School Library Journal (Mon Feb 06 00:00:00 CST 2023)

FLANAGAN, John . Halt's Peril . Bk. 9. 320p. (Ranger's Apprentice Series). Philomel . Oct. 2010. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25207-5 . LC number unavailable. Gr 5-9 GUTMAN, Dan . Roberto &; Me . 192p. (Baseball Card Adventure Series). HarperCollins . Apr. 2010. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-06-123484-2 ; PLB $16.89. ISBN 978-0-06-123485-9 . LC 2009014267. Gr 47 HIGGINS, Jack , with Justin Richards. First Strike . 240p. (The Chance Twins Series). Putnam . Jun. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25240-2 . LC 2009027512. Gr 69 HUNTER, Erin . Battles of the Clans . illus. by Wayne McLoughlin. 159p. (Warriors Series). HarperCollins . Jun. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-170230-3 . LC 2009053391. Gr 5 Up JINKS, Catherine . The Genius Wars . 384p. (Genius Series.) Houghton Harcourt . Sept. 2010. Tr $17. ISBN 978-0-15-206619-2 . LC 2009049979. Gr 69 KESSLER, Liz . Philippa Fisher and the Fairy's Promise . 288p. Candlewick . Oct. 2010. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5031-5 . LC number unavailable. Gr 57 LOREY, Dean . Monster War . Bk. 3. illus. by Brandon Dorman. 291p. (Nightmare Academy Series). HarperCollins . July 2010. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-06-134050-5 . LC 2009039674. Gr 46 EAD, Richelle . Spirit Bound . Bk. 5. 489p. (Vampire Academy Series). Penguin / Razorbill . May 2010. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-59514-250-4 . LC number unavailable. Gr 9 Up MEYER, L. A. The Wake of the Lorelei Lee . 560p. (Bloody Jack Adventure Series). Houghton Harcourt . Sept. 2010. Tr $17. ISBN 978-0-547-32768-6 . LC number unavailable. Gr 7 Up NO&3;L, Alyson . Dark Flame . 336p. St. Martin's / Griffin . (The Immortals Series). Jun. 2010. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-312-59097-0 . LC number unavailable. Gr 9 Up OWEN, James A. The Dragon's Apprentice . Bk. 5. 376p. (The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica). S &; S . Oct. 2010. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-5897-0 . LC number unavailable. Gr 8 Up PAVER, Michelle . Ghost Hunter . Bk. 6. illus. by Geoff Taylor. 285p. (Chronicles of Ancient Darkness Series). HarperCollins / Katherine Tegen Bks. Jun. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-072840-3 ; PLB $17.89. ISBN 978-0-06-072841-0 . LC 2009020616. Gr 59 PEACOCK, Shane . The Secret Fiend . Bk. 4. 244p. (The Boy Sherlock Holmes Series). Tundra . May 2010. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-0-88776-853-8 . LC 2009929061. Gr 68 PEREZ, Marlene . Dead Is Just a Rumor . (Dead Is Series.) 216p. Houghton / Graphia . Aug. 2010. pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-0-547-34592-5 . LC 2009050010. Gr 7 Up RENNISON, Louise . Are These My Basoomas I See Before Me? Bk. 10. 307p. (Confessions of Georgia Nicholson Series). HarperTeen . Jun. 2010. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-0-06-145937-5 . LC 2009025449. Gr 79 SCHREIBER, Ellen . Love Bites . Bk. 7. 181p. (Vampire Kisses). HarperCollins / Katherine Tegen Bks. Jun. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-168942-0 . LC number unavailable. Gr 7 Up SERVICE, Pamela F. Alien Contact . Bk. 5. illus. by Mike Gorman. 139p. (Alien Agent Series). Darby Creek , dist. by Lerner. Sept. 2010. PLB $16.95. ISBN 978-0-7613-5363-8 . LC 2009034766. Gr 46 SPRADLIN, Michael P. Orphan of Destiny . Bk. 3. 256p. (The Youngest Templar Series). Putnam . Oct. 2010. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-399-24765-1 . LC 2010002856. Gr 5–9 STEWART, Paul . The Immortals . illus. by Chris Riddell. 689p. (The Edge Chronicles). Random / David Fickling Bks. Sept. 2010. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-375-83743-2 ; PLB $22.99. ISBN 978-0-375-93743-9 . LC number unavailable. Gr 5–8 TRINE, Greg . Invasion from Planet Dork . Bk. 8. illus. by Rhode Montijo. 138p. (Melvin Beederman, Superhero Series). Holt . Jun. 2010. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-8165-7 . LC 2009019488. Gr 2–5 VERNON, Ursula . Dragonbreath: Curse of the Were-Wiener . Bk. 3. illus. by author. 204p. (Dragonbreath). Dial . Sept. 2010. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-8037-3469-2 . LC 2009049358. Gr 2–4

Horn Book

In his third book, Danny Dragonbreath's best friend Wendell (an iguana) is bitten by a hotdog; he then begins transforming into a were-wiener. Vernon combines likable characters and humorously spoofed werewolf conventions to create an entertaining and mildly suspenseful (if a bit all-over-the-place) story. Cartoon panels in black, white, bright green, and occasional red add to the fun.

Kirkus Reviews

School lunch bites—literally—in the third impossibly droll escapade featuring dragonling Danny Dragonbreath and his peace-loving iguana buddy, Wendell. When Wendell and other students at Herpitax-Phibbias School For Reptiles and Amphibians are nipped by a strangely colored hot dog, Danny finds himself in a race against time to find and take out the Alpha-Wurst in a package of feral were-wieners before his friend and schoolmates are transformed into mindless minions. Dishing out most of the many punchlines and wisecracks in thick-lined red-and-green cartoons, Vernon crafts a mixed-format escapade that sends Danny and Wendell on a Journey through dark storm drains (cue a Joseph Campbell joke from Wendell; "Who?" asks Danny) to enlist the aid of an escaped sentient potato salad that likewise came out of the school kitchen—because "everybody knows that potato salad and hot dogs are ancient enemies"—and on to a gory (okay, ketchup-y) climax in the lunchroom fridge. What next? Would you believe....a Bat Monster? Stay tuned. (Graphic hybrid fantasy. 8-11)

ALA Booklist

In this third Dragonbreath adventure, Danny first realizes there's something wrong with his school cafeteria hot dog, and then the hot dog bites his best friend, Wendell. When Wendell and other students start itching, growing hair, and staring at the moon, Danny knows he has to find and destroy the main were-wiener. This time around, Vernon uses black, white, green, and red in the comic-like panels and illustrations that accompany the prose text. The book is just spooky enough for young readers who don't want to get too scared, and it features the return of the monster potato salad.