This is a very funny Middle Grade…8-12, Grades 3-7 (it falls on the younger side, if you ask me). This is wacky and silly and exciting and boys and girls will both like it. I’m going to give it to my niece and she’ll probably have a laugh.

I am not a fan of prologues for the most part, but after reading the prologue, my first thought was, “This is truly brilliant.” A prologue really has to jump off the page for me, even more than an opening chapter. If you’re not sure if yours does, here is one to hold up against your writing.

The only bone I have to pick with this book is that they Americanized it by changing the money into dollars and cents (rather than British pounds and pence). It kind of doesn’t make sense. I think even a kid knows enough to know that if he lives in London he’s not using dimes and nickels. And if the reader doesn’t know and has to ask, well, then his or her horizon has just been widened, hasn’t it? I can understand (but not like much) changing “jumper” to “sweater”, but changing the money just makes no sense. Very strange choice…

But otherwise a very funny book that many will enjoy. My copy is an ARC and there’s no cover available online yet, but Amazon lists the book as coming out today.