Essay Questions

Why was the Wayside School built sideways?

The eponymous Wayside School was built sideways because of an "accident" by the builder. Although the builder apologized for his "mistake," the school still stood like a skyscraper, providing the area with a unique sight to see - even without a nineteenth floor, which the builder also "forgot" to build.

What inspired Louis Sachar to write Wayside School Beneath the Cloud of Doom?

Despite having not visited the Wayside School universe for twenty five years, Louis Sachar was inspired to write Wayside School Beneath the Cloud of Doom because of current events that bothered Sachar, including the 2016 Election of Donald Trump, climate change, and how he dealt with his mother's battle with Alzheimer's disease. The novel isn't as negative as Sachar's feelings would suggest; instead, it is joyful and zany, much like previous books in the series. This novel, in essence, was cathartic for Sachar.

What does Mrs. Jewls do to teach her class about one million?

In an effort to teach her class about what one million means, Mrs. Jewls decides that she must collect one million of something. One day, she notices a student who is clipping his toenails as a way to ease his pain. This strangely gives her an idea: she will collect one million toenails, even though doing so may be an impossible task with the resources she has at hand.