When Peter starts middle school, he and his best friend Drew discover they have become losers—turns out that collecting mica and talking in robot voices is "so fifth grade." The one bright spot for Peter is a class for gifted kids focused on creating inventions. But when he steals chemicals from science class to work on a prototype, he ends up with a month of detention—right alongside the school bullies, the Sweet brothers. Yoo's (Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before) plot meanders somewhat, but Peter and Drew's antics will keep readers laughing (during a talent show magic act, Peter tries escaping from a straitjacket, but ends up passed out "hanging upside down from the rafters"). After earning the Sweet brothers' respect, Peter begins to resurrect his reputation, but when his classmates suspect he's responsible for a rash of thefts at school, he and Drew make an elaborate plan to prove his innocence. Even readers who guess the thief's identity early on will be entertained by the boys' hijinks and empathize with their desire to fit in. Ages 10–up. (July)
Peter’s earnest, myopic first-person narration is authentic and convincing, and Yoo exposes the precarious footing and shifting allegiances of middle school with a deft hand…. A mystery about the Fenwick Middle School thief contributes to the quick pace and adds a satisfactory surprise.” — ALA Booklist
“Peter and Drew’s antics will keep readers laughing. Readers will be entertained by the boys’ hijinks and empathize with their desire to fit in.” — Publishers Weekly
Praise for STOP ME IF YOU’VE HEARD THIS ONE BEFORE: “It wouldn’t seem possible to make high school jocks, popular girls and losers fresh and hilarious, but Yoo does it.” — New York Times Book Review
Praise for STOP ME IF YOU’VE HEARD THIS ONE BEFORE: “Albert is a funny, fascinating, and infuriating character. Laugh-out-loud moments and painfully realistic scenes of student life will hold readers’ attention.” — School Library Journal
Praise for GIRLS FOR BREAKFAST: “Very funny and bravely rendered.” — Seattle Times
Praise for GIRLS FOR BREAKFAST: “Funny, dark, and subversive. Beware: you’ll never be able to look at a guy the same way after you read this book.” — Rachel Cohn, author of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
Praise for GIRLS FOR BREAKFAST: “Very funny and bravely rendered.
Praise for GIRLS FOR BREAKFAST: “Funny, dark, and subversive. Beware: you’ll never be able to look at a guy the same way after you read this book.
Peter’s earnest, myopic first-person narration is authentic and convincing, and Yoo exposes the precarious footing and shifting allegiances of middle school with a deft hand…. A mystery about the Fenwick Middle School thief contributes to the quick pace and adds a satisfactory surprise.
Praise for STOP ME IF YOU’VE HEARD THIS ONE BEFORE: “It wouldn’t seem possible to make high school jocks, popular girls and losers fresh and hilarious, but Yoo does it.
New York Times Book Review
Gr 4—7—On the first day of sixth grade, Peter and his friend Drew are shocked to discover that they are no longer popular. Familiar things no longer seem important to their classmates ("That's so fifth grade!"), many of them became friendly with students from the other elementary school over the summer, and the school bullies have spotted them and are determined to make them miserable. The boys conduct several "get-popular-quick schemes," all of them ending in disappointment or disaster. Additionally, someone is on the prowl, determined to take something from every person. If Peter and Drew can catch the thief, then maybe they could finally recapture their lost stature. Yoo's quirky characters come off a little uneven, good for only an occasional laugh. While this story may hold some kids over until the next "Wimpy Kid" release, most libraries can safely pass.—Richelle Roth, Boone County Public Library, KY
Being cool in the sixth grade turns out to be an unexpected challenge.
Peter Lee isn't surprised to be accepted into the academically gifted program. Fifth grade was a breeze, and he and best friend Drew were popular because of their expert collecting skills. Peter's perfect, older sister Sunny warns him that middle school's completely different; she couldn't be more right. On the first day, Peter and Drew learn that no one followed through on their mica-collecting challenge from last year. There's no recess. Everyone grew. By the end of the day, Peter's pretty sure they're losers. How can they regain their popularity? Following Sunny around only proves she's busy, not popular. Faked pictures from parties "in another town" impress no one. Even a cool escapist act for the talent show only nets them embarrassing nicknames. When Peter ends up in detention, inspiration strikes, though it jeopardizes his friendship with Drew. Yoo's lovable loser becomes a whole lot less so when he preys on his best friend's naiveté. His journey from totally self-centered dweeb to team player is littered with wacky speed bumps (mostly of his own unwitting design), and preteens will see themselves and their peers in the halls of Fenwick Middle.
A slow start and a few uncomfortable laughs mar this at-times funny tale of a sixth-grade outcast. (Fiction. 9-12)
