About the Author

Chris Rylander is the author of the Fourth Stall Saga. A lifetime Chicago Cubs fan, he lives in North Dakota.

Reviews

Here is an original-a story that really gets how guys are pals. It's also funny, mysterious, and true to the heart of what really matters when you are in middle school. Do yourself a favor. Read it. Now. -- Jon Scieszka, author of the Time Warp Trio series Debut novelist Rylander mines a substantial amount of humor and heart from this combination hard-boiled crime novel and middle-grade character piece. A light and enjoyable caper. -- Publishers Weekly Draws in even the most apprehensive young reader... A robust story rich in action, adventure, humor, and friendship. -- Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) Mac narrates the tale with the arch flatness of a 1940s satire of the noir detective genre...Excellent. -- ALA Booklist

Gr 4-7-Sixth-grader Mac is a fixer, a problem solver. He runs a thriving business helping kids with everything from test answers to bullying. With his best friend and fellow Cubs fanatic, Vince, he makes a tidy profit greasing the skids for his classmates. Working out of a stall in an unused restroom, the buddies have amassed enough cash to buy tickets to a World Series game should the Cubs finally make it. But a seemingly simple job protecting a third grader from bullies brings a confrontation with Staples, a thugish dropout who Mac thought was only a legend. Staples is expanding his gambling ring into Mac's territory, threatening his business, and Mac will need all of his considerable talents to deal with the older and far more ruthless villain and his assortment of nasty henchmen. The writing is witty and there are some memorable characters, but the pace will not keep reluctant readers engaged. Vince's frequent nonsensical quotations from bizarre relatives and the boys' exchange of Cubs trivia can also be tiresome. However, the story does have some suspense and action, and middle schoolers will enjoy the younger kids standing up to older teens and operating under the noses of clueless adults.-Anthony C. Doyle, Livingston High School, CA (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.