Goblins popping out of toilets, exploding zombie heads, and mass-media digital scares are what he lives for. He takes things too far, however, and is forced to give up his bloody ways. When he finally finds a niche and does well at a new, wholesome life, spooky, disgusting, slimy things start happening all over the school. Desmond is getting framed, and he has a good idea who is doing it: his best friend. Desmond is an interesting protagonist. He has all the trappings of a misunderstood troublemaker, but with a twist: he is truly a prodigy at something. Most of the story is focused on helping him find the proper venue and audience for his skill, rather than using it to cause disruptions. The book is chock-full of sketches in Desmond’s “hand,” and kids will like the drawings in another style that outline his big scares. The story is an enjoyable, if unexceptional, quick read. It will be most appealing to those already into Big Nate, The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and James Patterson’s Middle School: Get Me Out of Here! (Little, Brown, 2012).
Meet Desmond Pucket–master of mayhem! Will his monster-y special effects pranks get him kicked out of middle school before the class trip to Crab Shell Pier? Or will Desmond be able to keep his monster magic in check?
This is a compelling new character that kids will love!
“Tatulli’s entry into the comics/fiction–hybrid market is one of the best…The target audience will snap this up and beg for more.”
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Desmond Pucket neatly fills a gap for our readers—it’s a step more sophisticated than Diary of a Wimpy Kid but appeals to that reader. It’s also so great to have a Halloween/monster/scary stuff series to offer boys that is not Goosebumps.”
— Rebecca Waesch, Children’s Product Manager, Joseph-Beth Booksellers
Meet Desmond Pucket–professor of frightology and master of monsters.
Someday Desmond will be famous for his special effects wizardry, but for now he’s just trying to make it through sixth grade at Cloverfield Memorial Junior High, which means he needs to stay one step ahead of the school’s disciplinary officer, Mr. Needles.
The only problem is Desmond just can’t stop pulling pranks–like the time he attached a shrieking rubber goblin to the toilet seat in the teachers’ bathroom. Mrs. Rubin screamed so loudly her wig flew off! Or the time he put giant motorized worms into the mashed potatoes in the cafeteria. Or the time Desmond and his best friend, Ricky, arranged for a three-headed ghost to crash his sister’s slumber party. Rachel still hasn’t forgiven him.
And now Desmond has to stay prank-free for the rest of the year, or he won’t be able to go on the class trip to Crab Shell Pier, home of the Mountain Full of Monsters ride! It’s going to be tough, but Desmond has to try.
This book includes a section of “Desmond’s Notes”: instructions for making monster magic (think scary noises, or fake blood) at home!
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