This review is way late, but I swear I have an excellent reason. Apparently, this arrived over a month ago, and was sitting with all the other review books that come in. It was then, promptly, absconded by my nine year old. You see, I read and reviewed the first edition of the Knights of the Lunch Table (The Dodgeball Chronicles) and then turned the book over to him to read. He then read it roughly 47 times in the next three weeks. I knew that Mr. Cammuso had put out a good product when I read it, but not being a nine year old myself, I didn't know just how good until that happened.

So there I am, cleaning his room, when I stumble across this issue. Of course by now, it's somewhat ratty, and some of the images have been colored in (the proof I have is part color, part black and white) but again, these are all excellent signs. After sneaking it out of my sons room, I managed to read it myself, and agree, these books are an amazing intersection of fun, wholesome, funny and smart. In short, everything I'd want him to read -- which makes me thrilled to think that he feels he needs to steal them. Parenting is tricky that way.

I won't go far into the story, which follows Artie, the titular Knight of the Lunch Table. Cammuso makes perfect use of forshadowing and coincidence to keep the story interesting and intelligent. There are more than a few moments that are laugh out loud funny, even for a guy in his 30s, and I'm sure a whole lot more for a boy in his, er, ones. The books have all the characters you need, the brave, normal kid, the shy fat kid, the annoying sister, the mean teacher, the incredibly cool teacher, the bullies and the nerds. All in the span of 128 pages.

My copy doesn't have a price on it, but amazon says it's $9.99, which is dead on perfect. This book will easily give it's target audience 2 hours of pleasure the first time through, and probably a lot more, if the condition of the book I'm holding in my hands is any sign. Honestly, I'm surprised there aren't more books in this format and form, I am struggling to find anything to find fault with. Maybe that I didn't get my own copy.

You can preorder on Amazon, or wait for it to be released in a few months. If you'll excuse me, I have to sneak it back into my son's room...