Peanut Butter and Chaos: The Mythic Adventures of Samuel Templeton

Gr 4-7–Sam lives with his father who was a scientist but is now the owner of a video arcade. His mother left when he was young, and Sam thinks he is invisible to his father—so he does an experiment to see if it is true. Later he goes for a walk and is struck by what is thought to be lightening on a clear day. He wakes up seeing the world in pixels. He also finds out that a neighbor has disappeared and he is the only person who can see the mysterious Flum. Daher’s prose is great for younger middle grade and struggling readers. The author uses words that children might not know and clearly explains their meaning. The intriguing plot will grab the reader—tweens will be invested in what happens and why Sam only sees in cubes. They will also want to know what happens with Flum, Sam’s father, and the missing neighbor.