Masters of Disaster
Gr 5-7–Henry Mosley is concerned that his everyday life lacks the excitement experienced by the young heroes of his favorite novels. “We may be the most boring twelve-year-olds on the planet,” he tells his friends Riley and Reed. Henry proposes that they undertake a series of projects, thus “Becoming Men of Action and Daring” who “Alter the Course of History” and, with luck, “Impress Girls.” While the dialogue and setting are modern, this is an affectionate and spot-on homage to the “boy chums” adventures of yesteryear. Each self-contained chapter details one of Henry's wild plans–from driving a bicycle off a roof to searching for bodies in a haunted house to spending the night in a Dumpster. The friends fill familiar roles–Henry the mastermind; Riley the scientific planner and loyal sidekick; and cautious, nervous Reed, who generally ends up right in the thick of the calamity du jour. Henry's schemes often involve serious danger, but the guys come through with only a few bumps and nicks–and some lingering bad smells. There is even a bully antagonist, although the brutish Dwight stays mostly on the fringes of the action–until the trio's spectacular last-chapter revenge. Middle school boys will be attracted by the zany stunts and frequent gross-out encounters with garbage, mud, slime, and “doody.”–Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, ILα(c) Copyright 2010.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.  No redistribution permitted.