Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta

It's always an exciting day when a famous author comes for a school visit, and Dee, Terrence and Hector cannot wait. Hector is particularly excited to bring his beloved copy of Lewis Scribson's famous Flippy Bunny book so the author can sign it.

But instead of the friendly, engaging man the children expect, Scribson turns out to be a dour, grumpy fussbudget, who is particularly annoyed when he finds that he will be signing books in the gym rather than the library. He even refuses to sign Hector's book because it the cover is ripped. Hector is crushed.

Lunch Lady, secret superhero and user of fine food-related crime-fighting gadgets, is immediately suspicious of him when he turns down the freshly baked cookies she offers him. "I only eat gourmet food," he snobbishly declares.

When the school's gym teacher disappears on the heels of Lewis Scribson's visit, the children suspect the grouchy author is somehow involved. A little research shows the author leaves a trail of vanished people in his wake, and between the kids and the Lunch Lady, they are determined to get to the bottom of the suspicious writer's actions. When they infiltrate the author's house, they are shocked by what they find there...

Once again, Krosoczka delivers a funny, exciting and satisfying tale featuring the fearless Lunch Lady and her inventive sidekick, Betty. I am a sucker for real and imaginary gadgetry, and this volume's wonders include stylish hamburger headphones, a mustard-bottle-shaped grappling hook, and my favorite: taco night-vision goggles. These books should be very appealing to fans of Baby Mouse and Captain Underpants, as well as to those who just enjoy a quick and simple, funny and exciting read. We cannot keep these books on the shelf at the public library where I work - the kids really eat them up. (Pardon the pun!)

Books in the Lunch Lady series
1. Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute
2. Lunch Lady and League of Librarians
3. Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta
4. Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown

Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta (#3 in the Lunch Lady graphic novel series) by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Alfred A. Knopf, 2009)

Also reviewed at:
Jen Robinson's Book Page: "Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta is an excellent addition to the Lunch Lady series, sure to please young graphic novel fans"
The Joys of Reading: "I love the Lunch Lady. These are the perfect books for reluctant readers."


  1. My only complaint-- why do the lunch ladies get to be the heroes? Why not the librarians?

  2. Ms. Yingling - Absolutely! Although librarians did get to be villains in the last one, which was kind of fun. :-)

