Johnny's in the Basement
 First p/b edition | |
| Author | Louis Sachar |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Knopf (h/b) Avon Books (p/b) |
Publication date | 1981 |
| Pages | 128 |
| ISBN | 0-679-90411-5 |
Johnny's in the Basement is a children's novel by the author Louis Sachar, the author of the National Book Award and Newbery Medal winning novel, Holes.[1] This book was published in 1981, by Knopf. It is Sachar's second book (Sideways Stories from Wayside School was his first, in 1978).[2] The book's title is a reference to the song "Subterranean Homesick Blues" by Bob Dylan, which begins with the line "Johnny's in the basement mixing up the medicine."
Reception[edit]
The book remained popular for many years.[3][4] According to WorldCat, the book is held in 446 libraries.[5]
Reviewers consider the book "full of sly humor",[6] and "another corker"[7] It is also described as "a preadolescent way to show contempt for adults' exploitation."[8] A film named Johnny's in the Basement was planned, but it was canceled on May 2, 2003.
Plot summary[edit]
Johnny, who has just turned 11 years old, goes in the basement where nobody bothers him. His parents want him to grow up and go to dance class.[9] They also want Johnny to get rid of his bottle cap collection. At dance class Johnny meets a girl named Valerie who also hates dance class, but likes Johnny. Johnny sells his bottle cap collection, and he and Valerie spend the $86.33 they receive for it on miscellaneous impractical items.
References[edit]
- ^ Bernice E. Cullinan, Diane Goetz Person, "Sachar" Continuum Encyclopedia of Children's Literature New York : Continuum, 2005 Google Books excerpt
- ^ "Johnny's in the Basement by Louis Sachar". www.fantasticfiction.com.
- ^ Barbara Strickland, "Louis Sachar: Top of His Class" Austin Chronicle Feb 20, 1999 [1]
- ^ Jean Nash Johnson, "The kids dig him" Dallas Morning News February 9, 2003 Newsbank
- ^ Sachar, Louis (August 16, 1990). Johnny's in the basement. Knopf : Distributed by Random House. OCLC 20755845 – via Open WorldCat.
- ^ Joan McGrath, Emergency Librarian, cited in: "Louis Sacher, Biographical Essay," Authors and Artists for Young Adults, Volume 35. Gale Group, 2000. access from Austin Public Library
- ^ Publishers Weekly, cited in: "Louis Sacher, Biographical Essay," Authors and Artists for Young Adults, Volume 35. Gale Group, 2000. access from Austin Public Library
- ^ Jack Forman, School Library Journal, cited in: "Louis Sacher, Biographical Essay," Authors and Artists for Young Adults, Volume 35. Gale Group, 2000. access from Austin Public Library
- ^ "Louis Sachar - Complete Booklist". Archived from the original on 2015-10-05. Retrieved 2017-11-05.