The Stupendous Dodgeball Fiasco

Rating:
Summary: Fun, suspenseful, and smart
Review: I bought this book for my niece, but couldn't resist reading it myself before giving it to her. I was thoroughly entertained. Repka has written one of those rare children's stories that's as much fun for the parent as for the kid. It's clean and morality packed, but the message never overshadows the telling of a great story. From the premise (a kid wanting to escape from the circus) to the climax (his suing practically a whole town for being forced to play high-stakes dogdeball at school), the humor is smart, subtle, and delightfully relentless without being mean or on too high a shelf. Best are the lead-ins to each chapter -- all trivia about circus life that helps the protagonist navigate life on the outside. Also enlightening is the realistic but child-sized exploration of the legal system and how it can/should work to protect citizens. I hope to see many more stories about Phillip, son of Leo Laugh-a Lot and Matilda the Fat Lady.

Rating:
Summary: Adults will enjoy this book also.
Review: I'm 70 and loved The Stupendous Dodgeball Fiasco. It is brilliant, funny, and taught me more about circus life than I can use in a lifetime.

Point is, it's advertised for 9 to 12 year olds. I'd say it's more for 9 to 90 year olds. It's a page turner and one fun read.