Another NASTYbook: The Curse of the Tweeties

August 1, 2006
Gr 4-7 -Rollo is constantly eating NuttiNutz Bars and reading his favorite manga, "Su-ichi Samurai Swordboy". During a family picnic his mom is kidnapped by goblins and taken to Fairyland. Since his father and sister are -cravenly cowards, - it is up to Rollo to rescue her. He encounters mini-assassins Marv and Harv Tweetie (sugar-crazed adult twins), talking false teeth, and more. At several points the text morphs into manga, and a few of Rollo -s fights are violent. Smudges, fingerprints, and page and chapter numbers that change direction or include additional messages appear throughout. While Yourgrau -s "NASTYbook" (HarperCollins, 2005), a collection of anecdotes, tangents, and stories, appeals to kids who like to think out of the box, this full-length novel is a disappointment. At the high point of each of Rollo -s adventures, he awakens to find that he was only dreaming, and the ending reveals that the picnic hasn -t even happened yet. This plot device becomes old quickly, and readers will want the story to move on, which it never really does. Because of its unique format, this offering will no doubt appeal to some readers, but it -s basically an additional purchase." -Elaine Lesh Morgan, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR"

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