Between Books - Tales of a Sixth-Grade Muppet: Clash of the Class Clowns

Kirk Scroggs continues the story of Danvers Blickensderfer in Tales of a Sixth-Grade Muppet: Clash of the Class Clowns.  Danvers was a former regular human boy who is now a young Muppet with an internship with the Muppets and performing in a Muppet boy band named Mon Swoon.  In this volume Danvers faces off against a new kid in school, Phips a hilarious class clown.  But Phips is not his only nemesis as his little sister Chloe arranges for a reality TV show based on Danvers’ predicament and attempts to unseat Missy Piggy as the diva of the Muppets.  And he decides with his friend Kip to release a single as a super boy band featuring both Mon Swoon and Emo Shun, clearly it will be a hit!  And of course he continues to search for the cause of his Muppet state.  To quote Waldorf, “This book’s got more plots than a graveyard (Scroggs, 207).  I did not even mention the joking zombies or the joke off with Phips!  And of course, Sam the Eagle teaches us all about comedy.

This second offering by Scroggs follows the same format as the first.  He tells his story alternating between narrative text and cartoons that weave in and out of each other.  The illustrations are enjoyable and often funny.  Waldorf is right; there is a lot of plot in this 220 page book.  For some readers the amount of plot could be overwhelming as you feel the tension around the question will everything be resolved?  Fortunately most of the plot points, expect for those useful for a third volume find conclusion. 

Like with Tales of a Sixth-Grade Muppet, I do not feel like I am the target audience.  I read the book because the Between Tween insisted and I do like to please my children.  The Between Tween quizzed me daily for the three days it took me to finish the book.  I do feel this volume and series would make fun and enjoyable reading for those aged nine to 14.  If and adult can give a book to a kid or tween that they bond over and encourage reading you are clearly winning!  But the youth will probably enjoy it more than you. 

So for the review that matters, I checked in again with the Between Tween.  The Tween says that Tales of a Sixth-Grade Muppet: Clash of the Class Clown is highly enjoyable and really fun.  The volumes are one that can be reread and future volumes are must haves.  The Tween’s favorite plot point was the karate style five masters of comedy segment.  And the Tween was frustrated by Chloe who seems so nice and cute but is so mean to Danvers.  A favorite moment for the Tween was when the Swedish Chef threw mashed potatoes and gravy at the comedy zombies.  And the Tween loved the Puffins who judged the Joke-Off.  The Tween enjoyed the humor and it kept the Between Tween laughing. 

 For the adult reader Tales of a Sixth-Grade Muppet: Clash of the Class Clown is probably not a masterpiece.  But it does provide a really good and fun opportunity to encourage a youngster to read; in fact they may beg to read it.  In the Between House, when the third volume is released in September 2012, it will be a must buy!