Rating: Not for me

Reading Level: Middle School

A lazy, disrespectful kid obsessed with video games stumbles into leadership in a school club that changes lives–eventually also his.

Possible Concerns:

  • Disrespect to parents. He doesn’t listen to his mom and literally calls her speaking “blah blah blah.”
  • Horrible work ethic/lack of character. He goes to the bathroom to play video games, he is selfish and lacks character. There is some transformation at the end, but not enough to make up for the terrible example.
  • Hacking into a school website. Unethical choices with a shrug toward consequences.
  • Obsession with video games. I prefer it when characters have other passions, too.
  • Sibling treachery.
  • Adults are easily duped/poor models. A counselor is clueless, parents are fooled, and a principal makes poor decisions.
  • High School bullies stalk a kid and sabotage a community service group.
  • Use of the term, “ill” to describe surprisingly awesome things. (?)
  • Potty humor. Some peeing is all I can remember.

As is typical with Korman books, the character undergoes transformation. But it wasn’t enough for me. I preferred Korman’s Restart.