The Name of This Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch

This book was sent to me by the publisher for my review. It is scheduled to be published in October. The similarities between this book and A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket are many: among them, both of these authors' names are obviously pseudonyms. Next, the tone of absurdity and offbeat sense of humor (and I mean that in a positive way!) by both authors is similar, as is the technique of using a big word and then defining it in the text.

I was also struck by the appearance of the condition synesthesia, or confusion of senses, in this book as well as in A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass, one of the most popular books in our school library this past school year.

In The Name of This Book is Secret, Cassandra and Max find a missing magician's notebook and start to investigate the fire which burnt down his house and his mysterious "symphony of smells." I found the book a little too long (359 pages), but that seems to be the trend in children's book publishing since Harry Potter came on the scene.

So if you like Lemony Snicket (and I'm a BIG fan), you'll be sure to like this book, too. The ending foreshadows a sequel to come, so that's good, too. Who is Pseudonymous Bosch? We'll have to wait to find out.

Lunch Money by Andrew Clements

As the old song says, "Money makes the world go around", and Greg Kenton couldn't agree more with that. He and Maura Shaw, his neighbor and classmate, team up after being competitors, selling mini comic books at school and discover there's more to running a business than just making a profit.

All the components of Andrew Clements' previous novels are here once again: school, teachers, friendship (what else would one expect from an author who's a former school teacher??), but are combined with some lessons on economics and entrepreneurialism (look that up in your dictionary!) for middle school readers. I listened to this book on CD, and enjoyed a bonus: an interview with Clements at the book's conclusion.

Other Andrew Clements books for middle schoolers to enjoy are Frindle (my personal favorite), A Week in the Woods, and The School Story. I'm looking forward to No Talking, his newest book which will be released this summer, about which I've already heard a good review. I've ordered a copy for our school library which should be here in early September.