Magic Delivery

Gr 4–6—Nick is the go-to guy for help at Bayside Middle School. He can delay a test or change your grade—all for a fee of course. This year, even Hayley Millard has asked him for help, in return for an invite to her famous Halloween party. Then Nick and his best buddy Burger witness a delivery truck go off a cliff and while trying to help they stumble across some Halloween costumes with very peculiar abilities, which they figure would be perfect for the party. But when the school bully and his crowd also find some of the special costumes, Hayley's Halloween party turns out much more scary than usual. Smith captures the essence of middle school and the teenage boy, with some well-placed exaggeration. An above average middle school adventure, zany and fast paced, with just enough magic to be dangerous.—Gretchen Crowley, Alexandria City Public Libraries, VA