FICTION

The Disastrous Magical Wishes of Classroom 13

by MATTHEW J. Gilbert
LEE, Honest & . illus. by Joelle Dreidemy. 128p. (Classroom 13: Bk. 2). Little, Brown. Sept. 2017. Tr $15.99. ISBN 9780316464543; pap. $5.99. ISBN 9780316464567.
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Gr 2–4—Elementary teacher Linda LaCrosse and her students are back in the latest installment of this delightfully quirky series. This time Ms. LaCrosse has found an enchanted lamp with a smart-aleck genie inside. Ms. LaCrosse and the kids are granted just one wish each, but the clever genie warns them to be careful. The youngsters soon learn that they may not get what they are expecting. Zoey, the shortest kid in class, wants to be the tallest, but she soon discovers that being 12 feet tall may be a bit much. Also granted, among other zany desires, are a never-ending supply of pizza, a pet dinosaur who loves to chase people, and a unicorn who crashes through walls to find its favorite treat—cupcakes.
VERDICT With rib-tickling illustrations and short chapters recounting each student's unexpected and hilarious exploits, this title will hit the sweet spot for elementary kids looking for a comical read.
Reviewed by Mary Jennings, Camano Island Library, WA
In [cf2]Lottery[cf1], teacher Ms. Linda LaCrosse wins the lottery and splits her winnings with Classroom 13. In [cf2]Wishes[cf1], she brings a lamp to school and a djinn grants each student a wish. Readers see how these situations play out for each of the diverse group of twenty-seven students in his or her own short chapter. The wacky humor feels forced, but the many-perspectives format is interesting.
 , Jul 01, 2017

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