Skip to main content

The Worst Class Trip Ever


The Worst Class Trip Ever
by Dave Barry
Disney Hyperion, 2015. Fiction. 214 p.

Wyatt's 8th grade class is going on a major field trip from Miami to Washington DC to see historical sites. While he is on the airplane with this class, Wyatt notices that the two men with foreign accents sitting behind him are acting suspiciously and are looking at aerial photographs of the White House. Thinking that the men are terrorists, Wyatt and his friend, Matt, confront the two men, but the only succeed in attracting the attention of the air marshal. During the scuffle that follows Matt takes something from one of the foreigners' bags. Thus begins an amazingly wild ride that involves being chased by the two men all over Washington, kidnapping, super top secret military equipment, the cutest girl in the 8th grade, and an obscure ancient hunting implement.

Dave Barry is a master of humor. He has a clever way of starting out with events that are probable, moving slowly to the improbable, to the nearly impossible, and ending up at the utterly ridiculous, but he does it so smoothly that the reader is carried along in a state of delightfully suspended disbelief.  The final sequence which brings everything to a climax is brilliant. This is a great choice for reluctant readers or anyone who is looking for laugh-out-loud humor. It is available in print, or as a recorded book.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Super Boba Cafe

Super Boba CafƩ By Nidhi Chanani New York: Amulet Books, 2023. Comics. 215 pages. 14-year-old Aria is excited to spend her summer in San Francisco getting quality time with her Nainai. She loves helping at her grandmother's Super Boba CafƩ. But she can't help but notice that her grandmother is acting strange and secretive. She refuses to let Aria into the kitchen at all and she disappears at the same time each night without telling Aria where she goes. Meanwhile, Aria is eager to drum up more business for Super Boba CafƩ. She gets a major windfall when the shop cat, Bao, surprises them by having kittens, and Aria realizes this is a major social media opportunity. She knows this will help Nainai's shop, but she is apprehensive to get back on social media after a terrible cyberbullying experience she had back home. As the shop starts to get busier, Nainai is more and more anxious about her secret project. This prompts Aria to investigate with help from her Nainai's neighb...

Review: The Mixed-Up Owl

The Mixed-Up Owl  Written by Marzena Sowa Illustrated by Joanna Lorno New York : Hippo Park, 2025. Picture Book. When Owl can't sleep at night, he heads off to see if any forest animals can help him understand why, and even more so, how to fix it!  Unfortunately, all the animals Owl runs into at night are asleep and all the animals he meets during the day are too rude or too busy to answer him.  Will Owl give up or will a chance meeting with a grumpy hedgehog provide all the solutions Owl was looking for? The premise of an owl trying to stay awake during the day because all the other animals around him do is very fun. Kids who know that owls are nocturnal will get a kick out of Owl's confusion and be quick to try to tell him what's going on.  Readers who don't know many facts about owls (or nocturnal animals in general) will get a brief introduction to the different ways animals sleep. The illustrations are charming, especially cute Owl and his expressive body langua...

Display: Be A World Traveller

Real Castles Around the World Written by Kaitlyn Duling Vero Beach, Florida : Rourke Educational Media, 2025. Informational. 48 pages Take a trip around the world as you read about the most impressive castles ever built! Explore fierce fortresses, castles that have inspired stories, uniquely colorful castles, and the history behind them all as you Travel to Real Castles Around the World! Part of the Travel to Children s Book Series, this 48-page nonfiction book explores castles both past and present, the kings that inhabited them, and knights that fought to protect them! Lower the drawbridge, cross the moat, and travel to real castles from all around the world as you learn about our magical history with fun-filled facts and vibrant photos. History Book Features: Before- and after-reading activities. Extension activity. Glossary About Rourke Educational Media: We proudly publish respectful and relevant nonfiction and fiction titles that represent our diverse readers, and are designed to...