Sink or Swim

Gr 4–7—This sequel to Boy or Beast (Viking, 2012) has a masterful mix of humor, mystery, and school-related problems. Twelve-year-old Charlie Drinkwater is a mutant dinosaur living in Decatur, Illinois. He's afraid of mummies, bullies, giving oral reports, tapioca pudding, and, most of all, the water. When someone begins stealing food around town, Principal Munchnick believes that Charlie is the thief and threatens to expel him if he doesn't join the swim team, the worst form of punishment for Charlie. So many people in town accuse him of being the robber that Charlie almost starts to believe them. Then his cousin Stanley (the real culprit), also a mutant dinosaur, shows up searching for a viral antidote to save the other creatures beneath Crater Lake from becoming extinct. Charlie is torn. Should he turn in Stanley for stealing the food or take the blame in order to save Stanely's friends in the lake? Charlie is a likable and believable character who will appeal to reluctant readers. The problems he faces are easy to relate to despite their unique twists. The illustrations are spare, but bold, detailed, and eye-catching.—Kira Moody, Whitmore Public Library, Salt Lake City, UT