Action packed
Adventure, mystery, and monsters—it's where the boys are
By Karyn M. Peterson -- Playthings, 8/1/2006
As the summer movie blockbuster season starts winding down, retailers can capitalize on the unwavering appetites of middle school-age boys for action, adventure, mystery and suspense by stocking a tantalizing selection of books that will start them reading—and keep them coming back again and again. For a true balance, offer a liberal serving of sibling drama, a side of gross-out humor and a tasty sprinkling of pirates, monsters, aliens and more.
The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless, by first-time author Ahmet Zappa, revels in monster mania with its story of young Max McFearless and his “monsterminating” 11-year-old sister Minerva. Walt Disney Pictures has already signed a movie deal for the much-awaited book, which features pseudo-scientific data on monsters of all sorts, full-color illustrations and monster-repelling recipes. ($12.95) Random House, New York
Yet another exciting tale of siblings in crisis, Justin Somper's Vampirates: Demons of the Ocean, which debuts in October just in time for Halloween, combines vampires and pirates, both hot commodities in the boy world. There's also considerable sword fighting, suspense and action in this story of twins Connor and Grace, who are separated by a shipwreck that lands them with very different companions, much to Grace's peril. ($15.99) Little, Brown and Co., New York
More than just mystery awaits readers in Dave Keane's new Joe Sherlock, Kid Detective: The Missing Monkey-Eye Diamond—there's some mystery, some mayhem…and some poop jokes, making the third title in this new chapter series another sure bet with middle-grade boys. As they follow Joe in his quest to become more like the famous Sherlock Holmes, boys will be drawn to the black-and-white cartoons and plenty of lively gross-out humor. ($15.99) Harper Collins, New York
Book five in Dan Greenburg's popular Secrets of the Dripping Fang series, The Shluffmuffin Boy Is History, which debuts in December, continues the trials of the orphaned Shluffmuffin twins, Wally and Cheyenne. An engaging blend of action, adventure, comedy and horror, the series draws in reluctant-to-read boys with gross humor, spooky settings, suspense, and, as Greenburg says, “Some really horrid monsters.” ($9.95) Harcourt, New York
Also debuting in October is Robin Jarvis' The Whitby Witches, a new trilogy set in the sleepy seaside town of Whitby, a place where things are definitely not as serene as they seem. While 8-year-old Ben sees things—and people—that others cannot, his older sister Jennet hears strange howling during the night. What is the evil mystery of Whitby? Find out in this intriguing tale from the author of the popular Deptford series. ($17.95) Chronicle Books, San Francisco
In P.J. Haarsma's new The Softwire: Virus on Orbis 1, the first title in a new sci-fi series especially for middle-graders, 13-year-old human Johnny Turnbull discovers he is a “softwire” with the ability to communicate with computers through his mind. But when the omniscient, omnipotent central computer on Orbis 1 suddenly goes awry, Johnny and the rest of his fellow refugee orphans are soon in grave danger. ($15.99) Candlewick Press, Cambridge, Mass.
