the verge of extremely changing behaviors. Moreover, Jason begins to indirectly satirize other cultures. For instance, “…Korean which is what Peter Kim is…Calvin him being black.Like, why did they ask me what they ought to be ? They already were something…it seemed kind of funny” (Spinelli 66). Likewise, Jason crosses the limits after assaulting Dugan’s halloween costume. For example, when Jason says that Dugan came as himself, except for this mask that he might have found in the garbage. Long story short, the fact that Jason’s behavior is beginning to get serious for it may lead to fantastic effects.
The setting is indeed slightly changing to obviously provide a better understanding of the events and general idea. Moreover, with the help of the slight change in terms of setting from summer vacation to Halloween, the story seemed to be more comprehensible. For instance, the shift between Jason receiving teenage instincts and before was more explicit with the setting because at summer vacation Jason mentioned that his birthday of 13 would be in October and right after Halloween, Jason began to receive pimples. Furthermore, when places are mentioned it’s easier to capture the general idea. For instance, “Hayrides…it was just for the seventh graders, and it was going to be up at this place called Gwendolyn Orchards.” (Spinelli 53). To conclude, the setting of this novel is present when need be which helps readers understand the context more.
Thursday,October 9,2014
The plot, towards the end of the book indeed touches great spontaneous events. Furthermore, on Valentine's day Jason wanted to hand Debbie,his girlfriend, a chocolate box, however he noticed that Debbie was dancing with another boy which resulted in great melancholy. For instance, when Jason planned on giving Debbie the gift and thought about all the romantic effects such as a date, kiss, endless love. Moreover, Jason didn't get selected for the football team because of the ninth graders in it. For example, when Jason went home mad for a few weeks until he decided to go for track which would enhance his speed, however despite the fact that he was often beaten (girls) by the end of the season he was able to approach the fastest runners' record in the team. Long story short, as unexpected events come up, the story becomes more appealing to read.
The characters generally developed and adapted to the events. Furthermore, unfortunately Kippy Kim, the brother of Peter Km, who is in the group of Jason, died hence he died in a car accident. For instance,"I dug deep-about six inches...My god! It's the dinosaur!...Pee-er!Yet's go! I'm cared!..." (Spinelli 207,211). In addition, Jason decides to go as far as the country where he meets Marceline Mc Allister, a misfit girl in his class, who seems to complain a lot. For instance, when Jason got suspended for skipping Marceline's trombone performance and had to apologize. More or less, the characters indeed developed according to the novel's atmosphere.
The atmosphere or mood towards the end of the story is partially happy and sad. Furthermore, Kippy was often depicted as anguish who frequently interfered in Jason's group. Jason couldn't prevent his presence, however at the end of the book he dug a hole representing a dinosaur foot print to scare of Kippy, as Kippy disappeared Mrs.Kim called Mrs. Herkimer saying Kippy died in a car accident. For instance,"The whole night was crackling and popping, like everything was ready to come to boil.No wonder. Baseball...Kippy Kim in a coffin...sunshine...dead crows..." (Spinelli 219). Moreover, throughout the novel Marceline was badly depicted to the readers, however the fact that Jason at the end fell in love with her equalized both a happy and sad ending. For instance, when Jason and Marceline went biking they began to talk about themselves which then shaped a loving relationship to the end of the story. More or less, this story is indeed better with the usage of feelings and a pretty equalized ending in terms of whether it is happy or sad.
October 3, 2017
The prose of my literary childhood is represented by the likes of J.K. Rowling and K.A. Applegate; Jerry Spinelli epitomizes the poetry. Space Station Seventh Grade is the prototypical Spinelli book, distinguished by a smooth writing style, natural dialogue, and unearthing deep meaning in the mundane trappings of childhood. First person narrator Jason Herkimer offers us a front-row seat to the tunnel vision of the 13 year old male as he matures in fits and starts. Spinelli shows us a "good kid" who nevertheless does stupid and selfish things - in other words, he shows us most kids we know and the kids we were.
June 3, 2019
I really enjoyed the conflict in the story, The whole book was revolved around it because the main character was thinking back on his memory from the past year and all the conflicts made this story a very enjoyable and exiting read. For example in the first few pages of the book a conflict had already arose with the stepfather ham (short for Hamilton) set out to find the one who ate his fried chicken.
December 17, 2019
Jason Herkimer, a seventh grader tells about his life, and all the escapades, events, and growing pains that he experiences during that year in his life. A coming of age story for anyone who is about to encounter that stage of their life, and a recall of memories for anyone who has crossed that junction in their life, and survived. Humorous, heart warming, and filled with realism until the end.
October 3, 2019
This book may have been more enjoyable for boys because it talks about things that guys might know better than girls, but other than that this book was enjoyable and funny.
October 21, 2019
Really bad
October 21, 2019
This book is about a boy from 6th grade going into 7th grade .This book is somehow relatble.
September 3, 2020
"My chickeennn!"
January 28, 2023
Absolutely loved this book when it first came out and I was teaching 7th grade. It’s still a great picture of the mind of a 7th grade boy, but dated.
March 5, 2024
A very true to life description of 7th grade boys, crude, rude and very confussed. Both sad and fun memories.
September 12, 2024
I think this book was awesome! Because you could relate to his problems. It was kind of like I also experienced his with him!
November 14, 2024
The book was kind of boring at the beginning, but towards the middle and end, it became interesting and I loved the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
November 14, 2024it's not that bad but it is also not that good. it's an ok book. i did not really like this.
November 25, 2015
Name: Malek Sibai
Date: 24/11/15
Section: 7-1
Space Station Seventh Grade
This extraordinary book Space Station Seventh Grade, by Jerry Spinelli, is very realistic and suspenseful. In this book the protagonist is Jason Herkimer, a teenager that is very respectful and he goes through of that crazy stuff of growing up that makes him be different. The setting is in the school where Jason is in Seventh Grade and did things where he never did it in his whole life. It all started when Jason was starting school normally ,but then things that he didn’t expected came to him. The conflict of the story is when Jason started to have puberty that made him think that is not normal ,these pimples that makes Jason scratch his cheek and think he has chicken pox, and when he got his first suspension at school because of his misbehavior. When his friends realized that Jason had a problem they started to help him. They started helping Jason by explaining him why do people has pimples that make people ugly in their face or why do people has hair around the body. After Jason getting helped with his friends he had one more problem and this problem is that he loved a girl that he couldn’t conquer his heart. For Jason girls made him dizzy and always tried to find one of girls he liked but he did not find one until the quarter of the book where the whole Seventh Grade are hanging out together and talking to each other. “I almost get dizzy thinking about it, but I could beat up my mother if I really wanted to” (Spinelli 32). During the course of the book Jason tried everything so that he can impress the girl that he loved. The events that Jason tried to conquer her heart is in Halloween, in the Hayrides, and in football games where he lost all of his games. The climax is when Jason is resolving his problems by getting used to all those teenage stuff that is happening to him. Jason solved his problems by just forgetting what is happening to him and continue his life. The resolution is when Jason became a grown up teenager that knows what to do when he has difficulties by himself and became much more independent than dependent to his friends.
Another Title of this book exciting book should be Maturity Time. That title should be perfect because the it talks about when Jason is coming through puberty, pimples, football, and all those crazy stuff. The things that I love about Jason is that he has characteristics that are mostly the same as me. Jason could be the same as me because he always get excited of sports. This similarity of getting excited of sports is really important because American football is the only way where he can just play and forget about all his problems. This fact about Jason is the same as mine because when I play soccer during practice the only thing I think is to play soccer correctly. This person Jason treat others friendly, nicely, and politely. I know it because his friends is always treating him politely, and happy to see him, or happy to help him. For instance, when Richie one of his best friends is helping Jason understanding what is puberty and how you could get it. “Richie’s in a different gym class. We never talked about this before (Spinelli 26). If I could meet Jason the I will have three question to ask him. Well my first question will be “Did you ever went to a situation on your life when you got humiliated? And how did you react from it?”. I will ask this Jason this because I had been through this many times and I just want to know if a normal seventh grader like him will have this situation like I had. My second question will be “Did you ever had a moment where you get this chance where you could say how you feel to other people when you get hurt?” I will ask this question because sometimes I wanted to know if I’m the only one getting hurt and saying how do I feel. And my last question will be if you ever wanted to change school because you did not like your how your school is treating you?” Therefore having a chance to meet Jason will be my great pleasure because I like him to be my friend.
The book Space Station Seventh Grade is an easy book for young learners to relate to. My favorite part of the book was Jason’s learning experience growing up. That was my favorite part of the story because at the same time I learn also how to be a grown up and that's good. One example of coming of age example is when he got puberty and pimples on his body. My least favorite part of the book is when they did not add a bully in it to make more action. I wanted more action because on the middle of the book the story is getting quite boring and I wanted it more action. Yes, I would like to read another novel of Jerry Spinelli’s, because he is my favorite author and he writes funny books such as Maniac Magee, Fourth Grade Rats, and Third Grade Angels. Jerry Spinelli inspired me by his books because all of them are based on realistic but fiction stories. I will recommend the book to people that likes Jerry Spinelli because his book are quiet about young people that are the 8-14.
Date: 24/11/15
Section: 7-1
Space Station Seventh Grade
This extraordinary book Space Station Seventh Grade, by Jerry Spinelli, is very realistic and suspenseful. In this book the protagonist is Jason Herkimer, a teenager that is very respectful and he goes through of that crazy stuff of growing up that makes him be different. The setting is in the school where Jason is in Seventh Grade and did things where he never did it in his whole life. It all started when Jason was starting school normally ,but then things that he didn’t expected came to him. The conflict of the story is when Jason started to have puberty that made him think that is not normal ,these pimples that makes Jason scratch his cheek and think he has chicken pox, and when he got his first suspension at school because of his misbehavior. When his friends realized that Jason had a problem they started to help him. They started helping Jason by explaining him why do people has pimples that make people ugly in their face or why do people has hair around the body. After Jason getting helped with his friends he had one more problem and this problem is that he loved a girl that he couldn’t conquer his heart. For Jason girls made him dizzy and always tried to find one of girls he liked but he did not find one until the quarter of the book where the whole Seventh Grade are hanging out together and talking to each other. “I almost get dizzy thinking about it, but I could beat up my mother if I really wanted to” (Spinelli 32). During the course of the book Jason tried everything so that he can impress the girl that he loved. The events that Jason tried to conquer her heart is in Halloween, in the Hayrides, and in football games where he lost all of his games. The climax is when Jason is resolving his problems by getting used to all those teenage stuff that is happening to him. Jason solved his problems by just forgetting what is happening to him and continue his life. The resolution is when Jason became a grown up teenager that knows what to do when he has difficulties by himself and became much more independent than dependent to his friends.
Another Title of this book exciting book should be Maturity Time. That title should be perfect because the it talks about when Jason is coming through puberty, pimples, football, and all those crazy stuff. The things that I love about Jason is that he has characteristics that are mostly the same as me. Jason could be the same as me because he always get excited of sports. This similarity of getting excited of sports is really important because American football is the only way where he can just play and forget about all his problems. This fact about Jason is the same as mine because when I play soccer during practice the only thing I think is to play soccer correctly. This person Jason treat others friendly, nicely, and politely. I know it because his friends is always treating him politely, and happy to see him, or happy to help him. For instance, when Richie one of his best friends is helping Jason understanding what is puberty and how you could get it. “Richie’s in a different gym class. We never talked about this before (Spinelli 26). If I could meet Jason the I will have three question to ask him. Well my first question will be “Did you ever went to a situation on your life when you got humiliated? And how did you react from it?”. I will ask this Jason this because I had been through this many times and I just want to know if a normal seventh grader like him will have this situation like I had. My second question will be “Did you ever had a moment where you get this chance where you could say how you feel to other people when you get hurt?” I will ask this question because sometimes I wanted to know if I’m the only one getting hurt and saying how do I feel. And my last question will be if you ever wanted to change school because you did not like your how your school is treating you?” Therefore having a chance to meet Jason will be my great pleasure because I like him to be my friend.
The book Space Station Seventh Grade is an easy book for young learners to relate to. My favorite part of the book was Jason’s learning experience growing up. That was my favorite part of the story because at the same time I learn also how to be a grown up and that's good. One example of coming of age example is when he got puberty and pimples on his body. My least favorite part of the book is when they did not add a bully in it to make more action. I wanted more action because on the middle of the book the story is getting quite boring and I wanted it more action. Yes, I would like to read another novel of Jerry Spinelli’s, because he is my favorite author and he writes funny books such as Maniac Magee, Fourth Grade Rats, and Third Grade Angels. Jerry Spinelli inspired me by his books because all of them are based on realistic but fiction stories. I will recommend the book to people that likes Jerry Spinelli because his book are quiet about young people that are the 8-14.
Read
January 21, 2014Have you ever heard of when the ninth graders rule the seventh graders? Well at this school that Jason the main character knows how everything changes different when he goes to seventh grade with a bunch of ninth graders who rule everyone in seventh grade. This book is Realistic Fiction. My opinion on this book would be that this book should be for only a boy because then they can see that their not the only ones being bully by a ninth grader.
One setting of the book would be at school because that's where Jason has to go mostly everyday. He also at home because that's where his space station in the basement is where he keeps stuff from his brother. Some of the major of this story would be when he goes to school because there's a lot more stuff that happens there. Like when he said that he is on his way to adulthood and he left his childhood at grade school he had said that he was a young man but when he went to the boys bathroom a ninth grader came out and said "Watta you lookin' at, faggot-face?" that's another reason why kids our afraid of ninth graders because they pick on everyone. The conflict in this story would be person very person because he has problems at school with ninth graders and at home with his little brother because he messes with his dinosaurs and he is in junior high school that's just funny. Jason is a type of kid who likes girls who has a lot of struggles with all that junior high brings: pimples, puberty, football, school dances, and most of all, girls!
I was surprised when he said that he was a young man because some boys still act like girls and be scared of a lot of things. I liked how the authors was talking about how junior high was because that is all true we all have some problems going on when we hit junior high even our parents did too. Why did the author have to make the ninth graders always have to be the boss of something because I don't think that is fair to us seventh graders. I understand why he had to make it seem like how ninth graders start to act as they get older and older. I couldn't understand why Jason still keeps his dinosaurs and wont give them to his brother. He said he was a man so he has to act like one. The book has a connection to the world because there is some television shows that have the setting at school where ninth graders bully the 8th graders. A similar book would be powerless because its a place with a bunch of kids who have super powers but instead of problems they have problems figuring out their powers. I have problems in my family but I try not to think about it much because some of it is really heartbreaking because my great grandma is in the hospital and I'm afraid that she might die.
My thoughts on this book would have to be that you should always talk to an adult or teacher at school so they can help you out with anything you have troubles at home or at school mostly. I rate this book a 8 because there's some parts in the story that I didn't find interesting and I think they can but a little more details in the book. I would recommend this book to seventh graders because then you see how junior high is an see why most kids have problems a lot with it. If you ever feel like well I need something to help understand why your little sister or brother likes to touch your stuff and having troubles at school than you need to read space station seventh grade.
One setting of the book would be at school because that's where Jason has to go mostly everyday. He also at home because that's where his space station in the basement is where he keeps stuff from his brother. Some of the major of this story would be when he goes to school because there's a lot more stuff that happens there. Like when he said that he is on his way to adulthood and he left his childhood at grade school he had said that he was a young man but when he went to the boys bathroom a ninth grader came out and said "Watta you lookin' at, faggot-face?" that's another reason why kids our afraid of ninth graders because they pick on everyone. The conflict in this story would be person very person because he has problems at school with ninth graders and at home with his little brother because he messes with his dinosaurs and he is in junior high school that's just funny. Jason is a type of kid who likes girls who has a lot of struggles with all that junior high brings: pimples, puberty, football, school dances, and most of all, girls!
I was surprised when he said that he was a young man because some boys still act like girls and be scared of a lot of things. I liked how the authors was talking about how junior high was because that is all true we all have some problems going on when we hit junior high even our parents did too. Why did the author have to make the ninth graders always have to be the boss of something because I don't think that is fair to us seventh graders. I understand why he had to make it seem like how ninth graders start to act as they get older and older. I couldn't understand why Jason still keeps his dinosaurs and wont give them to his brother. He said he was a man so he has to act like one. The book has a connection to the world because there is some television shows that have the setting at school where ninth graders bully the 8th graders. A similar book would be powerless because its a place with a bunch of kids who have super powers but instead of problems they have problems figuring out their powers. I have problems in my family but I try not to think about it much because some of it is really heartbreaking because my great grandma is in the hospital and I'm afraid that she might die.
My thoughts on this book would have to be that you should always talk to an adult or teacher at school so they can help you out with anything you have troubles at home or at school mostly. I rate this book a 8 because there's some parts in the story that I didn't find interesting and I think they can but a little more details in the book. I would recommend this book to seventh graders because then you see how junior high is an see why most kids have problems a lot with it. If you ever feel like well I need something to help understand why your little sister or brother likes to touch your stuff and having troubles at school than you need to read space station seventh grade.
February 22, 2017
This book is supposedly the author's favorite of his books. I wish I'd discovered when I was teaching 7th grade. I was a little put off by a few expletives placed throughout. Distracting. I've not noticed them in his other books.
November 23, 2015
Jason Herkimer is in seventh grade (surprise), and his best friend is Richie. Other friends are Calvin, Peter (who has a little brother, Kippy), and Dugun. Basically picture yourself a seventh grade boy. That is this book. They talk about pubes, girls, and other things that are very important to thirteen year old boys. Jason falls for a cheerleader, Debbie, who is actually pretty nice, but of course doesn't like him back. So, this book is kind of a prequel to the book Jason and Marceline, so we see a few appearances of her, mostly Jason having to apologize to her for moosecalling during her trombone performance, and her beating all the boys in races. That's how the book starts, just dumb middle school boys, basically. Then we have a crazy plot twist, and yeah. I can't put spoilers, so I won't say, but it's crazy, and sad. That is how the story's plot takes a different level and becomes a little deeper.
I actually didn't care for this book, but I would say it probably is very appealing to a group of thirteen year old boys. It seems just gross and dumb jokes. Once again, thirteen year old boys totally eat that, I just like a little bit more sophisticated humor (I realize I chose a seventh grade book, and sophistication is not a thing. I get it). I think this is a great book, well written and appealing, it's just not my cup of tea.
*if you're afraid of cussing and crude humor, etc. don't read this book.
I actually didn't care for this book, but I would say it probably is very appealing to a group of thirteen year old boys. It seems just gross and dumb jokes. Once again, thirteen year old boys totally eat that, I just like a little bit more sophisticated humor (I realize I chose a seventh grade book, and sophistication is not a thing. I get it). I think this is a great book, well written and appealing, it's just not my cup of tea.
*if you're afraid of cussing and crude humor, etc. don't read this book.
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