Jonny Jakes Investigates the Hamburgers of Doom

March 1, 2016

Gr 3-6-Jonny Jakes may not be the undercover reporter his school wants, but he's the undercover reporter that his school needs, no matter what Mr. Hardy says. Jonny writes for the banned school newspaper, The Woodford Word, and tackles the big issues using his other pen name, Fiona Friend. But when the paper goes too far and a new principal comes to town, it's not just Jonny who's in trouble. Mr. Jones seems great, but there's just one small problem-he's an alien. An alien whom Jonny is sure is up to something quite nefarious. Together with classmate Norris, unlikely ally Julie, the smartest girl in school Sally, and their drama teacher, Ms. Briars, the rag tag group must undo Mr. Jones's mind control and stop him from consuming their school and possibly the planet. A diary-style format interspersed with cartoon illustrations and clippings from The Woodword Word keep pages interesting and particularly appealing for reluctant readers. Full of action and colorful humor, this novel will have kids anxiously flipping pages to discover the fate of Jonny and his friends. VERDICT Jonny Jakes and his antics will keep readers more than entertained and keep this book flying off shelves.-Ashley Prior, Lincoln Public Library, RI

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2016
An investigative journalist saves his school from a fate worse than lunch. "Jonny Jakes" (not his real name) has little trouble keeping his identity as publisher and chief reporter of the scandal sheet Woodford Word from his infuriated principal, Mr. Hardy. The stakes soar, though, when Hardy is replaced by "Mr. Jones," a seemingly benign alien from the planet Huurl who passes out addictive, mind-altering candy followed by special hamburgers that instantly add rolls of fat to all who eat them. And soon everybody (including parents) has fallen under his spell except for light-skinned Jonny and recruited confederates Norris Morris and Julie Singh, both dark-skinned. What's Jones' game? The burgers also have the effect of producing, as Jonny puts it, "Gas. Both ends"--a phenomenon that's not only described in loving detail, but fits nicely into a tale that also features blobby purple people eaters, gray food that smells like sweaty socks, references to puke and snot, clandestine meetings in boys' and girls' bathrooms, casual violence, and a climactic food fight that splatters the lunchroom with "chocolate fudge, raspberry bits, and luminous alien guts." Along with a side dish of butt crack, Brown serves up cartoon images of secret messages, headlines, revealing photos, and characters. Though it's a British import, the book's action has been relocated to Massachusetts and the text Americanized. Exactly what's to be expected when you take candy from five-eyed purple extraterrestrials. (Science fiction. 8-10)

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February 15, 2016
Grades 4-7 Jonny Jakes is the rogue reporter behind the banned school newspaper the Woodford Word. Unable to unmask Jonny's true identity, the principal resigns, and in his place, the school hires Mr. Jones, an alien from Huurl who is too good to be true. He hands out candy to everyone, but Jonny and a couple friends know something's fishy and refuse to eat it. After a few weeks they realize that the candy turns the students and teachers into smiling, mindless zombies. After the candy, Mr. Jones starts feeding the students free hamburgers. They look and smell disgusting and have a rapid and nasty side effect: they make everyone who eats them fat and flatulent. Determined to rid their school of this infestation, they start to plot a way to defeat Jones, finding that dumbwaiters and spices can be effective weapons. Humorous and imaginative, the illustrations, newspaper headlines, and Post-it notes will keep readers of all ages up past their bedtimes to finish what, hopefully, is Jonny's first adventure of many.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)