A reform school's rehab program turns out to have a disturbing biological component in this satiric series opener.When one impulsive act--well, OK, he stole a subway train--lands him in dusty, decrepit Munchem Academy alongside his bad seed big brother, Carter, undersized Mattie Larimore soon discovers the tried-and-true technique of ingratiating himself with the grown-ups isn't going to secure him an early release. No, it seems there are plans afoot to boost the school's reputation by producing exact but eager-to-please clones of all the school's resident bullies and punks. Seeing sudden, bizarre behavior changes in Carter, Mattie embarks on a determined search for his original sibling that takes him from the teachers' lounge to a high-tech lab beneath a nearby mausoleum. Eventually plans for a complicated denouement collapse, but that's OK because a) Carter turns out to be not such a bad brother, and b) Mattie comes to realize that, particularly after some editing of the evil Headmaster Rooney's memories, Munchem isn't such a terrible place after all. Aside from the two Larimores, whose mother is Dominican, the cast isn't particularly racially diverse, but Mattie does acquire as allies Eliot and Caroline, squabbling adopted sibs with distinct and special abilities who will, the pseudonymous "Bolivar" assures readers, be his future sidekicks. Stay tuned. A mildly creepy premise, lots of clueless adults, and teens who are more pranksters than toughs keep the tone light. (Science fiction/suspense. 11-13) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
September 1, 2016
Gr 4-6-Mattie Larimore was always known as the good son compared to his brother, Carter. That is, until the day Mattie impulsively stole a train. Unfortunately for Mattie, he gets caught and sent to Munchem Academy, the reform school for juvenile delinquents that Carter attends. It is where Mattie's life of crime truly begins and where he learns the thrill of breaking the rules. At Munchem, Mattie befriends two siblings, Elliot and Caroline, both future criminal masterminds. Together, they find out what is really going on behind closed doors at the academy. The kids know Headmaster Rooney is up to no good when the worst kids in school start disappearing after committing various offenses, including Carter. When the students return, they are completely changed and act like model citizens, ready to return home to their families. The kids soon discover the shocking truth behind Rooney's nefarious plan. Though a bit long-winded in spots, this is overall an enjoyable read. Mattie is a relatable and likable protagonist, and readers will chuckle at his and his friends' antics. VERDICT Fans of Lemony Snicket will appreciate this humorous mystery.-Megan McGinnis, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY
Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 1, 2017
When "Good Boy" Mattie Larimore steals a train to impress his bad-boy brother, Carter, he's shipped off to Carter's reform school, Munchem Academy, where bad kids disappear and reappear curiously transformed. As Mattie works to expose the headmaster's conspiracy, he finds a surprising sense of belonging. Some plot threads don't fully come together, but a Lemony Snicketlike narration ably propels the mystery.
(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
August 1, 2016
A reform schools rehab program turns out to have a disturbing biological component in this satiric series opener.When one impulsive actwell, OK, he stole a subway trainlands him in dusty, decrepit Munchem Academy alongside his bad seed big brother, Carter, undersized Mattie Larimore soon discovers the tried-and-true technique of ingratiating himself with the grown-ups isnt going to secure him an early release. No, it seems there are plans afoot to boost the schools reputation by producing exact but eager-to-please clones of all the schools resident bullies and punks. Seeing sudden, bizarre behavior changes in Carter, Mattie embarks on a determined search for his original sibling that takes him from the teachers lounge to a high-tech lab beneath a nearby mausoleum. Eventually plans for a complicated denouement collapse, but thats OK because a) Carter turns out to be not such a bad brother, and b) Mattie comes to realize that, particularly after some editing of the evil Headmaster Rooneys memories, Munchem isnt such a terrible place after all. Aside from the two Larimores, whose mother is Dominican, the cast isnt particularly racially diverse, but Mattie does acquire as allies Eliot and Caroline, squabbling adopted sibs with distinct and special abilities who will, the pseudonymous Bolivar assures readers, be his future sidekicks. Stay tuned. A mildly creepy premise, lots of clueless adults, and teens who are more pranksters than toughs keep the tone light. (Science fiction/suspense. 11-13)
COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.