Dodgeball Chronicles by Frank Cammuso (Scholastic, 2008)

Cindy: Cammuso takes the classic middle school nightmare (what if I can’t open my locker?) and gives it a heroic spin. Arte King is the new kid at Camelot Middle School and after a rocky start becomes the first kid able to open a special locker that has been sealed for years. Book one of the graphic novel series Knights of the Lunch Table features lots of fun stabs at the King Arthur legend while staying focused on the real fears and challenges that face middle school boys. Merlin is a young, bald African American science teacher with a goatee and pierced ear, the three lunch ladies recite the school menu in rhyme around a cauldron to predict the future, and Gwen saves the day in the big dodgeball tournament. I hope we see much more of her in the sequels. Cammuso’s brilliant illustrations and his cheeky storytelling make a magical combination.
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Lynn: This engaging book is perfectly designed to attract middle school readers with its big panels and bright colors. It will also hold their attention with story elements such as tarantulas, besting bullies, and being the new kid in school. The clever riffs on the Arthur legend are the icing on the cake. Kids familiar with the story will pick out funny and affectionate details yet kids who don't know the story won't be lost. Boys and girls will find this a royal read.

Swim the Fly by Don Calame (Candlewick, 4/2009)

Lynn: I know it’s not nice to tease but we are going to talk about this laugh-out loud funny book even though it won’t publish till April. I think it is extremely hard to write humor but this first novel makes it look easy. Fifteen-year-old Matt and his two buddies have a tradition of setting a summer goal. This year’s is to see a real-live naked girl. Add barbell disasters, laxative and fart jokes, a nudist colony and three bumbling buddies who steal your heart and you have a book tailor made for teen-age boys. There is lots of crude snort-worthy humor here but there is also a sweetness to this story that will win over the most hard-hearted reader. It is definitely worth waiting for! My thanks to the generous folks at Candlewick for letting us have an early peek.
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Cindy: Matt's efforts to get in shape enough to just finish the 100 yard butterfly for his team will have your sides hurting as much as his--but yours will be from laughing. And I just love Gramps. Truly. Every boy needs a gramps like him. Not only did we get an early peek at this hilarious title, but the arc features Lynn's and my first book blurbs, along with friend, Ed Spicer (www.spicyreads.org) Two of our teen readers also have their comments in the arc. Here's what they had to say:

Nick A., age 16: "The book is incredibly funny, but I can still relate to those awkward moments....Had it not been for school and food, I would have read it straight through."

Leah M., age 14: "The main characters'...appalling cluelessness when it comes to girls will be sure to elicit a sympathetic cringe from the male population and a raucous laugh from everyone else. This book sped by with all the ease and grace of a truly amazing read, and considerably faster than most manage to swim the fly."

Finally, our teens were able to join us in providing feedback about the cover art. We love the final look--represents the contents very well and should be eye catching on the bookstore and library shelves for its target audience.

The Big Game of Everything by Chris Lynch

Cindy: This book was a hoot. I've read all of Chris's more recent, darker titles, and definitely need to go back and read some of the earlier funny titles that I've missed. Two brothers have summer jobs helping Grampus with the family golf course. There are only 13 holes so far, but Grampus is slowly working on developing the course, so to get in 18, you have to repeat a few holes. It's the kind of book that has such great characters and comic moments that you don't care if it even has a plot. And then, Lynch, twists a little knife in your heart as Grampus is forced to contemplate THE BIG GAME OF EVERYTHING. Loved it.