Greenwald Publishes Kids' 'Guide for Not Reading'

Hundreds of children and adults turned out this past Wednesday night to hear Westport native Tommy Greenwald talk at Barnes and Noble about his recently released book for middle school children, “Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading.”

Based on his own personal frustrations as a parent whose children abhorred books—his teenage sons are named Charlie, Joe and Jack—Greenwald penned a humorous narrative about the pitfalls a young boy encounters in his quest to avoid reading.

Published last week by Roaring River/Macmillan, Greenwald's Westport appearance included reading from “Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading” as well as a picture book he wrote first, called “The Boy Who Hated Reading.”

As he welcomed the standing-room only crowd, Greenwald introduced himself by saying, "My name is Tommy Greenwald and I love reading." Greenwald went on to detail the extremes methods implemented by he and his wife, Cathy Utz Greenwald, also a Westport native, to elicit an interest in the written word.

When bribing them with milk shakes, french fries, burgers, pet iguanas, trips to Hershey Park and X-Boxes, Greenwald said, “I took away their cell phones, their XBox, their clothes. Then Harry Potter happened and a whole generation of younger readers discovered reading. My boys discovered Harry Potter movies."

Greenwald pointed out that his middle son, Joe, 16, is actually the only one who made an attempt to read the popular wizard series. "He feels that he gets a bum rap in my book because, of all my kids, he's the only one who did read part of the Harry Potter books," Greenwald admitted.

Now that they're all in high school, Greenwald's sons said that they can see some of the benefits of reading. Jack, 15, said that he wouldn't have been able to keep up with his course load as a freshman at Staples High School this year if he wasn't reading daily. “I can understand how it could be a good experience,” he stated. 

In writing “Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading,” Greenwald doesn't expect to immediately convert non-readers. Using witty, short chapters—including 25 tips for how not to read—Greenwald hopes to engage youngsters in its story before they realize what is happening. “I wanted to be the one who writes that kind of book that makes reluctant readers say, 'Okay—At least I'll try this one,'” he said. “I wanted to convince them that, (a) not all books are bad, and (b) that Charlie Joe Jackson is like them.”

Along with a protagonist who is named after his three sons, and is a composite of their unique characteristics, Greenwald's book is set in “Eastport” and filled with personal references.

A graduate of Harvard University with a degree and music, and working as creative director at Spotco, an advertising agency, Greenwald initially sent “The Boy Who Hated Reading” manuscript to his friend, and literary agent, Michele Rubin. Though she “loved the idea,” Rubin asked him to expand it and gear it towards a middle school age audience.

“Tommy's way with language, and humor, and his sensibility is so sharp-witted and clever,” Rubin explained. “It is completely perfect for that age group, that I felt he could create a unique and break-out middle grade book, just as he's done! What was amazing was how quickly he tapped into the character's voice and dilemmas; Charlie Joe sounds like a real twelve year old. This isn't easy, and Tommy made it look effortless and organic.”

Rubin explained that the publishers are “all clamoring for smart, funny 'boy' books, since boys do indeed tend to be more reluctant readers than girls.”

She continued, “Additionally, although middle grade girls will read across the gender line, so to speak, and will read books about boys and boys having adventures, middle grade boys will not read books in which girls are the protagonists. So everyone, from the publishers to parents and teachers, want great books that boys will be willing to pick up and read. Girl readers will read it no matter what, but you have to persuade reluctant boy readers that it's something worth trying out. Charlie Joe, being a kid who hates to read, gets right inside the mind of those kids — and sometimes, what they need is a book for
them, one that really speaks to them and reflects their world. And in Tommy's book, it's not only just the issue of not wanting to read that drives the book — it's the creation of a hilarious, smart, regular guy character who is always up to something to make his life
easier, and having his plans get away from him.”

Greenwald emphasizes that “Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading” is not only for boys. Young female readers will be drawn to the character of Katie, Charlie Joe Jackson's best friend, and Eliza, who inhabits the title of “Most Popular Girl in the School.”

Greenwald's sister-in-law Claire Zielinski, a teacher at Columbus Magnet in Norwalk, successfully introduced the manuscript the past two years in her curriculum.

“The kids loved it,” she said.

Two of her former students attended Barnes and Noble book release party to purchase the book and get it signed. Though Bilal Memon, 10, is not a “reluctant reader,” he thoroughly enjoyed the book. He said that it was easy to connect with the title character.

“I like that it was all about this kid's life,” Bilal stated. “Even though I like to read, I could relate to the part where he would rather watch television than read a book.”

Ethan Ledina, 10, waited in line to get his book signed with his sister, Annika, 7. They traveled from Danbury with their mother, Pia, a media specialist, and Mary Johnson,principal of Stadley Rough School, where Greenwald is scheduled to lead a language arts workshop this fall. Ethan said that he couldn't wait to start reading “Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading.”

“I think it's got an interesting title,” he said.

Greenwald has already finished the second in a five-part “Charlie Joe Jackson” book series. Scheduled to hit the bookstores next spring, the adventures continue in “Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Extra Credit.”

Though he's written a musical “John and Jen,” which was produced Off-Broadway in 1995 and continues to be revived nationally and internationally, Greenwald more frequently “writes ads,” he noted. He loves donning the voice of a pre-adolescent and pointed out that “the style suits me well.” 

When asked what he thought of his son's publishing debut, Jonathan Greenwald, Tommy's father, commented, “I couldn't put it down. I'm not kidding. I had to keep reading it.”