The Magic Eraser

June 1, 2020

Gr 2-5-Locker 37 provides the fourth grade students of Hopewell Elementary with solutions to their problems in the most unexpected of ways. This first installment promises a look at the various adventures students have with the tools found in the locker, starting with fourth grader Carson Cooper and a mysterious stain on his pants. Awash in shades of green and gray, the cartoon-style artwork often provides character development where the words are lacking. This particular mix of text and illustration may appeal to "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" fans who are looking for another series, though Starmer fails to create relatable characters with depth. Younger readers are likely to skip the special "math chapters," which feel jarring to the flow of this heavily plot-based book. A "history chapter" will give kids an insight into the mythology about how a magical locker came to find its way to Hopewell Elementary. VERDICT With short chapters and large print, reluctant young readers will likely speed through this middle grade novel.-Monisha Blair, Rutgers Univ., NJ

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