Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar is lauded for its humor, quirky characters, and imaginative setting, making it a hit with children and nostalgic adults. Some critics, however, find its episodic structure disjointed and the absurdity overwhelming. Overall, it's praised for its creativity and playful tone, though its unconventional style may not suit everyone.

A reader who would enjoy Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar is typically aged 8-12 and loves humorous, imaginative, and whimsical storytelling. Fans of Roald Dahl's Matilda and Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid will delight in the quirky characters and absurd situations in this offbeat school setting.

Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar consists of absurd, humorous vignettes centered around the quirky students and teachers of a school mistakenly built 30 stories high. Each self-contained chapter features a quirky character from Mrs. Jewls's class facing a unique and often illogical problem, blending magical realism with themes of problem-solving and learning.

Humorous / Playful / Fantastical / Mysterious / Adventurous

- Louis Sachar began writing Sideways Stories from Wayside School while he was still a college student, drawing inspiration from his experiences as an elementary school aide.
- The unique structure of Wayside School, being thirty stories tall with one classroom on each floor, was inspired by Sachar's whimsical idea to do the opposite of a traditional flat school building.
- Sideways Stories from Wayside School was first published in 1978, marking the debut of Sachar's successful writing career, paving the way for other popular works like Holes.

**Mrs. Jewls**  
Replaces Mrs. Gorf as the teacher on the 30th story, known for her kindness and quirky misunderstandings with the students whom she mistakenly believes to be monkeys.

**Mrs. Gorf**  
The initial teacher at Wayside School, feared by students for her harsh methods and magical ability to turn students into apples.

**Louis**  
The playground supervisor who interacts with the students in both authoritative and peer-like ways, known for his colorful appearance and unorthodox approaches.

**Dana**  
A student noted for wearing glasses, with a memorable feature being how her beautiful eyes shine through them.

**Rondi**  
A student recognized by the absence of her two front teeth, often receiving compliments for her appearance.

**John**  
A student who faces challenges reading and can only read upside-down.

**Joe**  
A student who struggles with counting.

**Todd**  
Frequently punished for talking in class and ends up on a discipline list daily.

**Paul**  
A student known for pulling Leslie’s pigtails, struggling with behavioral issues. 

**Calvin**  
Assigned an imaginary task of delivering a nonexistent note to a nonexistent teacher.

**Jenny**  
A student who arrives at school late to find unexpected situations.

Louis Sachar

Middle grade

Novel

Wayside School

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore Sideways Stories from Wayside School and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

Sideways Stories from Wayside School Summary and Study Guide

Background

Sideways Stories from Wayside School Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-10

Sideways Stories from Wayside School Chapters 1-10 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 11-20

Sideways Stories from Wayside School Chapters 11-20 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 21-30 

Sideways Stories from Wayside School Chapters 21-30  Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

Sideways Stories from Wayside School Character Analysis

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Themes

Sideways Stories from Wayside School Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Sideways Stories from Wayside School Symbols & Motifs

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Important Quotes

Sideways Stories from Wayside School Important Quotes

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Essay Topics

Sideways Stories from Wayside School Essay Topics

Sideways Stories from Wayside School

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read Sideways Stories from Wayside School?

Reading Age

Book Details