Griff Carver, Hallway Patrol

Gr 4—8—Griff Carver, 13, is an overzealous school hall cop who will not stop until justice is served and all hall runners are halted in Jim Krieg's humorous novel (Razorbill, 2010). On his first day at Rampart Middle School, he signs up for Safety Patrol, but a previous school expulsion and his reputation for being a loose cannon have him under the radar of Principal Sprangue and Safety Patrol Captain Delane. He and his partner, Tommy, a straight-laced Camp Scout, stumble upon what they think may be a counterfeit hall-pass ring. But a few missteps and a snarky attitude lose Carver his patrol badge. Without missing a beat, they manage to continue their investigation and even get school news reporter, Verity, wrapped up in the action. The full-cast narration, performed by Mike Chamberlain, Kirby Heyborne, and Emily Janice Card, is spunky and youthful. Pair the audio with the book to hook reluctant readers. Fans of "The Wimpy Kid" series will appreciate the martial arts fights, toilet swirlies, and rampant middle school humor.—Lisa Hubler, Memorial Junior High School, South Euclid, OH