The delicious irony of Sideways Stories: despite the ridiculous setting and the wacky, nonsensical situations, Sachar still manages to weave wisdom and truth into these pages. Sometimes it's a lesson learned by one of the kids—why school is really valuable, for example, or why one carefully done piece of art has more value than thousands of scribbled sketches. And sometimes it's through a joke—for instance, we bet you never thought about why missing teeth are so much cuter than real teeth, did you?
But either way, before the bell rings at the end of the day, readers will leave this book with some touching and true thoughts about friendship, school, and life in general. Not too shabby for a book that is guaranteed to make you giggle.
Questions About Wisdom and Knowledge
- Who do you think is the wisest character in the book?
- Do you think Sachar would say that knowledge and wisdom are the same or different?
- Which student do you think learns the most important lesson? Why?
- Do you think there are any students who don't gain any wisdom or knowledge in their stories?
Chew on This
Mrs. Jewls teaches the children more about wisdom and knowledge than she does about academic subjects.
Kathy's chapter is an example of a wise lesson about friendships concealed in a funny story.