Sir John Hargrave's Mischief Maker's Manual
Grade 7 Up–Though at first glance this handbook may seem like a tween/teen version of William Powell'sThe Anarchist Cookbook(Barricade, 1990), it's actually a lot more like Conn Iggulden and Hal Iggulden's innocuousThe Dangerous Book for Boys(Collins, 2007). While the focus is on how to execute perfect pranks, and while there is definitely an illicit feel to the book design, there's also strong emphasis on mischief-makers' ethics as defined in a Prankster's Code, which is repeated throughout the book. Among its prescriptions: Always be careful; don't be a bully; do no lasting damage; and be funny. That last edict is a biggie. The book constantly emphasizes that, ultimately, pranks should be creative and harmless enough to be entertaining to parties on both sides of the equation–even if perpetrators have to return to the scene of their crimes to help clean up any lingering messes. While it's destined to be devilishly attractive to reluctant readers, most of the pranks outlined are actually of the dribble-glass and Whoopie cushion variety. But some, like any worthwhile high jinks, could go awry and land pranksters in hot water. If that happens, the manual also provides tips on how to get out of trouble gracefully. Some techniques, like the Ping-Pong ball smoke bomb, may give some professionals pause, no matter how many safety guidelines accompany them.–Jeffrey Hastings, Highlander Way Middle School, Howell, MICopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.