About This Book
In Andrew Clements' "The Janitor's Boy," Jack Rankin grapples with intense embarrassment over his father's job as the school janitor. This shame leads him to act out, placing a large amount of bubble gum under his desk, hoping his father will have to clean it. However, Jack is caught and assigned the task himself, under his father's supervision. Through this challenging experience, Jack gains a profound appreciation for the hard work involved and learns about his father's previously hidden past. The book beautifully explores themes of family love, empathy, self-acceptance, and overcoming peer pressure, making it an excellent read for discussions about different types of work and respecting others.
Jack outgrows his embarrasment over his father working as a janitor. He realizes that his father has many qualities that make him special, and that his job is nothing to be ashamed of.
bullying
shame_guilt
Discussion Prompts
1
Why was Jack so embarrassed about his father's job at first? Have you ever felt embarrassed about something a family member did or a job they had?
2
What did Jack learn about his father and about being a janitor when he had to clean the gum himself?
3
How did Jack's feelings about his father change throughout the story? What caused those changes?
4
The book talks about Jack's father's "dark past." Why do you think the author included that detail, even if it wasn't fully explained?
5
What does this story teach us about judging people based on their jobs or appearances?
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