Sharon Grover (Children's Literature)
Scott Hudson’s freshman year of high school is not off to an auspicious start. He is picked on by upper-class bullies, he and his friends seem to be drifting apart, he is obsessed with an unobtainable girl, he has joined so many activities to impress this girl that he is getting no sleep, and--to top it all off--his mother is pregnant! Scott chooses to deal with these problems by writing suggestions on how to get through freshman year for his unborn sibling. (After all, boys do not keep diaries.) Lubar frames this story in a very clever series of language arts lessons, using a variety of writing motifs to tell the story. From Scott’s first stint as a sports reporter for the school paper (he tells of the football team’s dismal loss in a sequence of Tom Swifties) to the stream-of-consciousness advice to the “fluid-dwelling piece of protoplasm,” Lubar’s writing is fresh and thoughtful as well as enormously entertaining. Boys will enjoy the authentic, funny voice and they might just learn something about writing, too. 2005, Dutton, $16.99. Ages 10 to 14.

CCBC (Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices, 2006)
Starting high school is more than a little intimidating to freshman Scott Hudson. Surviving the ride to and from school on the bus is challenging enough. But his college prep classes require crazy amounts of homework, and he’s not sure where he stands with his old friends, who are far less academically oriented than he. When his parents announce that his mom is pregnant, it’s almost more than he can take. As a way to cope with the stress, and to preserve some of the lessons he’s learned in high school for his unborn sibling to read some day, Scott starts a diary. In entries addressed to the new baby (referred to sometimes as “Smelly,” and others as a “fluid-dwelling piece of protoplasm”), he offers tips on what to do and what not to do during freshman year. Scott’s sense of humor, often hidden in his interactions with family and peers, comes out fully on the page. His true self emerges through the diary entries, and, as his confidence grows, in daily life as well. English is Scott’s favorite subject, so he spends a lot of time writing about the things he learns with Mr. Franka, his favorite teacher. Scott loves playing with grammar and language. Nowhere is he more confident than when he is interpreting Shelley’s poetry, writing couplets, or creating his own silly Tom Swifties. CCBC Category: Fiction for Young Adults. 2005, Dutton, 279 pages, $16.99. Ages 12-15.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, June 15, 2005 (Vol. 73, No. 12))
Scott's wacky life always plays out in totally unexpected ways. His excitement to be a freshman, finally, is overturned by the horrible reality where he's whacked on the head on the bus, his spare change is stolen, he's totally ignored by all females and he constantly suffers being the lowliest of the low. Even at home, things have turned upside down with older hunky brother's return to base and Mom's surprise announcement of a new sibling to come. Scott nicknames the new arrival Smelly-a combo of Sean and Emily appropriate for either gender, and writes a "NOT a diary" journal with advice and tips for the future. Lubar's gift is in his presentation of the horrors of daily life and the humor that sneaks in as real-life lessons are inadvertently learned. The mystery is who the true friends turn out to be, and the comedy is inherent in how hard it is to learn to go with the flow. Fresh, funny and perfectly plausible as a demonstration of various writing exercises for classroom use, but only if you like laughter. 2005, Dutton, 256p, $15.99. Category: Fiction. Ages 13 up. © 2005 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Paula Rohrlick (KLIATT Review, July 2005 (Vol. 39, No. 4))
Just as Scott is starting high school, he finds out his mother is pregnant. Determined that his little brother-to-be should benefit from his hard-won knowledge, Scott relates his experiences though his freshman year and writes down lists of survival tips for the baby: e.g., "Try to avoid the bus, even if it means catching a ride from a stranger with a chain saw." In pursuit of a beautiful girl, Scott joins all kinds of activities, only to find that she has dropped out of one after another and he's now committed himself to them. Most work out well, however; for instance, he ends up being a reporter on the school newspaper, and he has fun experimenting with writing sports columns in various styles. He has a great English teacher and somehow manages to survive the year, despite the school bus, cafeteria food, shifting friendships and other hazards, and in the end he makes some unexpected new friends and meets a girl who turns out to be just right for him. Lubar, author of Dunk, Hidden Talents, and other novels for YAs, has a wonderful sense of humor and Scott's story is both hilarious and touching. A real treat for YAs who, like Scott, love literature and loathe gym; and it holds out hope that high school can not only be endured but enjoyed, if you get involved. Category: Hardcover Fiction. KLIATT Codes: J*--Exceptional book, recommended for junior high school students. 2005, Penguin, Dutton, 256p., $15.99. Ages 12 to 15.

Donna Steffan (Library Media Connection, April/May 2006)
To earn the right of passage into high school, Scott must overcome numerous challenging situations before he discovers his true strengths and comes to grips with his personal limitations. During these nine months, Scott chronicles his numerous successes and defeats in a journal for his soon-to-be-born "surprise" sibling. He shares how he survived seniors lifting his spare change, a beating over a girl, and the hours of sleepless nights spent completing his honors homework. He describes being the least athletic sports reporter for the school newspaper, the aspiring actor turned stage manager, and the friend who saves a peer who attempts suicide. Combining daily altercations with deep musings, author David Lubar brings the plot to a three-dimensional level through a thread of active humor that sneaks into these real-life lessons inadvertently learned. Today's teens will connect with Scott and will stay with him to discover who his true friends are in the end, how to cultivate true skills and knowledge, and how to survive the daily trepidations and rewards that high-school life deals at the table. Recommended. 2005, Dutton Children's Books (Penguin Putnam), 279pp., $16.99 hc. Ages 14 up.

Rebecca Aicher (The ALAN Review, Winter 2006 (Vol. 33, No. 2))
Scott Hudson’s life is busy enough--avoiding lunch-money-stealing upperclassmen, finishing loads of homework on time, and impressing an old kindergarten pal turned hot; the last thing he has time to deal with is a baby. Unfortunately, there’s not much he can do; his mother is expecting a child who will be fifteen years younger than Scott. How’s a guy to deal? Scott takes the reader humorously through his freshman year of high school, recording his thoughts, fears, and wisdom in a “journal” he plans to give to his new sibling. Little does he know that in the process of trying to get by, he is learning what it means to be a friend, an honorable man, and a brother. Through an uplifting story, David Lubar shares a true teenager’s perspective. The familiarity and honesty of the characters allows the narrative to unfold with startling realism. Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie is a recommended read for those searching for laughs and a genuine voice in young adult literature. Category: Family-Friend Dynamics. YA--Young Adult. 2005, Dutton Children’s Books, 279 pp., $16.99. Ages young adult.Algonquin, IL

Karen Coates, Reviewer (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, October 2005 (Vol. 59, No. 2))
As if being a dorky freshman weren’t enough, Scott Hudson finds out that his mom is pregnant. Scott turns that situation to his advantage, however, by writing letters to the “microscopic intruder” (a.k.a. “fluid-dwelling piece of protoplasm,” “wet, oozing mess of ichor,” “formless clump of cells,” “Smelly,” etc.), because, of course, guys don’t write diaries, and he needs to do something to process and preserve his days as a ninth-grader. Scott’s favorite class is Honors English, and he tries out everything he is learning--from Tom Swifties to advanced vocabulary to types of writing to point of view--in this fresh, genuinely funny picture of an earnest yet hapless teen. Scott’s fumbling efforts to make contact with the girl of his dreams land him in the thick of things: he joins the newspaper staff (she was just doing a one-off guest column), gets elected to student council (she loses her election), joins the stage crew (she doesn’t land a role in the play), quits student council (as does the elected president, making her the new president). Meanwhile, he learns he can stand up to bullies and gets quite a few lessons on what it means to be a good friend. The substance is gentle and affirming, but it’s the wordplay that is the star here. The first-person narration is broken up by lists of important tips for managing high school’s awfulness, as well as Scott’s letters to his in-utero brother, allowing the reader an intimate connection with all of Scott’s personae--the insecure, hopeful, often bewildered freshman, the snarky big brother, the worldly-wise teen philosopher. Lubar avoids a gimmicky hyper-saturation of cleverness in favor of selected moments where a very literate guy amuses himself (and his readers) with words and forms--the result is a solidly enjoyable read sprinkled with laughs, puzzles, a few groans, some oh-I-get-it nods, and generally good geeky fun throughout. Review Code: R* -- Denotes books of special distinction. (c) Copyright 2005, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2005, Dutton, 279p, $16.99. Grades 7-10.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Spring 2006)
As he fumbles through his freshman year of high school, Scott creates a survival manual to pass along to his not-yet-born sibling, wittily cataloging advice while mulling over changes in his family, friends, and social standing. Smart and likable, Scott is an engaging narrator with a penchant for word games and a snappy sense of humor. Category: Older Fiction. 2005, Dutton, 279pp, 15.99. Ages 12 to 14. Rating: 3: Recommended, satisfactory in style, content, and/or illustration.

Eloise Long (The Kutztown University Book Review, Spring 2006)
Scott Hudson copes with his freshman year in high school by writing "tips" to his unborn brother (because "guys don't keep diaries"). As he tries to recapture the attention of Julia, a friend from his kindergarten days, he joins the school paper, tries out for the school play, and runs for student council. Told from Scott's point of view, this novel is fast-paced and filled with familiar high school situations and issues. Pennsylvania author David Lubar's sense of humor is evident as Scott relays his Tom Swifties ("I'd like a hot dog," said Tom frankly) and completes his lists, such as List of Good Things About Getting Beaten Up - "It's a great way to make sure your blood clots properly." This is a good "guys read" addition. Category: Fiction. 2005, Dutton, $16.99. Ages 11 to 16.

Rollie Welch (VOYA, June 2005 (Vol. 28, No. 2))
Apprehensive-no, make that terrified-about entering high school, brand new ninth-grader Scott Hudson struggles to navigate his way through the minefields of public school education. His year begins with few positives as Scott is jacked up for his lunch money, drools over blossomed-during-the-summer Julia, undergoes gym class torture, and realizes that his love of reading separates him from his friends. His problems are compounded when his black-sheep older brother cannot focus his energy, his mother announces her pregnancy (the budding writer pens nasty and bitingly sarcastic diary entries to his unborn sibling), and Julia begins dating Vernon, the varsity quarterback and total jerk. By chronicling his freshman year, the likeable, everyman character discovers that he can succeed against a somewhat stacked deck. With the influence of an awesomely cool English teacher, Mr. Franka, Scott begins to hit his stride by applying his writing talents to the school newspaper and befriending a multi-pierced new girl, Lee. By the book's end Scott not only survives his first year but also triumphantly breaks away from his lowly freshman status. Marked by the author's obvious wit-Scott gleefully collects groan-out-loud Tom Swifties-the pace of the story seldom lags or becomes overwhelming despite many different school scenarios strung together throughout the story. Lessons are learned, humor mixed with sadness is prevalent, and the bittersweet year comes to a satisfying end for both the reader and Scott. With a little imagination, readers can almost hear the former freshman-"I'm a stand-up guy," Scott said heroically. VOYA CODES: 5Q 4P M J (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2005, Dutton, 256p., $15.99. Ages 11 to 15.

John Jarvey, English Teacher and Guest Reviewer (VOYA, June 2005 (Vol. 28, No. 2))
This novel offers a plethora of teaching opportunities, making it a welcome addition to any eighth or ninth grade language arts classroom. Both major and minor characters are well developed. The crisp language coupled with clear imagery adds to the novel's impact. Lubar's mastery of dialogue highlights a fast-paced novel that will appeal to even the most reluctant reader. Laugh-out-loud humor throughout the book distinguishes it as one that is fun to read and share. VOYA CODES: 5Q 4P M J (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2005, Dutton, 256p., $15.99. Ages 11 to 15.