How I Became a Writer and Oggie Learned to Drive

by Janet Taylor Lisle and Janet Taylor-Lisle

Book Overview

Anyone anywhere near Garden Street knows to stay away from the Night Riders, and Archie is no different. He and his little brother, Oggie, know the gang is up to no good. When they steal Oggie's... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0142501670
• ISBN13: 9780142501672
• Release Date: November 2003
• Publisher: Puffin Books
• Length: 155 Pages
• Weight: 0.33 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.1" x 7.8"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Richie's Picks: HOW I BECAME A WRITER

The foundation of Archie and Oggie's idyllic childhood has already crumbled because their dad's departure to an apartment with his new girlfriend results in their mom's move from their cozy house into a rough neighborhood. Their schedule ping-pongs them back and forth between the households. And now, Oggie has heard that Cindi the Girlfriend is pregnant. Furthermore, the boys dread any unnecessary communication between their parents, who are at each other's throats. Archie, who is an eleven year-old aspiring writer, works at keeping himself and six year-old Oggie sane by creating an alternative universe--the story of The Mysterious Mole People: "The main thing about the Mysterious Mole People is that they were normal humans once. They lived in regular daylight, in ordinary houses, and held down honest jobs like racing stock cars or selling famous-name sports equipment. "But they got fed up with the way things were, like how everybody kept getting robbed at gunpoint and forests kept getting chopped down. Many years ago, the Mole People went underground. They developed thick, furry hides and powerful claws, and built a whole secret kingdom down under the earth. From there, to this day, they wage their revenge..." But the boys' real life, which has them becoming increasingly ensnared in the activities of the local gang, begins to become entangled with the world Archie has created. The relationship between Archie and Oggie is absolutely endearing. Oggie is a little kid who is into cars the way other six year-olds obsess over dinosaurs. There's plenty of action including a good dose of cops-and-robbers stuff. HOW I BECAME A WRITER & OGGIE LEARNED TO DRIVE is a great read and read-aloud, especially for nine to twelve year-olds.

How I Became A Writer And Oggie Learned To Drive

Dear Reader, This book is a must read book for anyone. This book combines gangs with normal kids. Also normal problems, like the ones in the story, Oggie's wallet gets stolen by ? you will have to read and find out! Another problem in this story is Jupiter and Saturn or mom and dads house, yes there separated. Do they get back together ? you should the book. The main characters are Oggie his older brother Archie, Raven, and last but not least the bad guy that every story has to have "catman"(not his really name). Dose anything happen between the characters ? you are going to have to read. Don't forget the mysterious mole people. How they fit into the story will keep you puzzled till the end. This story takes place mostly on Garden St. California. The name of this thrilling story is..................How I Became A Writer And Oggie Learned To Drive. This story is filled with 155 pages of excitement. I enjoyed this book and would read it again and still with excitement. I love this book and if you like surprising books you would too

How I Became a Writer and Oggie Leared to Drive

How I Became a Writer and Oggie Learned to Drive is by Janet Taylor Lisle, there is one hundred and fifty-pages. It is about Oggie and Archie who's parents are split up. Their mom's house is Jupiter and their Dad's house is Saturn. His dad has a girlfriend her name is Cyndi. Archie is writing a book and would tell Oggie a little more every night. Cyndi smokes and she has Archie pick up her cigarettes. One day at the store where Archie picks up cigarettes he stopped a thief. There was this one gang that asks him to join; he does it to get Oggie's wallet back, but almost gets arrested. This is a great book if you like fiction books this is the one for you.

brothers help each other cope in scary urban neighborhood

Archie is 11, and his sensitive brother Oggie is 6. Their parents recently divorced and now they go back and forth between preoccupied Mom's house and hotheaded Dad's house. In their menacing new neighborhood they have to deal with mean kids and criminals, but Archie distracts Oggie as much as he can by telling him a fantastic story of the Mysterious Mole People, who live underground and mercilessly try to right the wrongs of the above-world. Things turn even more scary when Archie tries to get Oggie's stolen wallet back from a neighborhood gang, but the brothers count on each other and have inventive ways of coping with their situations. This YA novel was dark for my tastes, but people do live this way and the two boys' ability to adjust and grow stronger will reassure and encourage a lot of kids. Writers of all ages will enjoy Archie's perceptive observations on writing. Divorced parents should read it too, to learn how to keep their own concerns from blinding them to their children's needs.