My son is a voracious reader, but he can be a bit finicky. We received an advance copy of "The Bad Apple", the first installment in the "Merits of Mischief" series by T.R. Burns. At first my son didn't want to read it as it was not by one of his "usual" authors, but I explained he had to at least give it a try.
After the first quarter, he put it down and said no thanks. I thought that was it, but to my surprise a few days later, I saw him back at it. I asked him why was he reading it again, and he said "I wanted to see what happens to Seamus", the protagonist. Something in those first pages caught his attention and wouldn't let go.
The publisher describes the book as “a mischievous new middle-grade series” that “has trouble written all over it. Twelve-year-old Seamus Hinkle is a good kid with a perfect school record-until the day he accidently kills his substitute teacher with an apple.”
Seamus is duly shipped off to a special school, (yes, another special school) with uniquely skilled students (yes, special skills) and he rises to the top of his class (surprise). The tried and true scenario does not take away from the fact that my son read the book with enthusiasm. The dry and witty sense of humor the author weaves throughout the tale meshed well with my sons own and kept his enjoyment level high.
The book does not come out for a few months, but it is one we recommend. The publisher recommends for children ages 8-12. Look for it soon.
