Dave Barry is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author of more than two dozen books including the just-released You Can Date When You're 40. Along with Ridley Pearson, he is the co-author of the Peter and the Starcatchers series and Science Fair.. Dave, his wife Michelle and their family live in Miami, Florida.
Check your disbelief at the TSA line for this hilarious jaunt from
Miami to Washington, D.C., with the civics students of Culver
Middle School. Trouble starts on the airplane, where Wyatt Palmer
and friend Matt Diaz notice that some nearby passengers have aerial
photos of the White House and a backpack they are reluctant to stow
under the seat in front of them. When an electronic device falls
out of the bag, Matt pockets it, setting off a chain of events that
leads to two kidnappings and an international incident in the Rose
Garden involving the President, a foreign dignitary, a dragon kite,
an angry cab driver, and more. (Suggested alternate title: The
Worst School Chaperones Ever.) The boys are aided by the apple of
Wyatt's eye, Suzana Delgado, who they are surprised to learn is not
only an excellent soccer player but "basically a Navy SEAL
disguised as a hot eighth-grade girl." Pulitzer-winner Barry has
the comic sensibility of a middle-school class clown. Expect to
have lots of trouble keeping this one on the shelf. Ages 8 12.
Agent: Amy Berkower, Writers House PW"
On a trip to Washington, D.C., four eight-graders get tangled up in
a plot to bomb the White House . . . or maybe not. One thing nerdy
Wyatt does know: the two men from "Gadakistan" who sat behind him
on the plane with stop at nothing-including kidnapping-to get back
the mysterious electronic device Wyatt's impulsive buddy Matt
snatched from them. OK, one other thing-how lucky is he that
dazzling classmate steps away from the "Hot Girl Clot" to provide
the brains, bankroll, and even the brawn for what becomes a frantic
round of chases, attacks, rescues, narrow escapes, and desperate
ploys? Laced with Barry's trademark zingers (pandas are "like the
Kardashians of zoo animals" because they "never actually do
anything except eat and poop"), the escapade culminates in a
climactic melee featuring a snake, a fork, a really big kite, the
president of the United States, and video footage that boosts
Wyatt's Twitter account from 2 followers to 4.7 million. Readers
can only hope their own class trips turn this exhilarating.
HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Barry (along with Ridley Pearson) has built
cred with kids thanks to the Peter and the Starcatchers series.
Adults know him, too, so expect demand thanks to name recognition
and plenty of buzz. John Peters Booklist"
A Miami eighth-grader's class trip to the nation's capital quickly
escalates into an international incident.Wyatt Palmer wants nothing
more than a nice, peaceful, informative class trip to Washington,
D.C. But when his best friend, Matt, spots some suspicious activity
on their plane, his dream vanishes-in a big way. Soon Matt is
kidnapped, possibly by international terrorists, and it's up to
Wyatt and the girl of his dreams to find him and exchange a deadly
device for their lost friend. That all sounds heavy, but humor
columnist Barry sprinkles enough laughs throughout to keep things
moving smoothly. The novel's ludicrous scenario is met with an
equally comic tone, making for a fast-paced, easy read. The author
sup! plies these kids with enough smarts to get out of jams but
enough vulnerabilities to keep readers engaged. At no point will
readers be worried about the fate of the world, but whether or not
Wyatt and his pals make it out in one piece is another matter. The
book's shortcomings are few: the adult characters are as flat as
the children are round, some of the slapstick goes a bit too far,
and the final pages are overstuffed with expository "this is how
everybody ended up" chunks of text. A light, comic tone and
more-or-less believable stakes make for a winning combination.
(Thriller. 8-12) Kirkus"
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