Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* For the hamster known as George Washington (GW, for short), there is no greater prison than the second grade classroom. For three months, GW has been plotting and scheming, waiting patiently for things to fall into place so he can finally break free from the joint. It takes some effort to convince fellow prisoners Barry and Biter to join him they actually seem to like it there but a well-laid guilt trip does the trick. On the brink of freedom, the three rodents run up against the biggest obstacle of all, Harriet the mouse. She and her minions have a taste for destruction, but will GW have a change of heart and stop Harriet's mad plan to ruin the school? Told with a wickedly sharp sense of humor, Jamieson's latest delivers a madcap adventure that is sure to please young readers. The hilariously expressive rodents guarantee laughs from page one with plenty of slapstick humor and pointed one-liners. Jamieson makes excellent use of a variety of panel sizes to maximize the action, and the liberal use of bright color adds extra visual punch.--Hayes, Summer Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-3-George Washington, or "GW" for short, may look like a sweet, innocent classroom hamster, but little do the second graders at Daisy P. Flugelhorn Elementary School know that he's the inventor of the Sunflower Seed Slingshot and the Rodent Catapult Transportation Device, both of which are going to help him and his fellow inmates-Barry the rabbit (serving time in first grade) and Biter the world's toughest guinea pig (doing a stint in kindergarten)-escape to freedom. Unfortunately, when GW finally liberates his rodent pals, a gang of surly mice threaten their plans. Jamieson, author and illustrator of Roller Girl (Dial, 2015), here presents a giggle-worthy tale for younger readers and those just venturing into graphic novels. Easy-to-follow panels, complemented by several spreads, explode off the page with her bright and cheery palette. Visual humor abounds, from GW's gallant attempts at sword fighting with the mouse leader (using a broken piece of uncooked spaghetti) to Biter's confession that, while in kindergarten, she's found a way to channel her anger issues through meditation. VERDICT Hand this charmingly goofy graphic novel to chapter book readers who enjoy Dav Pilkey's works, Cyndi Marko's "Kung Pow Chicken" series (Scholastic), and Geoffrey Hayes's "Benny and Penny" books (TOON.)-Kiera Parrott, School Library Journal © Copyright 2016. 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
Trapped for over three months in a "terrible prison, otherwise known asa second-grade classroom," feisty GW -- the class hamster -- finally gets a break. Right outside his cage rests a bobby pin; its the final part needed for his Hairy Houdini Escape-O-Matic invention. GW races to release the other two members of his Furry Fiends gang: Barry, a bunny with "a rap sheet as long as his ears," and Biter, a guinea pig whos "doing hard time" in kindergarten. Much to his dismay, GW discovers that Barry and Biter have "gone soft in prison" and arent exactly eager to abandon their comfy-cozy lives as class pets. He manages to convince them to make a break for it, only to have his dreams of freedom dashed when Harriet, the fourth-graders pet mouse, re-incarcerates the gang. More jailbreaks, a food fight, and other zany high jinks ensue in Jamiesons laugh-out-loud graphic novel. Silly jokes fly fast and furious ("What is that SMELL? I think we found the cafeteria"), as does witty wordplay (GW to Biter: "Fine, be a pacifist. But right now I need you to PASS a FIST through this wall!"). Pen-and-ink panels digitally colored in a bright palette have a crisp and tidy feel -- a neat contrast to the mischief and mayhem roiling Daisy P. Flugelhorn Elementary School after hours. tanya d. auger (c) Copyright 2016. 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
Classroom pets have a wild night in the halls of Daisy P. Flugelhorn Elementary. George "GW" Washington the hamster has languished in the prison that is second grade for over three months, and he finally has everything he needs to break out. After the students are gone, he escapes and frees his old buddy Barry the bunny, held in first gradebut then they must brave the worst cellblock, kindergarten, to free their old pal Biter the guinea pig. However, Biter has gone through a slight transformation thanks to exposure to daily happy singing and a shared learning community; she does yoga and calls herself Sunflower now. Just as they are strategizing their escape from the building, Harriet, one of the fourth-grade white mice, informs them that upper-grade pets rule the school. With the muscle (and questionable appetites) of Lucinda the fifth-grade snake, Harriet captures the trio and relocks them up. Can they escape and save the children from Harriet's evil scheme? Graphic novelist Jamieson aims for a younger crowd than Roller Girl's (2015) with this slightly sarcastic and totally loony tale of friendship and the quest for freedomwhich turns out to not be what GW thought it would be. Refreshingly, she doesn't rely on such tired graphic tropes as extra-long eyelashes to set her female characters apart. Guaranteed fun for young readers, who will eye their classroom pets with some suspicion in the future. (Graphic fantasy. 6-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
