About this item
NO. MORE. HOMEWORK. That's what sixth grader Sam Warren tells his teacher while standing on top of his desk. He's fed up with doing endless tasks from the time he gets home to the time he goes to sleep. Suspended for his protest, Sam decides to fight back. He recruits his elderly neighbor/retired attorney Mr. Kalman to help him file a class action lawsuit on behalf of all students in Los Angeles. Their argument? Homework is unconstitutional. With a ragtag team - aspiring masterchef Alistair, numbers gal Catalina, sports whiz Jaesang, rebel big sister Sadie and her tech-savvy boyfriend Sean - Sam takes his case to federal court. He learns about the justice system, kids' rights, and constitutional law. And he learns that no matter how many times you get knocked down, there's always an appeal...until the nine justices have the last say. Will Sam's quest end in an epic fail, or will he be the hero who saves childhood for all time?
About the Author
When I was growing up, I always looked forward to the holidays. What kid doesn't look forward to the holidays? I couldn't wait to open presents and see if, maybe this year, my family would finally get me something different.
The gifts you get say a lot about how people see you. My brother Michael, a big reader, would unwrap The Complete Novels of Charles Dickens or The Norton Anthology of English Literature or Balzac: A 6-Volume Set.
All that reading paid off. Mike grew up to be just what the family expected: a writer.
Dan, the middle child, loved science and electronics. He would unwrap a Home Chemistry Set, an Erector Set, or a Heathkit, Jr. Deluxe Electronic Workshop. His gifts would take over the floor of the room we shared. Sometimes he'd let me into the mad science he was performing - by telling me to run downstairs and get him a screwdriver.
All that tinkering paid off. Dan grew up to be just what the family hoped for: a doctor.
And then I would open ... a can of tennis balls. Every year. Every holiday. A new can of balls. Usually Wilson.
I loved playing tennis. It gave me a special bond with my dad and, later, a solid bond with other kids my age. But sometimes when you're pegged as the "athlete in the family," nobody sees who else you might want to be. In my case, I was curious too about stories and science. But those identities were already taken.
I didn't grow up to be a professional tennis player. I grew up to be a teacher and a writer.
It's good to be grateful for the gifts you get. But it can take a lifetime to unwrap the gifts you have.
