Infestation
Gr 5-8-When Andy Greenwood, 12, is caught stealing and wrecking his foster father's motorcycle, he gets sent to the Reclamation School for Boys in New Mexico for three months. He soon learns that the corrupt headmaster/warden is bribing officials to keep the boys at the institution longer than their original sentences. Aggressive ants keep leaving welts all over the school's population, and no bug spray will kill them. To top it all off, the annoying angry ants grow to the size of humans during an earthquake. The only thing that helps is small vials with explosive substances called sodium and cesium. Where did these giant monsters come from? With almost everyone dead, can Andy and the few other survivors destroy the ants and escape before they get eaten? The chapters end spectacularly with lots of cliff-hangers, and the characters are likable and fairly well-developed. The inclusion of facts about ants and insect mutation complements the story. The author's fast-paced, action-driven writing style is sure to entertain and delight reluctant and avid readers. Fans of horror, adventure, bugs, and mystery will enjoy this funny, harrowing tale.-Kira Moody, Whitmore Public Library, Salt Lake City, UTα(c) Copyright 2013.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.  No redistribution permitted.