Marvin and the Moths

July 11, 2016
Babymouse illustrator Holm and Follett met in middle school, and this alternately goofy and suspenseful story introduces Marvin Watson, whose own middle school experience is off to a poor start. He splits his gym shorts in front of his class on his first day, his parents are distracted by their new baby, and Marvin’s rich and popular cousin, Little Stevie, mocks his every move. After Marvin’s parents move him up to the unfinished attic so Baby Harry can have Marvin’s room, vials from one of Marvin’s science experiments mysteriously empty overnight, leading Marvin to discover three enormous and talkative moths—Artistotle, Abraham, and Ahab. Marvin makes a few human friends in addition to the moths, but interludes between chapters reveal a Shakespeare-quoting killer draining the blood of local animals. As that mystery deepens, the laughs come often, thanks to the banter among the moths and the oddball, pork-centric setting of Butcherville, home to the famous Pork Loaf Log Roll and streets “like swanky Loin Lane and the unfortunately titled Butt Boulevard.” Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. Agent: Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary Management.

July 15, 2016
A down-on-his-luck middle schooler discovers his town has some new arthropod inhabitants.In the town of Butcherville, where processed pork products reign supreme, Marvin Watson's middle school career isn't beginning particularly well. The white boy's diabolical cousin (and pork-product heir), Little Stevie--who makes Dudley Dursley look like a Boy Scout--has it out for him and seizes every opportunity to humiliate him. Marvin is nearly friendless except for the malodorous Lee, another white boy, and the bespectacled and elaborately braced Fatima. His parents have moved him up to their ramshackle attic so his caterwauling baby brother can have his room. On top of all these problems, he's discovered that three giant anthropomorphic, wool-eating, sports-loving moths have taken up residence in his attic and that a giant bloodthirsty, Shakespeare-quoting spider is terrorizing his town. Though Marvin isn't always likable--he often thinks of himself before others and makes the wrong decision--he must work together with Lee and Fatima to save his town from imminent arachnid destruction. Large, clear, full-page illustrations enhance each chapter, making this a giggle-worthy read-aloud. The whimsy, however, often meanders into full-fledged ridiculousness and combines with vague and unresolved plotlines for an unsettled conclusion. Readers willing to overlook this, however, may well appreciate the absurdity and humor. While not particularly substantive, this is the whole hog for silliness. (Fantasy. 7-12)

COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2016

Gr 4-6-If an episode of The Simpsons were written by a pair of 13-year-old boys, it might feel a little like this surreal stew of science run amok, middle school high jinks and angst, corporate mayhem, and the worst Harvest Dance ever. For Marvin Watson, the start of middle school is one more horror in his increasingly difficult life. A new baby brother; the realization that his wealthy, popular, and evil bully of a cousin will be a fellow classmate; and a wardrobe malfunction on the very first day are just a few of Marvin's troubles. To make matters worse, the only two people who will talk to him are "super smelly" Lee and intelligent but socially inept Fatima. Oh, and Marvin's unauthorized experimentation on one of the myriad products from Pork Loaf International, the town's main employer, may be responsible for not only the three human-size moths wreaking havoc in his new attic bedroom but quite possibly for the mysterious and deadly, Shakespeare-quoting "elephant vampire" as well. Town hysteria results in an incident of book burning, most of the characters fall just short of caricature, and the humor feels a little forced at times, but this laugh-out-loud goof fest will likely capture the imaginations of many reluctant readers. VERDICT Selling this one to fans of fart jokes and science humor will be as easy as, um, pork loaf.-Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2016
Grades 4-7 Bad: Marvin is forced to share his attic bedroom with a squabbling trio of outsize moths, even as his town is terrorized by a so-called elephant vampire. Worse: middle school is not off to a promising start. Along with splitting his gym shorts on the first day and being subjected to relentless bullying, Marvin is forced to partner up in science with smelly Lee Skluzacek and snarky Fatima Curie, dubbed Evil Robot Girl for her glare, leg brace, bird cage orthodontics, and array of blinking electronic devices. The authors occasionally blunder through sensitive issuesa program at the school that segregates students with Odoriferous Needs, and semiofficial censors deface and burn library books. Still, with tongue-in-cheek sobriety, and punctuated by frequent full-page illustrations (not seen), this offbeat tale winds its way to a climactic Harvest Dance, where humiliation gives way to heroism when the vampire attacks. Fortunately, Lee's stench turns out to be a sort of awesomely gross superpower. Unfortunately, Marvin realizes he himself might be to blame. Cue the sequel!(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)