Who Is Bugs Potter? - Gordon Korman - Bugs Potter Book 1

Who Is Bugs Potter?

Bugs Potter Book 1

Gordon Korman

Scholastic Canada

ISBN 9780590442077

This book is one of the few of the 100 volumes from Gordon Korman that I have found looks to be currently out of print. I believe it was originally published in 1980, and there appears to have been seven editions between then and 1991 in English and an edition in German in 1984. Mid Last year, in the summer of 2022, Korman published his 100th book. Yes you read that correctly, his hundredth book. My introduction to Korman’s works was the 39 Clues back in 2009. Since then I have read over 20 of his books. Barely a drop in the buck, but with each one I read I am entertained and often challenged. My son often reads these books to me or with me. This was one I picked up this to read on my Christmas vacation. 

My son and I started reading Gordon Korman books together a few years ago, when he was given one as an end of year gift by his teacher. She gave the whole class the same Scholastic edition and wrote a note to each student in their copy of the book. Prior to that I had a read a few of his contributions to the 39 Clues series and had enjoyed them. My son and I have mostly been reading his more recent titles. I have have started going back and am randomly reading his older works and series. I believe there are only 2 books in the Bugs Potter series, they are: 

Who Is Bugs Potter?

Bugs Potter LIVE at Nickaninny

The description of this volume is:

“Who is Bugs Potter? When he was last seen, he was wearing a moustache and running out of a crowded rock club. Then, he was spotted dressed as a telephone repairman, trying to break into a glamorous movie star's hotel suite. Next, he was observed playing the drums at the high school band festival rehearsal.

Who is Bugs Potter and why is he doing all those wild things? Maybe he's just crazy or maybe he's a star...”

The chapters in this book are:

The Most

That's flautists

Plumber calling

Aren't you glad you came?

I have this headache

Let there be light

Negative vibes

The Big Watermelon

It's the thought that counts

Extra towels

The new BiBi Lanay

Man, it's a happening!

Onward and upward

I could see that this story would have a hard time getting published today. You have a group of high school students in Toronto to play as a National Orchestra. The problem is, the lack of adult supervision, 2 of the kids sneaking out to bars every night to hear bands. And the complete disregard to rules and authority, at least by Bugs. But that is also what makes this story so fun. You just cannot see it happening, at least today, maybe back in the 80’s. Back in the 19’s and not in the 20’s, as in 2000 and later. 

But the story is so much fun. It is over the top, as is Bugs’s personality and behaviour. It was vastly entertaining and as soon as I finished I gave it to my son recommending that he bump it to the top of his ‘to be read’ pile.

The story in this one is a little out there compared to many of Korman’s offerings. It takes the Bruno and Boots antics to a whole new level! The pace is break neck, the characters humorous and yet endearing, Bugs, BiBi, and even Adam. It is a story that young readers will love! Another great read from Korman’s masterful pen! 

Books by Gordon Korman:

MacDonald Hall Series:

This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall  (1978)

Go Jump in the Pool (1979)

Beware the Fish!  (1980)

The Wizzle War (1982)

         (formerly The War With Mr. Wizzle)

The Zucchini Warriors (1988)

Light’s Camera, Disaster (1991)

          (aka Macdonald Hall Goes Hollywood)

The Jokes on Us (1995)

          (formerly Something Fishy at Macdonald Hall)

…

Bugs Potter Series:

Who is Bugs Potter? (1980)

Bugs Potter LIVE at Nickaninny (1983)

…

Jeremy Bloom Series:

The D−Poems of Jeremy Bloom (1992)

The Last-Place Sports Poems of Jeremy Bloom (1996)

…

Monday Night Football Series:

The Quarterback Exchange (1997)

Running Back Conversion (1997)

Super Bowl Switch (1997)

Heavy Artillery (1997)

Ultimate Scoring Machine (1998)

NFL Rules! Bloopers, Pranks, Upsets, and Touchdowns (1998)

…

Masterminds Series:

Masterminds (2015)

Masterminds: Criminal Destiny (2016)

Masterminds: Payback (2017)

…

Slapshots Series:

The Stars From Mars (1999)

All-Mars All-Stars/The Dream Team (1999)

The Face-off Phony (2000)

Cup Crazy (2000)

Ouch I got slapped (2023)

…

4-in-1 Slapshots: The Complete Collection (2008)

…

Nose Pickers Series:

Nose Pickers from Outer Space! (1999)

Planet of the Nose Pickers (2000)

Your Mummy Is a Nose Picker (2000)

Invasion of the Nose Pickers (2001)

…

4-in-1 The Ultimate Nose-Picker Collection (2006)

…

Island Series:

Shipwreck (2001)

Survival (2001)

Escape (2001)

…

3-in-1 Island Trilogy Collection (2006)

…

Son of the Mob Series:

Son of the Mob (2002)

Son of the Mob 2: Hollywood Hustle (2004)

…

Everest Series:

The Contest (2002)

The Climb (2002)

The Summit (2002)

…

Everest Trilogy Box Set (2002)

Dive Series:

The Discovery (2003)

The Deep (2003)

The Danger (2003)

…

On the Run Series:

Chasing the Falconers (2005)

The Fugitive Factor (2005)

Now You See Them, Now You Don't (2005)

The Stowaway Solution (2005)

Public Enemies (2005)

Hunting the Hunter (2006)

…

Kidnapped Series:

The Abduction (2006)

The Search (2006)

The Rescue (2006)

…

Swindle Series:

Swindle (2008)

Zoobreak (2009)

Framed (2010)

Showoff (2012)

Hideout (2013)

Jackpot (2014)

Unleashed (2015)

Jingle (2016)

…

Titanic Series:

Unsinkable (2011)

Collision Course (2011)

S.O.S (2011)

…

The 39 Clues Series:

One False Note (2008)

The Emperor's Code (2010)

Vespers Rising (2011)

The Medusa Plot (2011)

Flashpoint (2014)

…

Hypnotists Series:

The Hypnotists (2013)

Memory Maze (2014)

The Dragonfly Effect (2015)

…

Ungifted Series:

Ungifted (2012)

Supergifted (2018)

…

Slacker Series:

Slacker (2016)
Level 13 (2019)

...

Non Series Books:

I Want to Go Home! (1981)

Our Man Weston (1982)

No Coins, Please (1984)

Don't Care High (1985)

Son of Interflux (1986)

A Semester in the Life of a Garbage Bag (1987)

Radio 5th Grade (1989)

Losing Joe's Place (1990)

The Twinkie Squad (1992)

The Toilet Paper Tigers (1993)

Why Did the Underwear Cross the Road (1994)

The Chicken Doesn't Skate (1996)

Liar, Liar Pants on Fire (1997)

The Sixth Grade Nickname Game (1998)

No More Dead Dogs (2000)

Maxx Comedy: The Funniest Kid in America (2003)

Jake, Reinvented (2003)

Born To Rock (2006)

Schooled (2007)

The Juvie Three (2008)

Pop (2009)

Restart (2017)

What's His Face? (2018)

The Unteachables (2019)

Notorious (2019)

War Stories (2020)

Game On (contains The Chicken Doesn’t Skate and The Toilet Paper Tigers (2021)

Unplugged (2021)

Linked (2021)

Operation Do-Over (2022)

The Fort (2022)

The Super Teacher Project (2023)

Mixed Up (2023)

Slugfest (2024)

Faker (2024)

Old School (2025)

…

Gordon Korman - Sheelagh Matthews - Remarkable Writers 

...

Willie Doyle SJ Much in the Presence of God - Patrick Corkery SJ

Willie Doyle SJ: Much in the Presence of God

Patrick Corkery SJ

Messenger Publications

ISBN 9781788125512

This is the second volume I have read from the pen of Patrick Corkery SJ, and it is one of a few I have read about Fr. Willie Doyle SJ. My son and I have become fascinated by stories about heroic Military Chaplains. We have read a number of books about them, and my son is set on being one himself. I finally picked up a physical copy of this to read, after waiting over half a year for the promised eBook edition to show up. But back to this volume. The description of this booklet is:

“Willie Doyle SJ was born in Dalkey on 3 March 1873 to an affluent Catholic family. Willie entered the Society of Jesus in 1891. taking vows, Fr. Doyle embarked on a period of Jesuit formation known as Regency. Fr. Doyle worked in two Jesuit schools Clongowes Wood College and Belvedere College. He was ordained in 1908. His prayerful nature took him into Retreat Ministry after ordination. The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola are a popular way of praying in our time. At the turn of the Twentieth Century, they were almost the exclusive preserve of priests brothers and religious sisters. The Exercises made such a profound impact on Fr. Doyle that he felt they should be available to the largest audience possible. Fr. Doyle also had a great interest in vocations to religious life, and produced two bestselling pamphlets on the priesthood which were published by the Sacred Heart Messenger. In 1915 he volunteered as a Chaplain in the First World War. His time in the war saw him demonstrate great acts of heroism. His death in August 1917 came as a great blow to those who had known him. He died attempting to save injured soldiers from the battlefield at Ypres. His body was initially recovered, but subsequently obliterated by a German shell. Interest in his life was sparked by a book written by Professor Alfred O'Rahilly, which became a bestseller. The book went on to inspire future saints, like Mother Teresa. The desire to have Fr. Doyle declared a saint received much traction in the 1930s, but it lapsed as the Irish Jesuits preferred to give their energies to the cause of Fr. John Sullivan. In recent years the cause has begun to get traction and a lay Association of the Faithful is working to have it promoted.”

Another description is:

“As time goes on and the culture changes, some people find themselves trapped in the past. The name 'Willie Doyle' is often associated with the strict, penitential spirituality of times gone by. Yet Willie Doyle the man was also brave, tender and joyful. He was, as his contemporaries remember him, an arch prankster both loved and loving.

Drawing on contemporary accounts of Doyle, Patrick Corkery SJ offers a multidimensional portrayal of a man who touched the lives of so many. Joker, teacher, Jesuit, chaplain in the trenches of the First World War, Doyle comes alive as a complex and moving figure for our time.

Packed with biographical detail, points for reflection and an exploration of Doyle's significance for Christians today, Willie Doyle Sf is the perfect introduction to the man whose heroism and charisma continue to inspire.”

The chapters in the booklet are:

Introduction

Willie Doyle’s Early Life

Willie Doyle Joins the Jesuits

Willie Doyle’s Journey to the Priesthood

Willie Doyle’s Discernment and Spirituality

Willie Doyle and the First World War

What Can Willie Doyle Teach People Today?

Even though this is a small volume; meant as a brief biography, introduction, or overview of Father Willie Doyle SJ, it is an excellent volume, no matter how familiar you are with the subject matter. I highlighted many passages while reading this book, some of them are:

“While some people might find novenas twee or think them out of kilter with

contemporary spirituality, it is clear that Fr Willie Doyle has an attraction for people and devotion to him remains strong.”

“At times his penances were off-putting, but one could not help but admire how dedicated he was to the people he served, and how Fr Doyle desired to make God known to those with whom he interacted.”

“At the beginning of regency, my provincial asked me to assist a lay group formed to promote Fr Doyle's canonisation cause. I don't know if the provincial knew about my interest in Fr Doyle, but it certainly helped strengthen my devotion to him and helped me see that Ireland potentially has a great saint relevant for our time. In being asked by Messenger Publications to write this booklet, I hoped t capture something of Fr Doyle's significance for a modern

audience.”

“From a young age, he took a strong interest in the local poor; he would visit their homes and even parted with his meagre pocket money to ensure that they were able to enjoy some small luxuries. Stories of young Willie's generosity entered in family lore and were recounted later in his brother Charlie's biography of Willie, Merry In God.”

“Even domestically, Willie sought to make life easier for the family's servants. He would often rise early in the morning before the domestic staff and complete some of the tasks allotted to them. This was never done in a showy way but always quietly and never seeking any reward. His care and concern for others and his desire to be of service were evident early in life.”

“Young Willie appears to have had an easy-going nature that attracted others to him, and they enjoyed being in his company. This ease in the company of others seems to have been a trait from early on.”

“WILLIE FINISHED at Ratcliffe in 1890, and no one was surprised when he announced he wanted to be a priest; the question that followed was where would he serve as a priest? Of the seven Doyle children, four opted for religious

life, including Willie. His oldest brother, Fred, had initially been a Jesuit but left to join the Archdiocese of Dublin. Charlie, who was his closest sib ling, had entered the Jesuit novitiate and persisted in that vocation, becoming a priest and at one point was assistant to the Jesuit provincial in Ireland. He would also play a role in helping to develop the spirituality of Frank Duff, founder of the Legion of Mary. Willie's sister, May, entered the Sisters of Mercy, taking the religious name Benedict. Having multiple children was not uncommon in Irish families at this time, and it was considered a mark of great pride to have children enter religious life. The prayerful atmosphere of the Doyle home no doubt contributed' to multiple vocations.”

“The Jesuits had been at Tullabeg since 1818 and St Stanislaus College had served in a variety of different capacities. It had been a boarding school, house of formation for Jesuits and eventually served as a retreat house before it closed in 1991.”

“For some, the Jesuit formation process may need some explanation. There are multiple stages to Jesuit formation: novitiate, juniorate, philosophy, regency, theology, and if one opts to be a priest, there is ordination. The Jesuits also have lay-brothers who do not get ordained.”

“On 15 August 1893, Willie Doyle took his vows and became a Jesuit. Earlier in that year he had made his own personal vow to Mary, writing, 'My Martyrdom for Mary's Sake. Darling Mother Mary, in preparation for the glorious martyrdom which I feel assured thou art going to obtain for me, I, thy most unworthy child, oh this the first day of thy month, solemnly commence my life of slow martyrdom

by earnest hard work and constant self-denial. With my blood I promise thee to keep this resolution, do thou, sweet Mother, assist me and obtain for me the one favour I wish and long for: To die a Jesuit Martyr. May God's will, not mine, be done! May 1st, 1893. Amen.'”

“Hot tempered by nature, I believe, he never allowed himself to be carried into arbitrary action by the intemperate or unreasonable conduct of those in his charge. He was firm, but never unjust; indeed, if he erred at all, it was on the side of leniency. But apart from his self-control, the quality that struck me most was his optimism, his breezy cheerfulness in the midst of difficulties. He never lost his good spirits; he never seemed to be he never appeared to consider for a moment how trouble in his department affected himself; he was intent always on setting others on the right track.’”

“Another of his students echoed these sentiments, 'Fr Doyle's example worked good. His cheerfulness, his energy, his enthusiasm were infectious and inspiring. His whole conduct was marked by gentleness and a kindly thoughtfulness that gained him loyalty and affection. In the playing fields he was a tower of strength. I can still recall the admiration with which I watched him play full back,

or stump a batsman who had his toe barely off the ground. But above all he gave the impression to us boys of one who lived much in the presence of God. I know one boy, at least, who entered the Society ofJesus, partly, at any rate, because Fr Doyle was such a splendid man and splendid Jesuit.'”

“It is important to note that Willie often clashed with his superiors. He could sometimes be stubborn, and his sense of humour was not always appreciated. For one thing, he would mimic other Jesuits.”

“Hope also notes some other transgressions, 'On another occasion he was ordered to his room by his Superior, a school boy's punishment for a man just into his third decade! Willie obeyed: but instead of shutting his door, he piled up chair, table, priedieu, etc., at the entrance and during the evening interviewed and entertained friends and sympathisers from behind the barrier.'”

“His desire to go to the Congo never materialised. Even though he desired to be a missionary, Willie understood that God's will was paramount. This is not an uncommon feature of discernment. In such cases the discerning person must trust that whatever happens is the will of God, though they may not see it in that moment, and hand themselves over entirely in God's providence. Sometimes you and I may be more inclined to pray that 'my will be done' rather than 'thy will be done'.”

“One source of controversy attached to Willie was his penances. These are a continuing source of fuel for would-be critics. His penances were severe, but

they were not different from the kind of penances adopted by other holy people throughout history, such as John Vianney or Matt Talbot. Willie's penances are often challenging because they show a level of fortitude that others may not readily share in.”

“The prolonged nature of the conflict meant the British government wanted spiritual succour for its ever-expanding army. In these circumstances, Willie Doyle offered his services as a chaplain. In the early days, volunteering was

at a high in both Ireland and Britain, and the presence of chaplains was recognised as a beneficial aid to the morale of the soldiers. Chaplains would provide spiritual accompaniment with liturgies and sacraments where necessary. Some, like Willie Doyle, would go a step further and live with the men in the trenches. This was not a general requirement of chaplains, but it was certainly common among the Jesuit chaplains. Such acts of sacrifice did a lot to endear these chaplains to the men they served alongside.”

“His one idea was to do God's work with the men, to make them saints. How

he worked and how he prayed for this!”

“OVER ONE hundred years on from his death in the First World War, Willie Doyle, continues to fascinate people. Some have focused on his tenderness, others his sense of humour; for some his bravery is inspiring, and others are

interested in his spirituality. Looking back ac Willie's life, what lessons does he have for the world of today?”

I hope those quotes show you some of the value of this great little volume. It is a great volume. It does not matter if you only know the name, or are well versed in works by or about Fr Willie this is an excellent little edition to the canon of work about him. And I am greatly interested in following the cause of his canonization that as mentioned in the quotes is underway. I can easily recommend this volume. It is a great read about a truly inspiring life.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2023 Catholic Reading Plan!

Books by Patrick Corkery SJ:

Saint Ignatius of Loyola: A Convert's Story

Willie Doyle SJ: Much in the Presence of God

…

Books by and about Fr Willie Doyle:

Fr Willie Doyle & World War I: A Chaplain's Story - K.V. Turley

To Raise the Fallen: A Selection of the War Letters, Prayers, and Spiritual Writings of Fr. Willie Doyle, S.J. - Edited by Patrick Kenny

Willie Doyle SJ: Much in the Presence of God - Patrick Corkery SJ

Pamphlets for the Faithful - Fr Willie Doyle, SJ  

…

Reviews of other books about Military Chaplains:

The Grunt Padre: Father Vincent Robert Capodanno Vietnam 1966-1967 - Daniel L. Mode
The Priest Barracks Dachau 1938-1945 - Guillaume Zeller
Blessings from the Battlefield - Edited by Thomas R. O'Brien
Heroic Catholic Chaplains: Stories of the Brave and Holy Men Who Dodged Bullets While Saving Souls

Fr Willie Doyle & World War I: A Chaplain's Story - K.V. Turley
Armed with Faith The Life of Father Vincent R. Capodanno, MM - Stephen M. Digiovanni
A Shepherd in Combat Boots: Chaplain Emil Kapaun of the 1st Cavalry Division - William Maher

The Miracle of Father Kapaun: Priest, Soldier and Korean War Hero - Roy Wenzl and Travis Heying

Fighting Father Duffy - Jim Bishop, Virginia Lee Bishop and H. Lawrence Hoffman

Willie Doyle SJ: Much in the Presence of God – Patrick Corkery SJ

...

Dewi Sant - Saint David - Elin Meek

Dewi Sant - Saint David 

Elin Meek

Gomer Press

ISBN 9781859029800

ISBN 1859029809

I will state again that finding books on Saint David of Wales of Sant Dewi has proven difficult. Of the six I have been able to track down only 2 are not for younger readers, children or picture books. That stated, they have still been great reads. This is the third book for young readers I have read and I have loved each of them. Elin Meek wrote this one and it is split page in Walsh and English. 

This is a short picture book on Saint David of Wales, or Sant David Dewi, it was originally published in 2001. A few years ago I read Dewi Sant: St David Patron of Wales, by J.B. Midgley which started my interest in this saint. And my son found out this is the patron saint of his school Saint David’s in Waterloo, Ontario so I decided to look for more books about him. This was the third that I have read in that further study.

Description on the back of the book:

“A colorful bilingual booklet presenting the story of Saint David, patron saint of Wales. Includes full-color illustrations and photographs throughout. Contains interesting facts about Saint David, ideal for all ages.”

This volume is different than the other two I have read to date. There are only a couple of illustrations. Most pages of the book however do contain photos, photo’s mainly of the Walsh countryside, and of people celebrating Saint David’s Day. As mentioned each page with text is split with Walsh on the left and English on the right. There are several pages that are just text from top to bottom. I highlighted several passages while reading the book, some of them are:

“The monks’ life was difficult. Discipline was strict and toiling in the fields was

physically demanding, without any machinery to help them. David and his followers would spend hours on end praying and standing in the cold waters of the river Alun to improve their self-discipline. There were no personal possessions, so everything was shared and everyone was willing to work hard for no personal gain. The food was very basic - bread and water, vegetables and fish from the sea, rather than meat. The clothes worn by David and his followers were also simple, rough garments made from animal skins, but they wore nothing on their heads and feet.”

“Although David normally remained in Vallis Rosina, it is said that he went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem where he was consecrated as an Archbishop. Indeed, David was regarded as one of the most prominent monks of the sixth century, achieving much during his life.”

“According to tradition, an angel told him on the last Tuesday of February that he would shortly be taken to heaven and that he should prepare himself. The following Sunday he took mass and a crowd of people heard his last sermon. Here are some of the most famous words from that sermon: ‘Lords, brothers and sisters, be joyful and keep your faith and your belief, and do the little things that you heard and saw me do.’”

“In the Book of Taliesin, written between 927 and 931, itis noted that the Welsh, the Irish, the Cornish and Bretons united in David’s name to oppose the English who were threatening the western borders of the Celtic countries.”

“The large cathedral was built in St David's in 1181 and as David's cult flourished, St David's also grew as a centre for pilgrims who came there to David's shrine to touch the relics.”

“After the Protestant Reformation, St David's Day was no longer celebrated as a religious festival because of its connection with the Catholic Church, but in the eighteenth century, Welsh societies started to celebrate it again and this has continued until today.”

“The Latin name Davidus has given us two Welsh names, Dewi and Dafydd, as well as the English name, David. Little boys in Wales and beyond are still named after our patron saint, especially if their birthday falls on St David's day.”

This was a great little read. I wish it was easier to find books on this saint in English. But I will take what I can get. After finishing this I have two others still to read. One a middle grade read, and young an adult volume in the same split page style as this one. This book would be a great addition for the home, the school or the church library. I was blessed to track it down and give it a read. Unlike most of the other volumes I have tracked down on this saint, this one is still in print. Therefore, I encourage you to give it a try, I am certain it will challenge and inspire readers of all ages.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2023 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Books about Saint David of Wales:

A Boy Called Dewi – Steffan Lloyd

A Miracle for David - Patron Saint of Wales - Steffan Lloyd

Dewi Sant - Saint David - E.G. Bowen

Dewi Sant - Saint David - Elin Meek

Dewi Sant: St David Patron of Wales - J.B. Midgley

Saint David Patron Saint of Wales - Lois Rock

The Story of Saint David - Sian Lewis

St David of Wales - Rev David Crowley - CTS Biographies 

...

Related Posts about Saint David of Wales:

Photo Essay Saint David Catholic Secondary School Waterloo.

Prayer of the Day Saint David of Wales 

Prayer of the Day Another Saint David of Wales Prayer

...

Jake Drake, Bully Buster - Andrew Clements - Jake Drake Book 2

Jake Drake, Bully Buster

Jake Drake Book 2

Andrew Clements

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Simon & Schuster

ISBN 9781416939337

eISBN 9781442462311

ASIN B007108P0E

When I started reading this I thought it was book one in the Jake Drake quadrilogy. I was mistaken. But that being said it is an excellent volume. Before I was even a third done the book, I recommended it to my son. My son is in grade 9, and yes, the volume is below his reading level. But he has been dealing with some serious bullying for a number of years now. Most of it instigated by the same ring leader, a boy that would give Link Baxter, Super Bully, more than a run for his money. My son started it the day after I did and loved the story. And even though the other Jake Drake books do not deal with bullying, we plan on reading them together in short order.

Six years ago, I discovered the works of Andrew Clements. I was instantly hooked and have now read almost 25 books from his masterful pen. Many consider him the ‘master of school stories’, and I would agree. I have a dual form of dyslexia and did not learn to read until after grade 7. So I never read ‘school stories’ when I was young. That combined with having my own school aged children has instilled a great appreciation for the genre and specifically for the works of Andrew Clements. Clements passed away in 2019 his last novel was The Friendship War, which is another excellent volume. He writes amazing stories for children, but they are also stories that any of us can learn from. Back then I set the goal of reading all of his works, but as my own children have outgrown these books and they had slid by the wayside. I have now returned to them yet again. I have read 1 a week over the last several weeks and plan to do so for a while yet.

I had no idea what this book was about when I picked it up. I grabbed it based on the author alone. I just thought it was the first in a series and based on the covers thought it was for a younger audience than many of his books I have read. It was a great read and one I wish we had read with my son years ago. It is an excellent read. The description of this book is:

“Meet Jake Drake.

He's not the toughest kid in fourth grade or the fastest kid or the funniest. But he's got ideas -- big ideas, and boy, does he have stories to tell about what really goes on in school. Like bullies, for instance. Jake wants to know "if everybody who works at school is so smart, how come they can't get rid of the bullies?...Because every year, it's the same thing. Bullies."

So it's up to Jake Drake to take matters into his own hands when Link Baxter, SuperBully, moves into the neighborhood. Link's reign of terror must be stopped...if only Jake can figure out how.”

I was not a bully magnet like Jake, but I can recall the kids who were from early grade school all the way to the end of secondary school. Some of them were hounded for years, and though many school boards have a zero tolerance policy that has not been our experience. In fact we got an email from a grade school principal this week that included:

“-we (school name redacted) will no longer be dealing with any of these issues moving forward unless they involve 'real' safety, bullying, or threats

-just because you feel bad or are crying does not mean that what you are dealing with is a 'real' problem that needs to be addressed”

But the book does bring home ways that Jake deflected the bullying, and how he learned to be a bully buster. Will they work in all cases, no! But there are some good tools mentioned in the books, and especially havening someone to talk to about it.

The chapters in this volume are:

Bully-Magnet

SuperBully

From Bad to Worse

Bullyitis

What Abby Said

Playing It Cool

Learning My Lesson

Dangerous Duo

Surprises and Questions

Busted Link

This is another wonderful offering from the masterful pen of Andrew Clements. This is a great early chapter book. An excellent book for young readers, and for those of us who just love a great story!

Books by Andrew Clements:
Bird Adalbert
Noah and the Ark and the Animals
Santa's Secret Helper
Temple Cat
Mother Earth's Counting Book
Billy and the Bad Teacher
Who Owns the Cow
Bright Christmas: An Angel Remembers
Frindle 
(Adapter)Philipp's Birthday Book
Riff's BeBop Book
Real Monsters Go for the Mold
Things That Go EEK on Halloween
Real Monsters Stage Fright
Music Time, Any Time
Double Trouble in Walla Walla
Workshop
Gromble's Haunted Halloween
Hey Dad, Could I Borrow Your Hammer
The Landry News
Look Who's in the Thanksgiving Play
The Mouse Family
The Janitor's Boy
Circus Family Dog
The Christmas Kitten
The School Story
Things Not Seen 
The Jacket 
A Week in the Woods
Slippers at Home
Naptime for Slippers
The Report Card
The Last Holiday Concert
Slippers at School
Slippers Loves to Run
A Million Is a Lot of Dots
Lunch Money
Things Hoped For
Room One: A Mystery or Two
No Talking
Things That Are
Lost and Found
Extra Credit
Troublemaker
About Average
The Map Trap
The Friendship War
The Losers Club
...

Pets to the Rescue Series
Ringo Saves the Day!
Brave Norman
Tara and Tiree, Fearless Friends
Delores and the Big Fire

Jake Drake Series
Jake Drake Know-It-All
Jake Drake, Bully Buster
Jake Drake, Teacher's Pet
Jake Drake, Class Clown

Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School Series
We the Children
Fear Itself
The Whites of Their Eyes
In Harm's Way
We Hold These Truths

Reading Program Books
Karen's Island
Three Wishes for Buster
Bill Picket: An American Original, Texas Style
Hurricane Andrew
Ham and Eggs for Jack
Life in the Desert
Desert Treasure
Inventors: Making Things Better, Steck-Vaughn
Milo's Great Invention

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Main Street D.O.A. - Declan Finn - White Ops Book 3

Main Street D.O.A. 

White Ops Book 3

Declan Finn

Tuscany Bay Books

ISBN 9798985670837

eISBN 9798201715038

ASIN B09LJ53L6T

 

I have read 26 books by Declan Finn and 25 of them in the last 8 months. I have greatly enjoyed books in several other series. This is one In the White Ops Series and at the writing of this review two more has been announced.  I have been working through Finn’s back catalogue. This was an excellent story, I had not read any description or reviews before picking it up. I am currently cycling through a few of his series and just decided this one was up next, do not even have one chose for on deck when I started this one. The description of this story is:

“Sean Patrick Ryan's White Ops team has survived two wars, pirates, a cannibalistic alien horde from another galaxy, space jihadis, and political maneuvering. Their boss thinks they deserve a break and sends them to the "happiest place in the galaxy."

Luckily for Sean, terrorists take over the amusement planet before he can lose his mind.

To stop the terrorists, White Ops will have to battle a weaponized planet, including cloned dinosaurs, giant sharks, animatronic amusements and a doomsday device that will destroy the planet.

And when the deadliest assassin alive joins the fray, whose side will he be on?”

This story takes the action to a whole new level. Sean Patrick Ryan and his team of totentanzers – Rangers – are on an assigned vacation. But Ryan is a magnet for trouble and soon the vacation planet has been taken hostage. The demands are a little crazy. And the threat is to wipe out everyone on the planet and destroy the planet. Also on planet for very different reasons is John Hugh Watson, a professional assassin, maybe the best in the known universe. 

Ryan and his team must traverse the globe, fighting human Vigiles still loyal to the ousted president, animatronics with extra abilities, animatronics that include raptors, a giant squid, a Megalodon or two, and replica entertainment characters from a variety of shows and era’s. They need to diffuse fusion reactors all over the planet, evacuate billions of people, prevent a scorched earth scenario, and climate controls set to unleash natural disasters on a biblical and global scale. Not the quiet vacation for having saved the universe twice … But would Sean really want it any other way?

Towards the end of the book Sean is giving a welcome speech to a new Rangers class, he states:

““Before I finish, I would also like to ask you all one very important question: Why are you here, now, willing to join us? Why do you want to risk your life for someone else? Do you want to do it because it’s the right thing to do, or do you have a very personal reason? I want you to have a damn good reason before this year is out. I want you to think of why you’re going into all the dark places no one else will. I want you to have a reason to sustain you and keep you going when you’re taking fire from an enemy or waiting to die cold and alone in the middle of the darkness.

“We are the sentinels who keep watch in the night. We keep away the monsters. We are the dragon slayers and the knights-errant. This is who we are. Is this who you want to be?

“Welcome to Ranger training.””

Between the above quote and a the last page of the book we are staged from some excellent action in the next instalment. This story is packed full of action. It has great characters. An excellent pace. It is just a really fun story. 

This was a very entertaining story with Finn’s usual sense of humour! I really enjoyed with this offering from the masterful pen of Finn. It is a great read. And leaves you wondering what happens in book 4. An excellent read I can easily recommend this book, this series and all of the books from Finn I have read to date!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2023 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Books by Declan Finn:

Love At First Bite Series:

Short Stories:

Blood Stained Cliffs of Dover 

Bad Date 

Mad Dog Moon

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Novels:

Honor at Stake

Demons Are Forever 

     (Murphy's Law of Vampires)

Live and Let Bite

Good to the Last Drop

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Honeymoon from Hell Series:

The Neck Romancer

Blood Country

Wyverns Never Die

Cross Over

Fae'd to Black

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The Last Survivors Series:

Codename: Winterborn

Codename: Unsub

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Convention Killings Series:

It Was Only On Stun!

Set To Kill

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Pius Series:

A Pius Man

A Pius Legacy

A Pius Stand

Pius History

Pius Tales (Anthology)

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Pius Trilogy Short Stories:

The Pirate King

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St. Tommy Series:

Hell Spawn

Death Cult

Infernal Affairs

Lupus Dei

They Burn Witches, Don't They

City of Shadows

Crusader

Deus Vult

Principle Necromancy

Coven

Hussar

Destiny

Lightbringer

Dark Web

Blue Saint

Vessel

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Top Secret Service Series:

Too Secret Service

Too Secret Service 2

Too Secret Service 3

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Too Secret Service: Omnibus Edition

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Dances with Werewolves Series:

Dances with Werewolves

Dances with Werewolves Volume II

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Dances with Werewolves: Omnibus Edition

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White Ops Series:

White Ops

Politics Kills

Main Street D.O.A.

Gathering Storm

Eye of the Storm

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Other books:

For All Their Wars Are Merry

Arresting Merlin

Sad Puppies Bite Back

Clerical Error: The Death of Fr Timothy A. Lessner (with John Konecsni)

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Anthologies contributed to:

Astounding Frontiers 1

Storming Area 51 - Bayonet Books Anthology Book 2

Pluto: Planetary Anhtology Series Book 1

Luna: Planetary Anhtology Series Book 2

Supernatural Streets

Starflight: Tales From The Starport Lounge

Mercury: Planetary Anthology Series Book 4

Venus: Planetary Anthology Series Book 5

Mars: Planetary Anthology Series Book 7

Places Beyond the Wild: A Z-Day Anthology

Shoot the Devil: Ten Tales of Humans Defeating the Demonic

Fire for Effect - Bayonet Books Anthology Book 7

Fantastic Schools, Volume 6

Swords and Maidens: Eleven Tales of Chivalry and Valor

The Monster Within - Bayonet Books Antholohy Book 8

Thirteen Stories of Horror: Volume 1

Pinup Noir 3

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Author profile and interview with Declan Finn.