Middle-School Cool

by Maiya Williams

Kaboom Academy, a new and alternative school for middle-grade kids, is chock-full of innovative methods of instruction and discipline that are soon to be tested on the middle-school students of Horsemouth, New Hampshire. Now, meet the class of Journalism 1A. These group of nine misfits are the staff of The Daily Dynamite, Kaboom Academy's quarterly newspaper. As their school year kicks off with a boom, literally, the students of Journalism 1A are about to discover what really goes on at Kaboom Academy and who's really in charge of this groundbreaking school for boys and girls who've fallen out of love with learning.

Genres: Middle Grade, Humor, Adventure

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Chrissy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kaboom Academy knows how to keep a kid interested -- at least, that's what people say. When the new school appears out of nowhere with crazy, offbeat ideas for how to educate young minds -- for example, books are absorbed through pills, which contain entire stories with just a single dose... and just wait until P.E. Those dodgeballs have minds of their own -- literally!

At Kaboom Academy, nobody quite knows exactly WHO is in charge -- or what's really going on behind the scenes. But a young group of misfit students in journalism class are about to get to the bottom of things -- no matter WHAT it takes!

If I could compare this quirky little book to anything, I think it would be those good old Wayside School stories from my childhood. I really never knew WHAT exactly would appear in the next chapter -- everything was just off-the-wall and zany from start to finish.

That said, it got a little dull for me. I'm totally cool with keeping things interesting by throwing in curve balls out of left field -- but after a while, I need a teensy bit of order and reasoning to really keep things going.

But, seriously, if you loved Wayside School -- you CAN'T miss this one!

[Chris R · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The resounding ‘BOOM’ rocked the auditorium.” This is the way the new school, Kaboom Academy Middle School, signaled the end of class. There were no more irritating bells ringing, but a powerful blast from a cannon outside by the flagpole whenever a class ended, and a Chinese gong on the other side of the flagpole was rung when a class started. This new school was suppose to keep learning fun and interesting, so students didn’t describe school as “stupid” and “boring” or a “waste of time”. The school was run by Dr. Marcel Kaboom, but that is not who he really is. He ends up being the son of inventor, George Ackerbloom. George Ackerbloom was sued for fraud and went bankrupt when one of his inventions caused the death of a child. George Ackerbloom went to federal prison and ended up dying there. His mother was put in an insane asylum. She became a hoarder after a fire was set by people angry George’s prison sentence wasn’t long enough.The scandal ruined the whole family. It turns out that the students solved the secrets of the school by using the skills taught to them by the teachers. The teachers had unique and fun ways of teaching. The students did learn a lot. The real surprise is that the teachers turn out to be patients from the mental institution his mother had been in! They were not dangerous or anything like that. They just had problems that made them different, and they needed help with, but they were also really smart and could teach students. Dr. Kaboom, also known as Sam Ackerbloom, started the school to prove his father’s inventions really worked. The inventions, like “Book in a Bite” which are pills you take to learn about a book instead of reading it, “Living Balls” which are balls that really do what you tell them to do, and “Love Potion” which are spices that can change your mood with a sprinkle on your food, all work. The students want to help him prove that his father was successful with his inventions and did not commit fraud. Will they be able to convince the world of George Ackerbloom’s innocence?

The story is fiction and takes place in Horsemouth, New Hampshire. It is just a small town, and the new school becomes the only interesting thing there. It takes place in the present. The book is a third person narrative. The main characters are Edie, the nosey girl, Jory, the funny guy, Aliya and Taliya, the identical twin sisters, Ruben, the unathletic big guy, Leo, the legally blind boy, Margo, the smart girl, and Victoria, the bossy girl. All the characters you can relate to. They are just like any middle school students in any school. In the journalism class of Mr. Mister, each of the students are learning to write a school newspaper. Each of the student’s skills help the newspaper get written. When Edie begins to suspect something is wrong at the school, she gets everyone together to solve the mystery. Each of the student’s personalities and differences help in figuring out who Dr. Kaboom really is. “Middle-School Cool” by Maiya Williams is a pretty good book. The illustrator is Karl Edwards, but there were not many pictures in it. There was lots of stuff happening in this book, and seemed like too much information sometimes. It also didn’t have just one character I could get to know well. The theme of the book could be that things are not always what you think they are. The conflicts are good vs evil, friend vs enemy, and love vs hate. I would give it an average three star rating. The inventions described in the book seemed very interesting though. They would be fun to try if they were real. I think boys and girls in middle school would like this book.

[Ciara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows the students in the journalism class at Kaboom Academy, a new school founded by the mysterighs Dr. Kaboom which uses unconventional teaching methods to make students fall in love with learning! Over time, these nine students discover more about themselves, each other, and the school than they bargained for... One thing is clear: This might just be the most exciting story to ever hit Horsemouth, New Hampshire, where nothing ever happens.

First of all, I love every character in this story. Even characters like Victoria or Edie, who I disliked at first, I ended up liking by the end. I also think the writing style was great and the concept is very inventive. A great book to give to a kid that wants something in the same vein as Mr. Lemoncello's Library or Benedict Society. It's also a nice length, not too short but not too long either. I absolutely loved it! Honestly, even though I'm an adult, I want to go to this school now too.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells the story of a child who did not like to go to school when he first started junior high school because there are many people in school who bully him but later he has made many good friends because of the change of character. Certain position, and later because of the change of personality, he thought that junior high school life is very happy, very interesting, so he thought junior high school life is very cool. This book is very interesting, it is recommended to see.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a clever, entertaining and strangely wise book that I almost didn't read because of the less than inspiring title and cover. Thankfully I didn't judge this book by the cover and found myself caught up in an imaginative story with an ending I could not predict. I listened to it as an audiobook and reccomend it as a story the whole family can enjoy.

[Carlton · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a pretty great book the most part was that it kept talking about peoples´ stories. The school was like a prisoner school. It was less people at the school it was 25 6th graders

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read with Liam. Started strong with notes of Wayside School throughout but the ending sort of fizzled. Liam liked it more than I did.

[Tyler Standish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talon loved this book. We learned that it's ok to be different and that learning should be fun.

[Aeicha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maiya William’s Middle-School Cool was such a blast and joy to read! Full of wacky fun, sparkling imagination, and relatable characters, this quirky story easily charmed me from beginning to end.

Kaboom Academy is a new, alternative middle-school in Horsemouth, New Hampshire founded and run by the eccentric Dr. Kaboom. Unlike traditional schools, this school employs some innovative and just plain weird teaching methods, hoping to make kids fall in love with learning once again. The misfits in Journalism 1A are determined to put together a great first issue of The Daily Dynamite, their quarterly newspaper, and uncover the story of a lifetime!

Middle-School Cool is full of the unexpected, outlandish fun, and endearing heart. Maiya Williams has woven a wonderful ode to the misfits, outcasts, misunderstoods, picked lasts, and underappreciated, with a relevant message about friendship, the importance of learning, and never judging a book by its cover (or past!). Kaboom Academy, with its unconventional, creative teaching methods (hypno-detention, book pills, dodgeballs that throw themselves!), nutty teachers (a witchy cafeteria lady, a bus driver/PE instructor, a truly crazy journalism teacher!), and endless surprises (cannonball bells, a multiplication table that literally multiplies objects, and a mysterious headmaster!), makes for a super exciting setting that is part carnival fun house, part Hogwarts, and completely enchanting. The imagination, humor, and amusing antics of Kaboom Academy are plentiful and cool! And readers will get a thrill out of uncovering the truth behind this wack-a-doodle academy and its headmaster with the kids in Journalism 1A.

The students in Journalism 1A make up an eclectic, quirky, intriguing bunch. This group of oddball misfits are a lot of fun to get to know and, by the end of the book, they all felt like kindred spirits. Williams allows each character to shine in their own way and gives every reader a character to relate to. I love how the unusual things that make each character a misfit to the rest of the world, are also what make them so special and unique. Williams creates such a meaningful and important message about not judging others and staying true to yourself. And it’s so awesome how Williams makes learning and school exciting and rewarding!

My Final Thoughts: Middle-School Cool is is definitely a cool read! This funny, imaginative story, with its charming, relatable characters and whimsical setting, will entertain and captivate, and instill a new love of learning in young readers.

[Jenny / Wondrous Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle-School Cool is a really fun book for middle grade readers. It's a bit mad, a little kooky, but always entertaining. In fact, it's just what kids need to come home to after a hard day at school - a book about the coolest school EVER!

Middle-School Cool follows the antics of nine students in the Journalism 1A class, hand picked to attend the brand new Kaboom Academy. It's a school designed for misfits and people who don't fit in at the neighbouring Horsemouth High, and it uses some very unusual teaching methods. These methods are often in the form of inventions and experiments, such as live Dodgeballs and hypnotism. That's where much of the book's humour comes from, and I'm sure everyone who reads it will want to enrol at Kaboom Academy as soon as possible!

This book also focuses on friendship, and how just because you're different doesn't mean you can't make other like-minded friends. No-one should have to go through school alone, and Maiya Williams does a great job of highlighting how important it is to be tolerant of everyone, no matter how strange they may seem. Middle school and high school are hard enough as it is, and being kind and considerate costs nothing. It's an important message that all kids should learn and understand, and I'm glad it's highlighted here.

This is a great book for younger readers and it's one that should find its way on to all library shelves. Not only is it totally bonkers but it also has a few lessons hidden within its pages as well, lessons that we could all do with learning and putting into practise. Now, where can I apply for Kaboom Academy?

3.5/5

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Banal and boring Horsemouth, New Hampshire has a new school, Kaboom Academy, exclusively for problem and unteachable children. Its headmaster is the enigmatic Dr. Marcel Kaboom, and he promises a curriculum that will make students fall in love with learning. The story is told from the perspective of the nine journalism students as they try to unravel the secrets of their unconventional learning environment: classic books in pill form, cannon volleys instead of bells, and hypnotic discipline therapy, among others. There are zany inventions, like a "multiplication table" that is literally a table that multiplies people. Their sleuthing, as they prepare to publish their first newspaper, uncovers many surprises, not the least of which is that the school was once a mental institution and some of the “patients” are now teachers there. The biggest surprise of all is the true identity of Dr. Kaboom and his startling past. The prickly journalism students realize their differences have brought them closer and they have forged actual friendships. The easy and entertaining chapters open with an article by each of the young journalists describing an odd occurrence at the school and end with a back story that fleshes out the character. This amusing and lighthearted read takes jibes at conventional learning with the message that individuality and nonconformity are acceptable. The illustrations keep it interesting. Middle school readers will be intrigued. The title is a must for any library.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kaboom Academy, a new and alternative school for middle-grade kids, is chock-full of innovative methods of instruction and discipline that are soon to be tested on the middle-school students of Horsemouth, New Hampshire. Now, meet the class of Journalism 1A. These group of nine misfits are the staff of The Daily Dynamite, Kaboom Academy's quarterly newspaper. As their school year kicks off with a boom, literally, the students of Journalism 1A are about to discover what really goes on at Kaboom Academy and who's really in charge of this groundbreaking school for boys and girls who've fallen out of love with learning.

My 11 year old son read this. It's a easy read, for older kids. So not much of a challenge to me for children 11 and up. This book honestly reminds me of a modern version of a series of unfortunate events. Gives the kids a good laugh, and makes there imagination run wild. :)

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:
An alternative school has just opened for a group of rather quirky middle school students. Kaboom Academy decides to use alternative methods to reach and teach these middle school kids. The Journalism class in charge of the quarterly newspaper is where we begin. The group of students head out to investigate the odd school and discover its secrets. What will they find out?

My thoughts:
I'm an adult, so obviously not the target audience, but I do read a lot of middle grade and young adult novels. This is a bit odd, even for me. The school incorporates several wacky experiments that are supposed to be funny but really go a little over the top. This I think would be funny to younger students, but I can't see it being read by many students over sixth grade. I can see older students finding it too goofy and lacking the character connection that they want from a humor read.

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Dr. Kaboom arrives in the quiet town of Horsemouth, New Hampshire, no one is quite sure what to make of him and his outlandish Kaboom Academy, the new and different experimental middle school. Intent on making learning fun again for the students, Kaboom Academy has some of the most irregular teachers and coursework. The 10 7th graders in the Journalism 1A, lead by Mr. Mister, take it upon themselves to explore the school and solve the mysteries around them. A fun and intriguing read, for fans of other middle school themed books, as well the Mysterious Benedict Society. Recommended for grades 5-8.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was a lot of promise in the concept of this book. Another addition to the acceptable and accessible list with easy to read format and graphic support. I like how the featured characters were all in the journalism class and many chapters started with news article but in the end the story isn't that compelling or funny. The new middle school seems much like all others. I did like some interesting quotes for the the opening of the book when a critique of existing schools paints a picture of a less engaging environment. Ultimately, many other have done this genre in a better way.

[Louise Bendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kaboom Academy is a kooky, new school that is testing some new techniques to create a safe and fun learning environment - such as edumechanics which have created books in pill form that can be easily digested, and
rubber balls that come alive to compete against kids in dodgeball. But when students from the school paper uncover the history behind the strange rules and interesting school personnel, the news could destroy the school.


Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Hestiaflame · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a captivating book. It showed everyone's perspectives and had a really good mystery in the middle of it. People can really hate normal school! The characters were really well thought out, but I would have liked if they showed their feelings a bit more. I especially liked the part about the hypnotherapy. All in all, well written!

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book tries to be funny and mysterious and heartwarming, but doesn't really succeed on any of those levels, in my opinion. Add points for vocabulary like "incisive" and "torpor" in a middle-grade reader, but subtract points for heavy-handed preaching about imaginative educational methods that inspire both students and teachers. OK for a quick read, but not necessarily recommended.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't what I thought it would be but overall it was a good read

[Jordan Silberzweig · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book. It was funny, but there wasn't a lot to it, and there really wasn't much of a theme.

[Jack Zrebiec]

It was COOL!

[Lavender Darcangelo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really thought that this was such a good book, but I absolutely didn't like the ending because it really surprised me. I felt like everyone was fraudulent, even the characters that I used to like.

[Mahzabin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I THINK THIS BOOK IS REALLY INTERESTING AND FUN TO READ. ALSO IT IS LIKE A EXPERIENCE ABOUT MIDDLE SCHOOL

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a bizarre book that starts rather slowly, but keep reading! It keeps you laughing and guessing.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

For fans of NERDS

[Teddy Fargis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be good enough. Although i found its humor weak and story hard to follow.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good! Did NOT expect the ending!