Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

It's nice guy Sean's turn to shine in this hilarious follow-up to Swim the Fly (2009) and Beat the Band (2010). Sean isn't initially swayed by his crazy friend Coop's idea to make himself, Sean and their third amigo Matt into millionaires by shooting a low-budget horror film. But after his parents announce that they are having another baby and there is no money for a bigger house, Sean decides to sign on as screenwriter to avoid moving into his mean twin sister's room. However, writing the movie is the least of his problems. Sean also finds himself embroiled in a terrifying romantic four-way with his new, Swiss-cheese–smelling, stalker girlfriend Evelyn, his drama crush Leyna and his sister's best friend, the enigmatic Nessa. Sean's well-intentioned attempts to juggle his relationships, school and the movie shoot result in the kind of outrageous mishaps that fans have come to expect from author Calame, who once again does not disappoint, with grade-A gross-outs that include a colossal bird-crap bombing and a chorizo-and-chili projectile-vomiting incident. Fearlessly foul, this consistently comical series should be required reading for all teenage boys and anyone else with a strong stomach and highly sensitive funny bone. (Fiction. 14 & up)

ALA Booklist

Coop schemes up the plan to make a low-budget horror film with his two best friends, Matt and Sean. Fans of Calame's earlier novels, Swim the Fly (2009), narrated by Matt, and Beat the Band (2010), narrated by Coop, will enjoy experiencing the hilarity and debauchery through Sean's Star Wars glazed eyes. Readers should note that the book includes a tragically evocative scene in which a costumed character angrily charges into the theater at the first showing of the boys' movie. The unfortunate parallel with real life offers up an opportunity for discussion in what is ultimately a brazenly funny and sweetly insightful novel.

Horn Book (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

Sensing that his friend Coop's plan to get rich by making a low-budget horror film might actually attract potential girlfriends, Sean agrees to write the script. But Sean has to stop being a doormat if he wants girls to take him seriously. The returning characters (Swim the Fly; Beat the Band) are authentically raunchy, insecure, and humorously drawn, with spot-on dialogue to match.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

It's nice guy Sean's turn to shine in this hilarious follow-up to Swim the Fly (2009) and Beat the Band (2010). Sean isn't initially swayed by his crazy friend Coop's idea to make himself, Sean and their third amigo Matt into millionaires by shooting a low-budget horror film. But after his parents announce that they are having another baby and there is no money for a bigger house, Sean decides to sign on as screenwriter to avoid moving into his mean twin sister's room. However, writing the movie is the least of his problems. Sean also finds himself embroiled in a terrifying romantic four-way with his new, Swiss-cheese–smelling, stalker girlfriend Evelyn, his drama crush Leyna and his sister's best friend, the enigmatic Nessa. Sean's well-intentioned attempts to juggle his relationships, school and the movie shoot result in the kind of outrageous mishaps that fans have come to expect from author Calame, who once again does not disappoint, with grade-A gross-outs that include a colossal bird-crap bombing and a chorizo-and-chili projectile-vomiting incident. Fearlessly foul, this consistently comical series should be required reading for all teenage boys and anyone else with a strong stomach and highly sensitive funny bone. (Fiction. 14 & up)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

-ll we ever get out of Coop-s schemes are headaches and heartbreaks,- opines high school sophomore Sean, who gets his turn narrating in this third volume about the misadventures of three boys that began with Swim the Fly. Coop-s latest idea is to make a low-budget horror film. Neither Sean nor Matt are interested until Sean-s parents announce there-s a baby on the way. With Coop-s emphasis on the commercial aspects of filmmaking (-The idea is to make something that will sell. Quality is secondary-), Sean signs on, hoping to earn enough to add an extension to his house so he won-t have to share a room with his twin sister, Cathy, a truly unpleasant character. Naturally, complications ensue, as Sean inadvertently becomes linked romantically with a possibly psychotic ninth-grader, while trying to nurture a relationship with Leyna, a hot classmate, and fend off advances from Cathy-s BFF, Nessa. (Sean-s -lightsaber- fully extends in his shorts many, many times.) Those who enjoyed the first two books will find a hefty helping of more raunchy fun. Ages 14-up. Agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (Sept.)