The Butler Gets a Break

Gr 4—6—Benway, who graduated first in his class from the B. Knighted Academy for Butlers, dreams of retiring to a quiet Cottage Far, Far Away. For now, though, he is still working for the Bellweathers, who live in the Lighthouse on the Hill in the village of Eel-Smack-by-the-Bay. Their nine-year-old triplets use saws and hatchets to make holes in the stairs to create their concept of negative space art. Benway falls into the stairway art and breaks his leg and must recuperate in the hospital. The zany family members—there are seven children—try to find a replacement, and, when unsuccessful, tell Benway about a new, fictitious butler so he won't worry about them. Ninda, 13, continues to try to do good deeds while Spider, 14, frets over endangered animals, and, of course, the triplets continue their artful search. A companion to Leaving the Bellweathers (Egmont USA, 2009), this story is told through third-person narration and Benway's journal entries. The result is a humorous, edgy read that feels like a blend of Roald Dahl and Lemony Snicket. It's a wacky romp that's sure to please.—Helen Foster James, University of California at San Diego