Middle School Bites by Steven Banks - ESSENTIAL

Middle School Bites by Steven Banks, 298 pages, Holiday House, 2020, $14. 

Language: PG (8 swears); Mature Content G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

11yo Tom has the total misfortune of getting bitten three different times while visiting his grandmother’s house just days before his first week of middle school.  Turns out he was bitten by a werewolf, a vampire, and a zombie.  Needless to say, Tom’s first day of school isn’t as great as he had envisioned, especially since he had envisioned being invisible.  Fortunately, Tom has his best friend, Zeke, who thinks everything is excellent, including being friends with a Vam-Wolf-Zom.  But Tom is wondering how he can impress the girl of his dreams while wearing an inch of sunscreen to keep the sun from burning, craving rare steaks, and growing pointy ears. 

Fun humor.  Tom is a barrel of middle school angst, and his older sister Emma is a teenage girl totally wrapped up in herself, which means she totally annoys Tom but is great character.  If you like Sponge Bob, this is your book, since Steven Banks was the head writer for that series.  The illustrations in the book add to Tom’s wild ride and you will be glad you rode along.

Michelle in the Middle