Scott Morse first created Magic Pickle as a graphic novel (to be re-released in May). These two beginning chapter books are a perfect choice for reluctant readers. They are filled with fun black and white illustrations and a hilarious short story. Underneath the floor in Jo Jo's bedroom is a secret laboratory where the Magic Pickle was accidentally created along with the Brotherhood of Evil Produce! Now Magic Pickle uses the lab as his headquarters while he hunts down and rids the world of all the evil fruits and vegetables (and eggs) that are wreaking havoc everywhere. Magic Pickle and the Planet of the Grapes and Magic Pickle vs. the Egg Poacher will likely be most appealing to boys. However, if girls give them a try they will probably enjoy them as well. After all, the main human character is a girl who has to keep the Magic Pickle's existence a secret and help him whenever possible. In return he might even use his super pickle power to clean her bedroom!
Faker By Gordon Korman New York: Scholastic Press, 2024. Fiction. 214 pages. 12-year-old Trey is used to starting over at a new school -- he has the routine perfectly memorized: make new friends, introduce his dad to the wealthy parents of his new friends, and "Houdini" themselves out of there before they get caught running their latest scam. Trey's dad is a master con artist, and Trey has just been promoted to full-partner. Their new scheme for the next big score brings them to the affluent suburb of Boxelder, TN where Trey's dad has cooked up a fake electric car company for investors to buy into. The only problem is that Trey is starting to grow tired of moving around and never putting down roots, especially after forming a fast friendship with Logan and developing a crush on Kaylee, a socially conscious girl in his class. As Trey longs for a normal life, is there any way he can convince his dad to get out of the family business? Gordon Korman is a perennial favorit...
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