Heck
Heck: Where the Bad Kids Goby Dale Basye
When Milton and Marlo Fauster die in a marshmallow-bear explosion, they get sent straight to Heck, an otherworldly reform school. Milton can understand why his kleptomaniac sister is here, but Milton is—or was—a model citizen. Has a mistake been made? Not according to Bea “Elsa” Bubb, the Principal of Darkness. She doesn’t make mistakes. She personally sees to it that Heck—whether it be home ec class with Lizzie Borden, ethics with Richard Nixon, or gym with Blackbeard the pirate—is especially, well, heckish for the Fausters. Will Milton and Marlo find a way to escape? Or are they stuck here for all eternity, or until they turn eighteen, whichever comes first? (goodreads.com)
Some Middle Grade books translate well between middle graders and adults. Some don't quite make it over that line. This was one of those books for me. I tried to give it the "100 page" rule but I just couldn't make it past 70.The humour fell flat, it was a little too gross in parts for my liking (I have never understood why young reader books have to be gross. Why do people always think kids always like gross things?) and I just didn't like any of the characters.I think I am too old for this book, which is sad because I have been lusting after it since it first came out in hard cover years ago and was thrilled when my crappy library had both this and the second book in the series.Sadly, this book is not for me. Perhaps I am just too jaded to appreciate the corny puns and obvious plot paths. I am trying to think if I would have liked it when I was 10 or 12. I don't think I would have, mainly because of the random gross things also I don't like Marol's personality and how she always gets her brother in trouble. Maybe if I read on this would change, but I just did not like the writing or attempts at humour.I think many kids would like this book though, so don't put too much stock in this review. I am not setting out to write a negative one, just one to remind me when I see this book in the bargain bin to not pick it up like I know I would do otherwise. Heh.Heck series
- Heck: Where the Bad Kids Go
- Heck: Rapacia
- Heck: Blimpo