FICTION

Laugh Out Loud

by Chris Grabenstein
PATTERSON, James & . illus. by Jeff Ebbeler. 304p. Little, Brown/Jimmy Patterson. Aug. 2017. Tr $13.99. ISBN 9780316431460.
COPY ISBN
Gr 5–8—Motivated middle school dreamer Jimmy loves books, reading, and writing. He longs to open the first children's publishing company run by kids, for kids. Jimmy and his friends are constantly met with derision from adults, but they persevere. Patterson and Grabenstein emphasize that dreams can come true if you take action and never give up. Fans and educators alike will appreciate the many kid lit authors and titles mentioned throughout.
VERDICT A humorous adventure with a positive message. Readers who enjoy Patterson's "Middle School" and Tommy Greenwald's "Charlie Joe Jackson" series will gravitate toward this novel.
Reviewed by Elizabeth Pelayo, St. Charles East High School, IL
Middle schooler Jimmy sets out to start his own kid-run publishing company; no matter what adult naysayers throw in his way, he's determined to "make books that make kids want to read more books." Short chapters full of (imaginary) robots and alien invasions, absurd adults, and exuberantly chaotic drawings keep this occasionally didactic fictional origin story of JIMMY (Patterson) Books moving at a swift pace.
 , Jul 01, 2017

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

BOOKS

Not If You Break Up with Me First
by Miller, G.F
BOOKS

Any Way You Look
by Siddiqui, Maleeha
BOOKS

Picture a Girl
by Manzer, Jenny
BOOKS

Basil & Dahlia: A Tragical Tale of Sinister Sweetness
by McCullogh, Joy
BOOKS

Olive Blackwood Takes Action!
by Thomas, Sonja
BOOKS

Breaking into Sunlight
by Cochran, John
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?