Book Summary:
This is the story of a boy named Arthur (Artie) who is the new kid in school. He finds himself in some pretty precarious situations right off the bat with some bullies in school who find him to be a bit too brave for their liking. He ends up with a magical locker, a quirky teacher, and a few new friends on his side within the first few days of school. After mentioning his fake talents at dodgeball, he ends up being challenged to a game by the bullies. The stakes for this game are high and Artie works to find his way in this new school as things aren't always as they seem. There is a happy ending with Artie (deemed King Artie, a reference to King Arthur) coming out on top at the end of the game.
APA Reference of Book:
Cammuso, F. (2008). Knights of the lunchtable: The dodgeball chronicles. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.
Impressions:
My major impression of this book is that it is quite entertaining. Once I began the story, I could not put it down; not necessarily because it was so well written, but simply because I could see the appeal it held for students I teach. The story draws in situations every student can relate to, interesting conflicts, a dynamic format (graphic novel), and quirky characters. I enjoyed the quick pace of the story and how the reader could use the graphics to assist their understanding as they read.
While the vocabulary was typically pretty simplistic, there were many references to other pieces of literature. This provides the reader with the opportunity to make connections with outside works throughout the text, which is a critical thinking skill. All in all, I would say the book holds value in its appeal to reluctant and low readers as well as in its humorous relation to the on-goings of school life. Students need to have resources such as this to provide escape and entertainment in their sometimes harsh and overwhelming worlds.
Professional Review:
Grades 2-4. Artie King’s first day at his new middle school is terrible: his nasty older sister ensures he misses the bus; a couple of geeky kids are friendly, but the school bullies smell a new victim; and the principal is a horror who hands out detentions and dire warnings as she peers out from behind her horn-rimmed glasses. Artie has muddied the waters a bit himself by boasting that he’s a dodgeball pro—when he’s really not. Kids familiar with King Arthur legends will like the idea of a mysterious locker, seemingly rusted shut, that opens for Artie and the helpful stranger named Merlyn (who turns out to be Artie’s science teacher and guidance counselor). But kids unfamiliar with Arthur will still like this tongue-in-cheek take on the school rules and games that can dominate a kid’s life. Although the characters seem purposefully multiethnic, Cammuso’s text is witty and his cartoons energetic; his pictures speak as clearly as his words. A good start for the Knights of the Lunch Tale series.
Reference:
Review of Knights of the Lunchtable: The Dodgeball Chronicles, by F. Cammuso(2008). Booklist, 104(14). Retrieved from www.titlewave.com
Library Uses:
This text could be used in a "speed dating" book walk for reluctant readers. It would assist in introducing the genre of graphic novels and other books of similar content and reading level. The students would be able to walk around and "meet" different books that might appeal to them or fit their needs.
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