Brass Monkeys

Gr 5—8—Eugene is the new kid at the worst middle school ever, where "confusion, boredom, and fear" rule the day. Teachers lead classes that are literally mind-numbingly dull and their evil principal has an even more devious scheme to control the students. When Eugene learns that he has been chosen to oppose this takeover, he reluctantly sneaks along as Principal Ming transports a trainload of students to the hidden underground city of Monkeyopolis, turns them into monkeys, and prepares to steal the "Amberlight" that gives them spirit. The city and its surroundings set up nice bits of school-related humor. The place is constructed out of "school junk," including "buildings made of ballpoint pens" and band-instrument chimneys; teachers chasing Eugene wield guns that fire deadly chalk and erasers. The boy and his allies try to locate a missing rebel leader, surviving plenty of battles, chases, and narrow escapes along the way. The sometimes-convoluted plot includes mostly unexciting action scenes and too much fretting, followed by pep talks, as Eugene frequently jumps from hope to despair and back again. The hero's growth from timidity to confidence isn't especially compelling, and his friends are generally stock characters. On the other hand, the broad satire of school culture is much more successful, and is right at the level that this audience will get and appreciate. For most, however, the funny moments may not be enough to keep kids involved in the drawn-out story.—Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville Public Library, OR