Jim Krieg

A funny spoof of all the detective mysteries in print and on screen that have ever inspired the author, but set in middle school. Griff's raison d'etre is to be a safety monitor, having first made his mark in the first grade when he tamed the rowdy corner of Third and Maple. Now he’s the new kid at Rampart Middle, having been kicked out of his previous school for an unspecified infraction on his watch. Griff takes safety and justice seriously but not necessarily by the book; he’s a rogue cop and his famous reputation has already put the principal and classmates on the alert. Griff sniffs out a hall-pass scam at his new school and suspects Marcus Volger, class president candidate, as the ring-leader. But although Griff busts the counterfeiting work (a hilarious venture with his partner safety monitor Tommy), oily Marcus just slips his grasp, promising future detective adventures at Rampart Middle.… (mehr)

I read a fair amount of Young Adult and Juvenile Fiction, and frankly many of them start to blend into each other; dystopias, dragons, mythical heroes, angst, family dysfunction. Well, not "Griff Carver, Highway Patrol"! It stand outs on its own. The wry, wise-cracking style that perfectly mimics a hard-boiled detective novel (with a middle school twist) will make you smile and laugh and, yes, care about Griff Carver.

While younger readers might not appreciate the sublime pitch perfect send-up of a classic police procedural, the bad coffee in the station house (here it's weak cocoa in the homeroom), the rogue cop (here hall-monitor), the sassy reporter, and other bits, all readers will love Griff Carver and be entertained by the story.

I've recommended this book over and over to many youthful library patrons and each one has been pleased. Personally, I can't wait for the sequels. (Haven't we waited long enough, Mr. Krieg?!)… (mehr)