New Kid Catastrophes

T.J. and the Time Stumblers #1

by Bill Myers

This six-book series centers around two 23rd century goofballs, Tuna and Herby, who travel back in time to study TJ Finkelstein for their history project. TJ will someday become a great leader who demonstrates honesty, integrity, thoughtfulness, self-sacrifice, respect for others--all traits she hones and grasps through her adventures in this series. Unfortunately, Tuna and Herby get stuck in TJ's time (modern day), so she has to deal with their schemes while juggling the normal issues of a seventh grader who has moved to a new city, is trying to fit in, and is coping with her mother's death and her family's new life. In "New Kid Catastrophes," TJ accidentally makes an enemy of Hesper Breakahart, the superstar who attends their school. And Tuna and Herby's attempts to help just lead to one disaster after another. In the end, TJ is still very unpopular, but she learns the value of looking past appearances and gains a few friends--and the attention of the most popular boy in school.

Genres: Childrens, Middle Grade, Christian Fiction, Time Travel, Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2011

About the author

Bill Myers was born into a Christian home, and although as a child he became bored with Christianity, he decided at the University of Washington quote, to "make God my boss." Ironically, at the University his worst subject was writing. He claims to have prayed, and said that he would be able to do anything for God, except write. Even so, he has become a prominent Christian writer, and has a large amount of successful books and films to his credit.

Reviews

[Kawiria Creed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book series will always be special for me since I've owned it for roughly 10 years--and there's a reason I haven't grown out of it as I have with some other middle-grade novels. Two boys from the distant future, Tuna and Herby, have travelled back in time to observe TJ Finklestein for a school project since apparently she will one day become president. But things don't go as planned, and they end up interfering with TJ's life. As if being a 13-year-old transfer student in a new town isn't difficult enough, the boys' antics land her on the official blacklist of Hesper Breakahart (get it? Break-a-heart?), the school's extremely popular, extremely spoiled teenage actress. All the while TJ tries to seem less insane around her surfer hunk of a neighbour whose name is--wait for it--CHAD Steel. This results in a very weird, but fun, experience. Each book is a wacky, cartoonish, hilarious adventure that almost feels like a parody of itself. And that's why I'll never stop coming back to TJ and the Time Stumblers for more.

[Randy Tramp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two 23rd century goofballs, Tuna, and Herby travel back in time to study TJ Finkelstein for their history project. Tuna and Herby get stuck in TJ’s time (modern-day) TJ accidentally makes an enemy of Hesper Breakahart, the superstar who attends their school. And Tuna and Herby’s attempts to help just lead to one disaster after another. In the end, TJ is still unpopular, but she learns the value of looking past appearances and gains a few friends―and the attention of the most popular boy in school.

I absolutely loved this book. Funny and cleaver. Goofballs are right as they make a lot of mistakes and those mishaps are funny.

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bought this book for my son because he loves to believe in space/time travel/etc. This book would have been great if the author had simply written a silly book with a message about not judging others by the outside, but looking on the inside for younger kids OR for tweens/young teens. Sadly he missed the mark by writing a story for upper elementary but then added in boyfriend/girlfriend/gaga goo goo dialogue that really had little to nothing to do with what could have been a fairly funny story.

[Angelina Jordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and clean. Will read again for entertainment and relaxation. I recommend LOL

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle grade readers will love this book. It should appeal to both boys and girls because it is a basic adventure book. Its primary theme is new kid on the block meets time travelers from the future. Make that bumbling time travelers on a school assignment. There are plenty of laughs to go around--good clean non-crude humor.

Meet Herby and Tuna, traveling from the future to invisibly observe their target historical figure for a school assignment. Since their arrival, everything seems to go wrong for them from hitting the dinosaur age to crash landing in the Pacific Ocean, to major malfunctions of their equipment. Their goal: Malibu, California. Their target: Thelma Jean Finkelstein, otherwise known as TJ to her family and friends back in Missouri. But here in California? That's another matter entirely. And the piano that escaped the movers, rolled across the yard scooping up TJ in its path, crashing through the neighbor's fence making a big splash in their swimming pool in front of a dozen or so 13-year-old classmates, including TJ's new neighbor Chad Steel, was TJ's introduction into the new school year.

Could it get any worse than that? It could and it did, no thanks to Herby and Tuna who attempted to "help" TJ through her first days at school. With that "help" came alienation of nearly the rest of her classmates, especially those who prostrated themselves before Hesper Breakahart; she was the star in her own TV series. Somehow, in Physical Education class (TJ thought it would be better termed Physical Embarrassment), a ball hit Hesper square in the nose. Everyone blamed TJ while Hesper was dramatically wheeled out by paramedics and taken to the hospital. How could it get any worse than that? It could and it did. But you'll have to read the book to discover what happens next.

Besides the side-splitting humor in this short book, there are family dynamics to explore (TJ's mom died of cancer recently) and social dynamics to learn from. This book, like the many others written by this author is not just a fluff piece. There are valuable lessons taught within the humorous events, just enough to prompt young readers to think. Parents will love this. Books like this were something I searched for when my children were the age this book is written for.

If you are looking for a hilarious, fast-paced adventure for your children to read, this is one I highly recommend.

I am reading and reviewing this book for the Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. summer reading program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

New Kid Catastrophes is the first TJ and the Time Stumblers book in the series. In this book, seventh grader TJ is the new kid in school. After her mother died from cancer, her father moved TJ and her two little sisters from Missouri to Florida and there is a lot that TJ needs to adjust too. As she is struggling to get familiar with her new surroundings, she meets two boys from the 23rd century who have decided to study her childhood as their research project. Unfortunately, for TJ, she is the only one who can see and hear them and this does not go well for her. First, the neighborhood heartthrob thinks she has a mental illness because TJ appears to speak to herself. The time travelers also cause a injury to a popular and famous girl, who also stars in a tv series, and TJ is blamed causing the entire school to hate her. Also, the only two people at the school that seem to like and accept TJ are two unpopular and “geekish” kids: Naomi and Doug. At first, TJ treats them as pariahs and really doesn’t want anything to do with them because she rather hang out with the more popular kids, however, TJ learns a valuable lesson with the help from the time travelers: don’t show favoritism to those who are more popular and to look past the superficial. Though this book is geared to teen readers, as an adult, I found this book to be very humorous and enjoyable to read. I also liked how Bill Myers used this simple story to teach a very important truth to its readers: don’t judge a book by its cover because real beauty is not on the outside but within and we should treat everyone equally despite how they look. I think that this is an excellent concept for teenagers to learn especially because of the pressure that teens feel today to be popular. This is a book that I think every teenager should read before starting junior high and/or high school. There is more to this book than the humor found within it.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

T.J. Finkelstein and her family have just moved to Malibu, California from Missouri. They are hoping to start over after the death of her mother. T.J. is also hoping to just fit in at school. What she doesn't realize, yet, is that there are two 23rd century time travelers who show up to study her because she grows up to become a great leader. There's only one problem. TJ is the only one who can see these guys! With the time travelers stuck, TJ realizes she's got to make the best of the situation including learning the lessons that will help her become a great leader someday.

The first book in the TJ & the Time Stumblers Series sets the stage for all of the others. I've really enjoyed this entire series. I love how humor is used to teach basic lessons like seeing beyond a person's appearance to who is inside.

I laughed my way through this book. While it is the first in the series and VERY helpful to read it before the rest of the series, it can be read alone. I think I actually read this one AFTER reading books 2-6.

I'd recommend this to any child ages 8-12.

I rented this book from the library to read as part of the Tyndale Summer Reading Program. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series, teachers, librarians, kids ages 8-12

Rating - 4 stars

[Jenni Frencham · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was excited to review a book written for a junior high audience. Having spent six years teaching seventh grade English, I am always on the lookout for good books to recommend to my now-former students. I especially like finding books that I can wholeheartedly recommend as being free of profanity or gross elements that are generally a concern for the parents of my students. While this book is squeaky-clean, I can't recommend it.

I can't recommend it because the writing is ridiculous. If a seventh grader had consumed five or six energy drinks and all of his Halloween candy in one sitting, his brain would probably sound a lot like this story reads. It's chaotic. It's filled with words in large bold print. The story is difficult to follow. If one of my students had written this story, I would not have been that surprised. However, since this story was written by an adult, I am less than impressed.

I might use this book as a last resort for a student who is absolutely opposed to sitting and reading anything of substance, but only as that last resort. There are so many better books out there, folks. Don't bother with this one.

[Nicki Olsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I really liked this book. At first I didn't really think I'd be that interested since I'm 15 but it was a good book nonetheless. While I would not recommend it to a teen, I think the age range is right on with 8-12. The main goal of Bill Myers' book was to take someone else's bad experience and turn into a funny, confidence boosting book for starting middle school or moving to a new school. I give Bill Five stars in accomplishing that. TJ has just moved almost across the country and in very little time she has already made enemies with the most popular kid in school. Not a great way to start out, especially with two invisble surfer looking kids trailing her for a history project. Will TJ ever learn the real joy in friendship or will she be too caught up in being with the popular crowd? Find out in this great story filled with fun, adventure, and a whole lot of trouble! Great read for kids and a thumbs up for Bill Meyers!!Bill Meyers

[Coranne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a little unsure how to go about reviewing this one. For a middle school fiction- this was a decent book. It had action, silliness, romance, and crazy inventions. It also reminded me an awful lot of the Disney show "Phil of the Future". For the middleschool group (or even elementary group) this is a fun silly book to read- that has clean humor.


There is very little in this book that would signify it as a Christian novel. I think it would appeal to a wide range of young readers. The characters were fun - TJ was easily embarrassed and always seemed to do the wrong thing at the wrong time. Her two time surfing friends reminded me of a young Bill and Ted (from Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure).

This is a fun book for your child to read- I would reccommend it to tweens- I can't see it really appealing to teens.

[Brooke (i blog 4 books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been a bit torn about this book since finishing it. The book was funny but a little all over the place. I read that the author was also the writer for the Magee and Me video series ... the book reads a lot like one of those old videos. There was a decent amount of "cheese" factor, but I could look past a lot of it because the story was cute.

My main "issue" is that I'm not really sure who the target audience for this series is. The main characters are in middle school and some of the issues (crushes on boys, dealing with the death of a parent, etc.) seemed geared more for middle schoolers. However, the book is really written in a style that seems more appropriate for younger elementary ages (1st-4th graders). I'm just not sure who will read this book and love it.

Overall, a cute story. It would be worth giving it a shot with your kids if they enjoy funny, outlandish stories.

[Meagan Myhren-Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

TJ and the Time Stumblers #1
New Kid Catastrophes
By Bill Myers

TJ (short for Thelma Jean) and her family have just moved to Malibu from Missouri, which for some people would be a dream come true. But not for TJ. For TJ it has turned into a nightmare, especially when she crashes the neighbor's pool party with a piano! And things just go downhill from there when she starts school.

What TJ doesn't (yet) is that she is getting help in the klutz department from 2 bumbling time traveling teens who 1) misdirect their time-travel pod, 2) run out of fuel for said time-travel pod, and 3) crash into the Pacific Ocean before shorting out the unfortunate time-travel pod. Herby and Tuna are definitely not top-of-the-food-chain candidates.

New Kid Catastrophes will keep middle-grade readers laughing at all the antics and mishaps as TJ learns a valuable lesson in friendship.

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a mini ‘Books For Christian Girls’ review. It is not a full content review and will not receive one. These mini-reviews are years old and just for clarity on the rating the book received on Goodreads.


6/3/2014-
“Like the writing style of this book, I'm going to write these thoughts randomly. Honestly, I've never read such an odd writing style. Ignoring the *ahem* icky cover and the kid nicknamed after a fish, this book is best for public-schoolers as TJ's life is focused on school and her crush on Chad. And people get morphed into goldfishes and lamps. Nope, not kidding. Really not my type of book.”


*Main Content-
A mention of a Greek goddess.
Tuna & Herby say that TJ is "smoot" (no, I have no idea what that means) and a "babe" or "babe-ness" many times; Chad (age 13) has a girlfriend.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read to Austin. Funny. He enjoyed it -- other kiddos got into it as well!

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Must admit that I was drawn to the Bill and Ted-esque premise of this one - two boys from the 23rd century travel back in time to research a girl in the 21st century who will eventually become a famous public figure. I have a few other Bill Myers series in my library, and I always have trouble getting kids to read them. Having read this one, maybe I understand why now. The book is entirely too busy - too much noise, too much unnecessary dialogue, etc. It just seemed like a jumbled mess to me, and I really wanted to like this one! I'm always looking for a good middle grade series to recommend to my students, but this isn't it. I may still give his Wally McDoogle series a try, though.

[Jenny Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

TJ has moved from Missouri to Californiaand is trying to adjust. Unfortunately that is nearly impossible when everything that could go wrong does—like when two surfer dudes from the 23rd century show up to study her and try to help her.

For entertainment value, it is a clean and funny story. Lots of crazy things happen. While this is Christian fiction it is only blatant in one short scene. But for literary value, it falls short. The overall premise and character arc are weak. It is a good idea poorly executed.

If you’re looking for clean and funny for an 8-12 year old, it works. In fact, I just handed it to my 10 year old.

[Dan Rogers · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book to be very unusual to say the least. I felt that it was a bit silly and not worth the time I spent reading it. One of the ways by which I gauge the quality of a book is how easily I find myself able to set it aside and how quickly I want to pick it back up again to continue reading. This was one which I quite often had to set aside because I just couldn't take any more silliness for a while. As a result, there were several times when I had to force myself to pick it up again if not for any other reason than the fact that the sooner I did, the sooner I would be finished with it and able to move on to something else.

[Louise Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a ridiculous story about TJ Finkelstein who discovers some time travelers from the 23rd century, who in their quest to make her first day of school better, cause bizarre things to occur such as dictionaries flying off shelves, dudes turning into other people, and Chad becoming a goldfish. Unfortunately, this does not endear her to the other students so 9207 marbles end up in TJ’s locker. When TJ is handed a giant fire extinguisher, the pin is pulled, she shoots down the hall, bounces down steps, and has a bone-jarring ride. Children who love the absurd will adore this book as it teaches truth of what to look for in a friend. It is so ridiculous you can’t help but laugh.

[C.E. Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

New Kid Catastrophes: 1 (TJ and the Time Stumblers) is adorable. This goof-troop of time-traveling kids kept me engaged and amused. Kids will easily relate to these silly, charming, magical characters (TJ, Tuna, and Herby) and the dilemmas they face (being the new kid/outsider.) I do have to say though—I feel this book should be geared toward grade school readers rather than teens.

Everything about this book is original. I, as an adult, enjoyed this first Time Stumblers tale and recommend it for young readers. A good, clean, fun, engaging read.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

TJ Findlestein is the new kid at her school. The night before she starts there she has some time travelers from the 23rd century come visit her and “help” her. But, their help makes her the outcast of the entire school. They are trying to show her to look beyond outward appearances – that the best friends might not be the most popular kids and to instead look at inner qualities. Very funny book for tweens. I don’t think a first day could be worse than this so it is encouraging for a tween beginning at a new school.

[Breath of Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will start my review off by saying that New Kid Catastrophes is a wonderfully written book. Author Bill Myers in my opinion has capture the reading audience of middle graders and possibly some a little younger depending on the reading level. I know I have a couple of younger readers that would:

To read more of my review:
Breath of Life

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sets tone for the series

Not my favorite book (or series) - I love imagination, but its just a little over-the-top for my taste. I do appreciate the values the book (and series) highlight, but the book(s) (should be) for elementary aged kids - not middle schoolers. If this is what appeals to adolescents then we're worse off than I suspected. The book (and series) aren't bad, but they aren't fantastic either.

[Sally Hannoush · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great read for kids who are starting chapter books. I'm a grown "kid" who thinks this book is entertaining fun. It has an important lesson to learn and a crazy way to learn it. What would you do if two boys from the 23rd C. came to "help' you and they managed to mess everything up? A very funny and cute story.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book to verify it would be fitting for my oldest nephew. While he may need to grow into the book a little (i.e. start by reading it with a parent), it should be a good series for him. There are lots of onomatopoeias for sound effects, although the "futuristic" (i.e. made up) words may be a bit difficult to grasp. All-in-all, a decent book.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Kid Catastrophes, the first book in Bill Myers T.J. and the Time Stumblers series was so great! This was a fantastic first book! It has Wally Mcdoogle feel to it. Can't wait for the next books in this series!

[Mariejkt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book for Junior High girls I had read the 2nd one first now that I have read this one I understand the story slightly better. It is about a new girl TJ to a California High School and some time traveling accidents waiting to happen guys and there adventures. Good book for Junior High Girls.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book for kids and teens was really funny. I admit that at first I thought I was too grown-up for it, but before long, I got into the goofy humour in the writing. I enjoyed both the story and the way it was written. I’ll have to remember to find Book #2 when I need a fun quick read.

[Su · Rating 3 out of 5]

This rating is more of a 2.5, but it's an okay MG book (the premise is better than the story turned out to be) that I could probably recommend to my friends for their kids to read, or as a read-together book.

[Anne Patkau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Malfunctioning gadgets zap science projects for future goofballs' mistakes, while TJ, her family, friends, and school mates have standard scream responses. Series is probably same, unbelievable strangeness.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was quite good. Most of the book, I wasn't as intrigued so I wouldn't recommend it. However, I like the idea that there are two kids from the future who visit a soon to be famous writer.