Ship Out of Luck

May 1, 2013
Teenager Antsy Bonano gets into an amazing amount of trouble while spending a week on a luxurious Caribbean cruise ship in this agreeable companion to The Schwa Was Here (2004). Old Man Crawley, a filthy-rich irascible codger with a soft spot for his blind, 16-year-old granddaughter, Lexie, is about to turn 80. To celebrate, he invites--commands, really--Antsy and his family to join him and Lexie for a week aboard the incredibly fabulous cruise ship Plethora of the Deep. After a precise setup that neatly lays out the well-detailed characters and their situations, Antsy meets the attractive and intriguing Tilde, who claims she's a stowaway and smuggler of illegal immigrants. Reluctantly, bighearted Antsy, who for all his smarts can't seem to stop himself from getting involved in people's problems, begins helping her. The comedic, larger-than-life climax showcases the interaction among social media, the legitimate press and storytelling (aka lying), giving Antsy the opportunity to prove that he has both guts and heart. The story, which has a lot going on and is full of sharp quips and amusing observations, is beautifully constructed and contains a meticulously foreshadowed yet completely surprising plot twist and, later, an unexpected reveal. For all its dazzle, though, it sometimes seems more interested in its own cleverness than in pulling readers along, and they might find themselves full of admiration at its wit and wisdom, yet rather uninvolved. Nevertheless, a highly enjoyable ride. (Fiction. 12-18)

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July 1, 2013

Gr 7-10-Wisecracking Anthony Bonano is back in this lively companion to The Schwa Was Here (2004) and Antsy Does Time (2008, both Dutton). The Bonanos have been invited to join curmudgeonly Old Man Crawley and his granddaughter, Lexie, for an all-expenses-paid, weeklong Caribbean Cruise aboard the Plethora of the Deep, the most luxurious cruise ship in the world. Antsy soon finds that his vacation is destined to be anything but relaxing, however, as he befriends a stowaway and thief, Tilde, who has been breaking into guests' cabins and stealing five dollars from each passenger's wallet. In typical fashion, Antsy follows his big heart (not to mention his big mouth) straight into an ocean of trouble. Before he knows it, he becomes involved in Tilde's scheme to smuggle illegal Mexican immigrants into the U.S. and winds up at the center of an international incident. Antsy's family and friends are all suffering their own personal crises. Once again, the teen must rely on his quick wit-and his Brooklyn attitude-to save the day. While not quite as humorous or heartfelt as its predecessors, this novel does contain a certain amount of charm, including a winning cast of secondary characters. Anthony's strong voice and perplexing moral dilemmas are compelling, but the sometimes slow-moving plot and unrealistic ending may cause some teens to lose interest. Purchase where the previous novels are popular.-Liz Overberg, Darlington Middle School, Rome, GA

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2013
Grades 6-9 Antsy can hardly believe his good fortune. Old Man Crawley has invited his family to celebrate his eightieth birthday by joining him on Plethora of the Deep, the fanciest cruise ship in the Caribbean. Since Lexie and her service dog Moxie will also be on board, the only person missing is Antsy's crazy friend Howie, who finds a way to join them. It promises to be the perfect Fourth of July vacation, luxuriously relaxing poolside in the sun. Well, hardly! Antsy's plans take a major detour when he meets Tilde, a cute teenage girl who charms him into crimes both petty and major. It's a funny Shusterman romp that plays right into the latest cruise ship disaster stories while subtly posing adolescent and adult ethical dilemmas, from lying to friends to the Robin Hood rationale of stealing from the rich to take care of the poor. With the Schwa and his mother making a cameo appearance, this companion to The Schwa Was Here (2004) sets sail with a boatload of slapstick, some creative problem solving, and a happy ending.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)