About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is a misunderstood 'disruptor' who gets into trouble for trying to help or improve systems in ways that adults find frustrating. It is an ideal choice for the student who feels that school rules are arbitrary or who struggles with the gap between their good intentions and the disciplinary consequences they receive. Thaddeus A. Ledbetter is a highly intelligent, articulate, and hilariously misguided seventh grader who has been sentenced to In-School Suspension for the rest of the year. Through a series of memos and 'evidence' folders, Thaddeus defends his actions, which range from 'improving' the school's emergency procedures to 'fixing' a substitute teacher's curriculum. It is a brilliant exploration of perspective and the subjectivity of authority. Parents will appreciate how it validates a child's sense of justice while gently showing how one's impact can differ from their intent. It is most appropriate for ages 8 to 12, especially those with a sharp wit or a history of being 'too smart for their own good.'
