Funny kid’s far from LOL-funny…but he’ll elicit some giggles.
Run for class president? Now that’s a funny idea.
Eleven-year-old Max Walburt is not the most popular kid at Redhill Middle School, but he is Mr. Armstrong’s favorite person to blame when things go wrong. When a dollop of poop appears in the class storeroom and an incensed Mr. Armstrong blames Max without evidence, Max plots revenge with his fat, dim buddy, Hugo. The plot’s exposed by too-short (and very evil) Abby Purcell, and the ensuing chaos causes principal Mrs. Sniggles to order a class election. Max throws his hat in the ring, but something’s up. Handsome (and lactose-intolerant) opponent Kevin experiences a vomit event in the library, and he’s out. Tall Ryan has a disastrous gym class, and he’s out. Can Max, using his sense of humor, join with unlikely allies and discover what’s going on (while escaping a psycho-stalker duck)? Stanton kicks off a series of illustrated misadventures with a more-than-slightly scatological mystery. The kids are not a lot more than their central quirks, but the straightforward if mean-spirited story does have moments of good comic timing. The poop-centered mystery won’t be to everyone’s taste, but Wimpy Kid fans may seek the sequel. Max, Hugo, and the teachers are white; Kevin and Abby have brown skin, and Ryan may be Asian.
Funny kid’s far from LOL-funny…but he’ll elicit some giggles. (Graphic/fiction hybrid. 7-10)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-257291-2
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Sept. 25, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2017
In these six stories, O’Malley capitalizes on most of the stereotypes associated with school—practical jokers, daydreamers...
When it comes to school, backpacks and desks go hand in hand, so it is no surprise that O’Malley has followed his Backpack Stories (2009) with this impertinent look at that standard of classroom furniture, the desk.
In these six stories, O’Malley capitalizes on most of the stereotypes associated with school—practical jokers, daydreamers and goody two-shoes, attempts to escape boring lessons and fool teachers and the quintessential messy desk. All are all wrapped up with his own particular brand of sassy, off-the-wall humor. His tour of desk history includes medieval desks that sport spikes to prevent napping during class. In "Trapped!," John gets chased down and returned to class by his monstrous desk, while "It Came from Within" chronicles the attempt of two practical jokers to even the academic playing field. A school-themed spread of jokes is followed by a high-tech look at some prototypes of Desktec’s line of desks of the future. The adventures of “Sue Smallton: The Incredible Shrinking Supergirl" round out the collection with a hideously dangerous journey into the bowels of a desk to retrieve a lost barrette. O’Malley’s artwork is a combination of different graphic styles, lending each separate story its own feel and highlighting their science-fictional basis.Pub Date: July 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-8075-1562-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Whitman
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2011
Two boys imagine an adventure in the kingdoms of Thatchwych and High Dudgeon. Sir Seth and his buddy Sir Ollie go a-questing in their tinfoil armor to find the missing Soothsaying Shoes of Sir Shawn Shrood. They wend their way to the dark, lonely castle of Prince Quincy of Poxley with the help of saber-toothed sloth Edith-Anne and the ghost of Jolly King Wally. Can they brave the weezils and weevils and elephant ants with measles and worse? With the help of new friends, it’s easy-peasy! Published in an avowed attempt to revive the read-aloud for middle graders, Canadian ad-man Thake’s first work of fiction will, more likely, sour their stomachs. The forced rhymes and treacly descriptions would set teeth on edge in a picture book. The bad grammar and cutesy made-up words are anything but instructive, easily addressed “dangers” kill any sense of adventure and the characters never develop beyond caricatures. Serviceable black-and-white, cartoon illustrations can’t save this. Cressida Cowell’s How to Train Your Dragon books, Kate McMullan’s Dragon Slayers' Academy and the storied Magic Tree House all render this painfully patronizing series unnecessary. (Fantasy. 7-10)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-897349-92-2
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Owlkids Books
Review Posted Online: July 30, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2010
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
