Hunter Moran Saves the Universe

August 20, 2012
To the ranks of Hilary McKay's irrepressible Cassons and Barbara Robinson's incorrigible Herdmans, Giff (the Zigzag Kids series) adds the Moran clan, who fall into both categories. At the center of the Moran family maelstrom are fifth-grade twins Hunter and Zack, the former narrating this rapid-fire story. The action â¨revolves around Hunter's misreading of clues that, to him, expose a neighbor's plot to blow up their town. The twins' attempts to prevent this catastrophe land them in some dicey spots: stranded on a church roof, discovered in the suspect's yard in the middle of the night trying to unearth a buried "bomb," and trapped inside the local monumentâa large soup kettle forged by the town's founder. Though Giff's plot is over-the-top, her characterizations give this comedy depth and warmth. Other iconoclastic family members include Steadman, a wise preschooler with a knack for turning up in unexpected places; William, who paints murals throughout the house; and bossy oldest sister, Linny. With Giff as skilled accomplice, the Morans provide delightful entertainment. Ages 8â12. Agent: George Nicholson, Sterling Lord Literistic.

August 1, 2012
On the first day of vacation, when rising sixth-grader Hunter Moran intercepts a phone call he interprets as a bomb plot, he sets out with his twin brother, Zack, to save the town of Newfield. With imaginations fueled by TV shows, Hunter and Zack weave various bits of evidence into an elaborate hypothesis about the nefarious activities of the dentist down the street. As middle children in a large, active family, their investigations are hampered by the watchful eyes of an older brother and sister and the constant attention of their tag-along 5-year-old brother, Steadman. Hunter's brash first-person voice is convincing. He's barely aware of the improbable trail of destruction he and his brothers leave behind. In the four days leading up to the Tinwitty Night celebration, they find themselves stranded next door on the slate roof of St. Ursula's church, covered with the contents of Vinny Moochmore's compost pile and trapped inside the great iron soup kettle in the town center. All this occurs before Hunter's climactic balloon ride. Cell phones and laptops are part of their modern world, but the children's freedom to investigate the mystery of Dr. Diglio's buried box is reminiscent of earlier, less-supervised times and traditional small-town life. The boys' exaggerated escapades make for an appealing read-aloud as well as a successful summer read. (Fiction. 9-12)

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November 1, 2012

Gr 3-6-Summer vacation has just begun, but there's no time for leisurely activities for Hunter and Zack. While plotting to bury Zack's less-than-stellar report card, the twins intercept a garbled phone call that, coupled with mysterious notes, causes them to conclude that the local dentist, Dr. Diglio, is plotting to blow up their small town. Hunter feels it is up to him and his brother to save it while simultaneously trying to avoid their ever-present, annoying little brother; stay out of trouble with their parents; and prepare for the annual festival, Tinwitty Day. High jinks ensue that include the boys becoming marooned on the roof of the church and getting trapped inside the giant iron soup kettle in the center of town, all the while trying to evade Sarah Yulefski, who has a crush on Hunter. Giff presents a zany tale with a multitude of characters, but many of them aren't well developed, and some of the incidents are not fully resolved, such as burying the report card. Some readers will find some mild chuckles here, but most will see through the transparent "bomb plot," leaving them disappointed.Michele Shaw, Quail Run Elementary School, San Ramon, CA

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2012
Grades 4-7 With a wry blend of mystery and farce, fifth-grader Hunter describes the crazy goings-on in his small town over a summer. After Hunter helps his twin, Zack, alter his report card ( just a simple change from an F to an A for music appreciation, so as not to upset Mom) and then tries to bury the evidence, the brothers discover something odd buried in their local dentist's backyard. Is it a bomb? What does the weird message on Mom's phone mean about the original missing from the church? The twins' four siblings are no help; in fact, they are more trouble. So is Zack's cello teacher, who hides her sweet, slobbering dog in a shopping bag when she goes to the library. With the huge family and neighborhood cast, it is sometimes hard to know who is doing what to whom. But readers will enjoy Hunter's take on the local slapstick events and, especially, the universal conflicts at home.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)