Meet Desmond Pucket--master of mayhem! Will his monster-y special effects pranks get him kicked out of middle school before the class trip to Crab Shell Pier? Or will Desmond be able to keep his monster magic in check? This is a compelling new character that kids will love! "Tatulli's entry into the comics/fiction--hybrid market is one of the best…The target audience will snap this up and beg for more." --- Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "This is full of ghoulish fun, and fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid probably won't want to miss it." --- School Library Journal "Desmond Pucket neatly fills a gap for our readers---it's a step more sophisticated than Diary of a Wimpy Kid but appeals to that reader. It's also so great to have a Halloween/monster/scary stuff series to offer boys that is not Goosebumps." ---Rebecca Waesch, Children's Product Manager, Joseph-Beth Booksellers Meet Desmond Pucket---professor of frightology and master of monsters. Someday Desmond will be famous for his special effects wizardry, but for now he's just trying to make it through sixth grade at Cloverfield Memorial Junior High, which means he needs to stay one step ahead of the school's disciplinary officer, Mr. Needles. The only problem is Desmond just can't stop pulling pranks---like the time he attached a shrieking rubber goblin to the toilet seat in the teachers' bathroom. Mrs. Rubin screamed so loudly her wig flew off! Or the time he put giant motorized worms into the mashed potatoes in the cafeteria. Or the time Desmond and his best friend, Ricky, arranged for a three-headed ghost to crash his sister's slumber party. Rachel still hasn't forgiven him. And now Desmond has to stay prank-free for the rest of the year, or he won't be able to go on the class trip to Crab Shell Pier, home of the Mountain Full of Monsters ride! It's going to be tough, but Desmond has to try. This book includes a section of "Desmond's Notes": instructions for making monster magic (think scary noises, or fake blood) at home! Gr 4-6–Sixth-grader Desmond Pucket loves horror special effects. Goblins popping out of toilets, exploding zombie heads, and mass-media digital scares are what he lives for. He takes things too far, however, and is forced to give up his bloody ways. When he finally finds a niche and does well at a new, wholesome life, spooky, disgusting, slimy things start happening all over the school. Desmond is getting framed, and he has a good idea who is doing it: his best friend. Desmond is an interesting protagonist. He has all the trappings of a misunderstood troublemaker, but with a twist: he is truly a prodigy at something. Most of the story is focused on helping him find the proper venue and audience for his skill, rather than using it to cause disruptions. The book is chock-full of sketches in Desmond's “hand,” and kids will like the drawings in another style that outline his big scares. The story is an enjoyable, if unexceptional, quick read. It will be most appealing to those already into “Big Nate,” “The Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” and James Patterson's Middle School: Get Me Out of Here! (Little, Brown, 2012).–Devin Burritt, Wells Public Library, MEα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. "Mark Tatulli is one of my favorite cartoonists, and now he brings his delightfully warped comic sensibility to Desmond Pucket with a hilariously offbeat hero who will have kids howling. Desmond Pucket is a surefire hit and an absolute scream." (Lincoln Peirce) "Desmond joins a long list of heroes who inspire me while making me hurry nervously out of the room. I salute Mark Tatulli! From a safe distance. Locked in a closet. With a stuffed animal for comfort." (Lemony Snicket) (starred review) "Tatulli's entry into the comics/fiction-hybrid market is one of the best...The target audience will snap this up and bet for more." (Kirkus Reviews) "It’s silly and fun and heartwarming all at once…a must read and a must add to any bookshelf for the grade 3-6 crowd." (Esther Keller, School Library Journal's "Good Comics for Kids" blog) "Desmond’s school experience is very realistic and students, mostly boys, will be able to relate to his shenanigans and his journey of self-discovery.  Put this in the hands of reluctant readers and they will be asking for more." (Elyse DeQuoy, Library Media Connection) "This is full of ghoulish fun, and fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid probably won’t want to miss it." (Esther Keller, School Library Journal's "Good Comics for Kids" blog) "I think deep down we all have a Desmond Pucket inside us. You won’t be able to put this book down as you laugh your guts out!" (Avery, age 9, San Francisco Book Review) "Desmond’s adversarial relationship with disciplinary officer Mr. Needles ranks right up there with Archie and Mr. Weatherbee for fun reading." (Kat Kahn, VOYA)  Mark Tatulli is an internationally syndicated cartoonist best known