Pennybaker School Is Headed for Disaster

A knack for magic tricks (and a bit of alchemy) lands sixth-grader Thomas Fallgrout at the Pennybaker Hill Academy for the Uniquely Gifted, where he befriends thespian Wesley, who speaks in many accents and wields a mean spitball-shooting straw. Thomas is excited to be part of the school’s annual spitball war and is even named captain of the boys’ team, but when the bust of a beloved teacher goes missing, the theft takes center stage—and everyone believes that Thomas took it. The only ones willing to help Thomas prove his innocence are his sister, Erma, and Chip, a weird neighbor Thomas generally tries to avoid. Brown (How Lunchbox Jones Saved Me from Robots, Traitors, and Missy the Cruel) delivers a well-plotted mystery in this series opener, with plenty of red herrings and a satisfying resolution. But it’s the quirky humor and wild characters, such as Thomas’s skateboard- and motorcycle-riding Grandma Jo, that will stick with readers. Kissi’s lively b&w spot illustrations, not all seen by PW, help bring this exuberant story to life. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Cori Deyoe, 3 Seas Literary. Illustrator’s agency: Bright Agency. (July)