Worst Week Ever! Monday

January 1, 2024
A supremely unlucky kid's terrible, horrible, no good, very bad first day at a new school. Only a bold or foolish narrator would start a book by calling out the upcoming story beats like Babe Ruth predicting a home run. But Justin Chase does just that, warning readers of the mortification to come. Now that his mom has married Vlad, his new stepdad, both of whom work the night shift, he'll be living with his dad during the week and spending weekends with his mom--and that means attending a new school. His ill-fitting clothing, the embarrassing car his plumber father drives ("a giant TOILET on wheels"), and the fact that he shares his name with a famous singer set him up for bullying from the get-go. Neighbor and classmate Mia is a rare social lifeline throughout Justin's trials, which include two scatological incidents so gross that the book cuts away to images of cute animals. Cosgrove's humorous, cartoonish illustrations appear on nearly every page. The text frequently employs large, bold, and capitalized words, suggesting an emphatic reading whether out loud or in one's head. These visual elements help exaggerate the many outlandish incidents that occur. Readers won't be able to look away while wondering how much worse this day can get. Justin and most of the cast have skin the white of the page. A worst day to remember among the pantheon of Wimpy Kids and Dorks. (trivia, how to draw Justin, authors' note) (Fiction. 9-11)

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March 29, 2024

Gr 3-7-Husband-and-wife team Cosgrove and Amores kick off a fun-filled series with this highly illustrated novel. Justin Chase, 12, just wants to fit in, but he is highly anxious given the latest events in his life. He is starting a new school, facing a bully, has a new stepdad whom he thinks is a vampire-and his actual dad, a plumber, is driving a giant toilet on wheels! Justin even worries about his cat being abducted by aliens. Readers are taken through one day in Justin's life: Monday, starting at 5 a.m. Each part of Justin's day is depicted through prose and dynamic spot art and panels, painting a very clear picture of who he is and his values. The tone of this self-portrait is reminiscent of Junior from Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Illustrations flesh out the cast; important people in Justin's life each get a special diagram for their likes and dislikes. Most amusing is his nan's obsession with crochet, including experimenting with curtains, umbrellas, and hats for the cat. Readers will wonder if they really can swim in crocheted swim trunks! Tweens will enjoy the fun facts included at the end of the book, and the guidance on how to draw Justin Chase. VERDICT A charming look at one tween's day, rife with goofiness and middle grade toilet humor. Fans of Captain Underpants will enjoy this series.-Lisa Gieskes

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