Standing Up to Mr. O.

By Claudia Mills

Book Overview

Popular middle-grade author Claudia Mills tells a funny, moving story touching on important issues, including single parenting, standing up for one's beliefs, and animal rights. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0374347212
• ISBN13: 9780374347215
• Release Date: September 1998
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.8" x 0.8" x 6.0"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

Standing Up to Mr. O

Seventh grader Maggie's favorite teacher is Mr. O., her science teacher...until he introduces dissection. She is a good student, but because of her ethical beliefs against killing animals, she refuses to do dissections. She takes an F each time she refuses to do one. In English class she writes an essay against dissection which is judged in a contest by other teachers (including Mr. O.). Everyone agrees she had written the best essay but she doesn't even get honorable mention. Maggie also gets involved with a rebellious male student who leads her down a troubled path. This great book is a multi-dimensional story. I was especially touched by it because I have experienced first hand how an idolized teacher can unknowingly crush the esteem of the student by doing "what is right."

Wonderful Book!

I found this book to be a very good read! Seventh-grader Maggie adores her biology teacher, Mr. O. - not only is he the "coolest" teacher she knows, he provides her with something of a father-figure since her own father deserted her and her mother when Maggie was four. When Mr. O. says EVERYONE must dissect animals, Maggie is faced with a terrible dilemma: let her favorite teacher down(and possibly fail the class) or compromise her own beliefs by going along with the dissection. Several supporting characters add interest and depth to this story for middle-school or older kids. Overall, I think this is a great book to introduce animal protection-related issues to kids. Other issues involved are absent fathers/single parenting, juvenile delinquents, best friends, and boy-girl relationships.

Standing up to Mr.O

A girl named Maggie dreads the day when she has to dissect in her biology class. Maggie decides to refuse dissect and rather receive a F for a grade. She afterwards becomes a vegetarian. This book has a point on dissection and it is a good example as an arguement against killing or dissecting animals. The author somehow seems to persuade reader's that killing animals is wrong.

Shows all sides, even ones you don't want to take

This book was wonderful. I myself am a vegan, and found it interesting that until Matt mentioned it, Maggie didn't think twice about eating meat. I think that we all need to know all the facts, and this book shows those facts in a good way, without forcing them upon you, letting you make your own decision. It is understandable that Maggie called her science teacher a murderer. After all, we all need to come to terms with our feelings, and in doing so, we may hurt someone else's, but it's something that must be done. This book is a wonderful story about growing up, learning about the world around us, and trying new things (like tofu!). This book teaches a lesson that needs to be learned.

IT WAS GREAT!!!

I liked this book because it was about a girl named Maggie who didn't like to dissect animals.Maggie refuses to dessect a worm for her blology class, and risks getting a bad grade.I loved reading it !