Review by Booklist Review
On a trip to Washington, D.C., four eighth-graders get tangled up in a plot to bomb the White House . . . or maybe not. One thing nerdy Wyatt does know: the two men from Gadakistan who sat behind him on the plane will stop at nothing including kidnapping to get back the mysterious electronic device Wyatt's impulsive buddy Matt snatched from them. OK, one other thing how lucky is he that dazzling classmate Suzana steps away from the Hot Girl Clot to provide the brains, bankroll, and even the brawn for what becomes a frantic round of chases, attacks, rescues, narrow escapes, and desperate ploys? Laced with Barry's trademark zingers (pandas are like the Kardashians of zoo animals because they never actually do anything except eat and poop), the escapade culminates in a climactic melee featuring a snake, a fork, a really big kite, the president of the U.S., and video footage that boosts Wyatt's Twitter account from 2 followers to 4.7 million. Readers can only hope their own class trips turn this exhilarating. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Barry (along with Ridley Pearson) has built cred with kids thanks to the Peter and the Starcatchers series. Adults know him, too, so expect demand thanks to name recognition and plenty of buzz.--Peters, John Copyright 2015 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Check your disbelief at the TSA line for this hilarious jaunt from Miami to Washington, D.C., with the civics students of Culver Middle School. Trouble starts on the airplane, where Wyatt Palmer and friend Matt Diaz notice that some nearby passengers have aerial photos of the White House and a backpack they are reluctant to stow under the seat in front of them. When an electronic device falls out of the bag, Matt pockets it, setting off a chain of events that leads to two kidnappings and an international incident in the Rose Garden involving the President, a foreign dignitary, a dragon kite, an angry cab driver, and more. (Suggested alternate title: The Worst School Chaperones Ever.) The boys are aided by the apple of Wyatt's eye, Suzana Delgado, who they are surprised to learn is not only an excellent soccer player but "basically a Navy SEAL disguised as a hot eighth-grade girl." Pulitzer-winner Barry has the comic sensibility of a middle-school class clown. Expect to have lots of trouble keeping this one on the shelf. Ages 8-12. Agent: Amy Berkower, Writers House. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-7-Wyatt Palmer and his eighth grade classmates are heading out for a class trip to Washington, DC. Wyatt is hoping the trip may be a chance to make a good impression on the girl of his dreams, Suzana. On the plane, Wyatt and his best friend, Matt, have an unexpected confrontation with the men sitting behind them, and the boys come to the conclusion that the men are actually planning to assassinate the president. What follows is a hilarious romp through the capital city as the boys, Suzana, and a couple of other kids from Culver Middle School team up to save the president. Narrator Todd Haberkorn adeptly captures both the humor of the story and Wyatt's funny, embarrassing, and occasionally painful attempts to get Suzana's attention. Haberkorn's pacing is just right, speeding up along with the action and pausing at just the right moments for effect. He also provides an easily recognizable voice for each of the primary characters, making the story easy to follow. VERDICT Listeners will find this to be a laugh-out-loud thrill ride with plenty to keep them wanting more.-Deanna Romriell, Salt Lake City Public Library, UT © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
After an in-flight run-in with suspicious fellow passengers from fictional Gadakistan on their eighth-grade field trip to Washington, DC, Wyatt and his friends become embroiled in an international incident, the particulars of which they don't quite understand. Their over-the-top antics--combined with Barry's witty commentary through Wyatt's first-person narration--make for a zany story crafted more for outrageous humor than for believability. (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A Miami eighth-grader's class trip to the nation's capital quickly escalates into an international incident.Wyatt Palmer wants nothing more than a nice, peaceful, informative class trip to Washington, D.C. But when his best friend, Matt, spots some suspicious activity on their plane, his dream vanishesin a big way. Soon Matt is kidnapped, possibly by international terrorists, and it's up to Wyatt and the girl of his dreams to find him and exchange a deadly device for their lost friend. That all sounds heavy, but humor columnist Barry sprinkles enough laughs throughout to keep things moving smoothly. The novel's ludicrous scenario is met with an equally comic tone, making for a fast-paced, easy read. The author supplies these kids with enough smarts to get out of jams but enough vulnerabilities to keep readers engaged. At no point will readers be worried about the fate of the world, but whether or not Wyatt and his pals make it out in one piece is another matter. The book's shortcomings are few: the adult characters are as flat as the children are round, some of the slapstick goes a bit too far, and the final pages are overstuffed with expository "this is how everybody ended up" chunks of text.A light, comic tone and more-or-less believable stakes make for a winning combination. (Thriller. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
