Janitors

Janitors #1

by Tyler Whitesides, Brandon Dorman (Illustrator)

Have you ever fallen asleep during math class? Are you easily distracted while listening to your English teacher? Do you find yourself completely uninterested in geography? Well, it may not be your fault. The janitors at Welcher Elementary know a secret, and it's draining all the smarts out of the kids. Twelve-year-old Spencer Zumbro, with the help of his classmate Daisy Gullible Gates, must fight with and against a secret, janitorial society that wields wizard-like powers. Who can Spencer and Daisy trust and how will they protect their school and possibly the world? Janitors is book 1 in a new children s fantasy series by debut novelist Tyler Whitesides. You'll never look at a mop the same way again.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, Adventure, Magic

298 pages, Hardcover

First published August 3, 2011

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 11 year old told me, "Mom, you have to read this." Every so often she checks on me to make sure I'm still reading. She'll even look at my saved page and check which part I'm on.

A fun and wacky story about Spencer, a 6th grader who washes his face with the wrong soap at school. It turns out that the soap has magical properties and he can now see creatures that roam the elementary school hallways and sap the strength and motivation to learn from all the kids.

The characters in Janitors are lively and funny. Daisy, otherwise know as Gullible Gates, is the perfect friend to Spencer--also the perfect one to believe his wild stories from the beginning. When she tries the soap for herself, she discovers a whole new underground world of danger that is controlled by warring factions of janitors.

Dez is the boilerplate bully, but I love that Spencer is OCD and Daisy is gullible. Really, a great group of entertaining characters.

I laughed when I read that the author, Tyler Whitesides, worked his way through college as an elementary school janitor.

The descriptions are clever, the dialog witty, and there is just enough suspense and mystery to keep the oldest adult reading.

[Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

[3.5 Stars]

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great middle grade read.

My kids and I both love this series. Such a fun elementary/middle grade series with appeal to the older crowd as well. Even my almost 18 year old enjoyed listening to Janitors on a recent trip.

Content: Clean

[Jamie Ayres · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful fantasy story filled with magic. The plot was so original, and as a teacher, I loved the school setting . . . had me wondering if Toxites are real :-) I'm part of an author festival next weekend with Tyler Whitesides and I can't wait to meet him and tell him how much my daughter and I loved his book . . . it's a Sunshine State book too so I'm sure a ton of kids have enjoyed this good read this year.

[Katelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Age: 10+
Trigger Warnings: Small fights
Library Category: Juvenile

I remember reading this in seventh grade and loving it. Now, years later, it's more obvious why it's a children's book. The basis for the story was definitely unique and the writing was engaging - if you are a fifth-grader. However, it was short and didn't go into much detail. I read it in a day.

If you want a clean book, this is great. There was no bad language, romance, over-the-top violence, etc. The only thing that raised my age rating on this was that little children might get scared by the descriptions of the little monsters the story is based on or the fight scenes (even though they do not go into detail and are kept short, they could still be scary).

I would definitely recommend this book to someone between elementary and middle school that was looking for a book that was out of the ordinary - or even just looking for a quick, captivating read.

[Marilyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Middle-grade fantasy. OK, so I'm not this book's target audience. I thought about giving it to one of my grandchildren and wanted to read it first. I won't be giving it. It's not terrible, but there are many, many books that are much better. In this a sixth-grade boy and girl join forces with school janitors to defeat evil characters and little creatures who make school kids sleepy and distracted. The message was heavy-handed; the plot and characterization were sophomoric and there were several glaring errors which should have been caught by an editor. At one point, it says that the minutes passes "painstakingly" slowly. Really?

[Kerri · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is kind of weird. It has a unique premise I guess, but I struggled the whole way through. I just didn't really care about any of it. I wasn't interested in any of the characters. I tried to think about how I would have felt about this book when I was the target audience, but it was hard to care enough to try. I won this series in a give-away so I will move onto the second and give it a shot, otherwise I wouldn't bother.

[Chow · Rating 4 out of 5]

We listened to this book as we went on a car trip. It was fun and I found myself getting caught up in the story! Great family read!

[DaNae · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad premise but the writing is atrocious.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 8 year-old son loved this book. For me it was just okay. We got to hear Tyler speak and he was fantastic. I think we'll keep going with the series.

[Kat!e Larson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ I appreciate the way this book turned the main trope of the genre on its head -- grownups asking you to do dangerous things are not the good guys, and you should go to adults for help. Which sounds like a boring and corny message when I write it out, but it was well-executed and the kids still had plenty of adventures. The magic system is fun. I really love the characters -- Spencer is realistic and relatable, Daisy quirky and adorable. I also just really love how much respect Spencer had for Daisy all the way through; another thing that wasn't overdone or heavy handed, but that makes this book great for giving kids something to emulate. As I think over it, this book is really wholesome and something you should want your kids to read. While also being full of exploding monsters and flying brooms to make it way too fun to feel like it's trying to be moralistic.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about elementary school with a secret magical twist. The main character is Spencer. In the book he struggles with bullies, school work, family and of course magical monsters. The mystical aspect of the story is blended well with the relatable reality. Halfway through the book there is an incredible twist in the story. The characters were simple and relatable, the storyline was very well constructed, and the ending was incredibly surprising. The book does not take long to read and is certainly worth reading.

[Traci Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this aloud to my kids. Three of them have already read the whole series, but they insisted we read it together. After finishing it, they begged me to stay the second book. But I needed to read something else with them before doing another janitors book. So there you have it- the kids just loved it, and I liked it ok. I'm sure I'll read more, which I don't really mind, especially if it makes the kids happy. But on my own I probably wouldn't pick up the next book. But the books weren't written for adults, and I think the author "hit the nail on the head" for his target audience. 😉

[PakTung · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really admired the plot with twists and turns that kept me excited to finish the book. I thought the story about a secret underground society of rebel janitors fighting Toxites (Rubbish, Grime, and Filth) in certain schools with a magical essence named the Glop that could be used on janitorial items. The ideas were very original and I liked how the author, Tyler Whitesides, thought of things such as the school board being an ACTUAL BOARD of wood. I also liked the big twist in the story where Spencer got enlisted by Garth Hadley of the BEM (Bureau of Educational Maintenance) and thought Walter Jamison & Marv were the bad guys until he found out everything else!

[Hannah Belyea · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Spencer starts seeing strange creatures at school - creatures no one else sees - he enlists his new friend Daisy to find the source, leading the duo into a feud between magic-wielding janitors for the fate of their education. Whitesides begins a zany adventure full of magic mops and dangerous excursions sure to keep young readers entertained. What sort of tricks and traps will Spencer and Daisy need to master to keep their school safe?

[navin · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book isn’t a bad one!! my 2 star rating merely reflects how much i enjoyed reading it- about 2.5, although i couldn’t bring myself to round up. i think the ideas had a lot of potential, what with these magical creatures, but we really hear nothing more of them other than “he likes like a rodent. this one is bad!!!!”

it’s a silly kids book, and if you’re into that lighthearted sort of thing, go ahead aksjksjsjsskjdskd

[I’m in your walls · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in 5th grade and honestly I don’t know how I feel about it.

I really liked it then so it gets 4 stars but the plot is kinda weird but I love it at the same time?

Maybe it’s just cause it was a book I remember readying as a kid but idk

[Jordyn Dessi]

Janitors is a book about a kid named Spencer and how he finds out that there are creatures living at his school.Spencer knows that these creatures are bad but he is one of the only people who know about them.He begins to learn some tricks and uses of weapons to help defend himself against these creepy,terrible looking creatures.
Even though this book had lots of action, it was a little challenging to understand some of the actions that took place throughout the story.This book is definitely a thriller and will catch someone’s attention easily.
Overall, I think Janitors was a great book and had lots of suspense making me question,”what’s gonna happen next?”,leaving me hooked.This book is by far one of the best books I have read and I am looking forward to reading many more of the Janitors series.

[Shauna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book but after the first couple of chapters, the storyline and plot completely lost me. I was determined to finish the book but it was so incredibly slow that I felt like I had to force myself to finish it.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids loved this book. They like how Spencer brings the adventure in the story and how Daisy is so funny with her comments and responses to others. It's a fun family read aloud.

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, middle-grade book about school, janitors and wizardry. I'm sure this would appeal to the intended age group much more than it did to me.

[Jacque · Rating 4 out of 5]

We listened to the audiobook of this on a long trip. The kids loved it. I thought it was pretty good. A fun and different idea for a story.

[Savannah Cordell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is like replacing the castle in a fairy tale with a elementary school, the weapons with magic mops and brooms, and a dashing knight with a burly janitor. It's funny, action packed, and over all a really fun read.

[Danielle Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really am in awe of the creativity behind this..I enjoyed it enough to read the 2nd book and see what happens

[S.W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Janitors is original and entertaining.

The first thing that attracted me to this book, and (in due course) the others in the series, was the cover. I think it’s awesome, and it successfully grabbed my interest in the ocean of books that circle the globe.

Janitors is a story that I find very original. It takes an occupation that we all know exists, that we don't take much notice of, that we all take for granted, and turns it on its head and presents it in a way that I would never have imagined.

Armed with some quite traditional cleaning tools, three teens (Spencer, Daisy, Dez) become embroiled in a bitter battle between two opposing teams of Janitors at their school. One side trying to ensure the kids have the best chance of learning, and the other trying its best to stop them from learning.

Each of the main kid characters are unique, they have their own set of struggles to deal with from day to day. None of them are friends with each other - quite the opposite, actually. They are brought together following Spencer’s discovery of some rather creepy critters that inhabit the school, sapping the thoughts from the kids.

Notice to parents: This book reveals the truth behind why many kids don't learn to their full potential. Parents who read this will learn something - it's not the kids being lazy at all, it's actually invisible pests called Toxites (Rubbish, Filth, Grime) that are the problem. I bet that until now, you all thought it was the kids’ fault.

Who ever thought that the humble school Janitor could actually be a magical wizard who is protecting our kids from harm. This book reveals that Janitors are actually like silent superheroes that linger in the background stopping the baddies. Sadly, it also demonstrates that they never get any credit for their heroics against the Toxites (it must be hard to be taken for granted). This is the very original and amusing concept of this book.

The plot has a few twists that may catch lazy readers out if they aren't paying attention, but there’s plenty of action to keep the reader engaged. Some unanswered questions will undoubtedly be expanded upon in plots for subsequent books for the series.

My bottom line: I enjoyed the originality of the story. Never before have I read about (or even contemplated) janitors having such amazing powers. I'll never look at a janitor in the same way, I'll always be wondering which side they’re on.

Note: I don't claim to be a pro-reviewer, I am a reader. My reviews are based on my personal thoughts around the story that the book is trying to tell. I try to focus on the story (which is the reason I read) rather than dissect the book and pass comment on typos, writing style or structure.

[Rhiannon Ryder · Rating 1 out of 5]

I went on the hunt for this book at the BEA because of a poster for it in the lobby. Brandon Mulls quote on the front, with the great art had me excited for this new middle school series. I was hoping for another fantastic series like Fablehaven, but I was deeply disappointed.

My number one issue with middle school books is when authors attempt to talk down to their audience. I don't think it's even intentional a lot of the time, and certainly there are variations of it, from out right talking down, to just a lack of sophistication in the way the story is told. Some authors suffer from it in the growing pains of their first book, and some seem to fall into it as a way of story telling. I can tell you that not a single popular middle grade book or series that I've read has ever fallen prey to it, which would lend credence to me when I say it's the wrong way to approach young readers- unless they're four and under.

Janitors was decidedly unsophisticated, the story and the characters were never really allowed to grow into something big and wild, attempts were made to challenge the imagination but then they were tightly pulled back again. The story often shifted into moralizing- the bad guys were obviously bad because they had Spencer and Daisy do things that got them in trouble (um, am I just wrong here or did Harry, Hermione and Ron not get into endless trouble?), mom is the most trustworthy person in your life thus you should tell her everything and keep no secrets- even if she likely won't believe a word of it, etc. It started feeling decidedly didactic and it grew old very quickly.

Worse yet was that Whitesides had this novel magical slant with the Janitors, their powers and the whole fight that was starting to go down with the BEM, but instead of giving it the depth it needed so it would be something you would invest in, he took the easy route. The BEM wants all children to be stupid and vapid, just because, no further explanation necessary because isn't that evil enough? This will break apart society eventually, which doesn't seem like it would benefit a small government agency, but apparently this is where you, me, and every child who reads this series is supposed to suspend their disbelief and just go with it. But I ask you, after they've read the incredibly complex tale of good versus evil that is Harry Potter, do you really think that's going to hold water with kids?

Fablehaven was a rich and fantastical tale with a gripping evil twist, I was deeply disappointed that Janitors was the follow up middle grade series Shadow Mountain Press decided to go with.

[Abby Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very good! Spencer Zumbro is starting sixth grade at a new school. So far, things aren’t going so great. To make things worse, he keeps falling asleep in class. During one of his little naps, the class bully draws on his face with permanent marker. Spencer runs to the bathroom to clean it off. The only thing he can find is a mysterious bottle of pink soap which burns his face but removes the marker. That is when he first notices the strange creatures roaming the school. The problem is, no one else can see them, except for maybe the janitors, who seem to be chasing them down with their cleaning equipment. Everyone starts to think Spencer is a little crazy. Everyone that is except a mysterious man named Garth Hadley. Garth convinces Spencer to follow him out to his van one day after school, where he promises to explain everything. The van is loaded with all kinds of janitorial supplies, which Garth explains are actually magical. Garth tells Spencer that he is from the BEM, a special division that protects students from evil, magical janitors. Spencer is not quite sure how to take all of this in, but when Garth invites him to help debilitate the evil warlock janitor who reigns in his school, he can’t pass it up. Spencer is given a few magical tools to help him locate the bronze nail and hammer which are the source of the warlock’s power. Spencer decides he needs help and recruits his gullible classmate Daisy. After exposing her to the mysterious soap, Daisy too can see the magical creatures and joins Spencer in his quest to save their school. After unwillingly becoming involved in all kinds of menacing and rule breaking activities to help Garth, Spencer and Daisy are suspended from school and given detention with the dreaded janitors. After a few days working with the ‘evil’ janitors Marv and Walter, they learn the story of the strange creatures from a different perspective. The janitors tell them that it is actually Garth Hadley who is the evil one and they are only trying to protect the school from him. They explain that Garth is actually trying to keep the strange creatures around to drain the smarts out of all the kids. That changes everything. Spencer and Daisy join the janitor team and learn to use a whole new set of magical cleaning supplies. It is now up to them to try and save their school from Garth and his BEM team.

[Mehrshad Maghrebi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5
(EN)

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute fast read book. The author is a local Logan resident and this is his first novel. I liked it, but it wasn't fantastic. The students will like it. It has the flavor of a Brandon Mull book. I teach 7th grade, and I think it is a little young for my readers. I would put it on a 4th or 5th grade level. It is about some 6th graders, so I guess middle schoolers could read it. The author is coming to our school this year.
**stop for spoilers*** Spencer, a new kid at school, has no friends, and goes to wash marker off his face. The soap is magic and lets him see creatures that are living in the school. These little critters make students fall asleep in class, and not be able to learn things. Some of the custodians can see them and they kill them. After killing some a broom or mop becomes magically powered and the person holding it can fly for a while. Vacuums that suck up the creatures have magical dust that will help you against enemies. Spencer gets tricked into stealing a magic hammer that makes a warlock have a domain. The head custodian is a warlock and he is trying to help beat the bad creatures so that students can learn. Another faction is firing these good custodians and making schools have lots of mites. Spencer learns that he was tricked and then the custodian starts to teach him how to track and kill the mites. Gullible Gates also helps him and teaches him that he should stand up for his beliefs and always tell the whole truth. There is a battle, and of course the good guys win, but the bad guys are still out there and there is bound to be a sequel.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids (ages 10 and 11) and I loved this book! They alternated laughing out loud, with holding their breath trying to guess what devious things might happen next.

The author grew up two doors down from us and has been a great storyteller his whole life, so we knew it would be good, but it was even more fun than we expected.

Some things I like that have real-world relevance to kids, seldom if ever found in other books of the fantasy/science fiction genre: 1) It is very difficult to tell the good guys from the bad guys; the children therefore, sometimes misplace their trust, and bad consequences ensue. 2) Communicating with strangers via e-mail turns out to be a bad idea, no matter how important it seemed to be. 3) Enlisting the aid of a parent turns out to be extremely helpful. (Notice that in almost all kids' books and movies, even Disney-type movies, the kids have to disobey parents or sneak around them in order to save the dogs/horses/marriage/owls/universe. The parents are incapable of helping them, and never believe them anyway, should they decide to tell them. I loved that difference in this book.

Another thing I liked: The terrific illustrations. The pictures align perfectly with the images in your mind. It's surprising how many jacket covers do not faithfully produce the simplest features of the characters in many books, leading one to believe the illustrator never read it.

It's a very fun, cliff-hanging, read-aloud book, which I highly recommend to all tweens and their parents.