The Handbook

by Jim Benton

Jim Benton, bestselling author of Dear Dumb Diary and Franny K. Stein, brings us a fresh new middle grade novel about breaking all the rules! There's nothing Jake likes more than some good trash-picking, so when his elderly neighbors move out and leave an especially promising-looking pile of household refuse on the curb, he goes right for it. He only has the chance to grab one box before his mom catches him and orders him in for dinner, though. When mysterious goings-on begin to occur in the neighborhood, the trio investigates the hidden box from Jack's garage. In it, they find the Secret Parent's Handbook and with it all the means to subvert the irrational rules and petty tyranny of their home lives. No more clean rooms! No more vegetables! No more brushed hair or washed hands! It's all videogames and junk food all the time! But the authorities -- and the resistance -- have taken notice of the strange goings-on in Jack and his friends' neighborhood. And they are closing in . . .

Genres: Humor, Fiction, Middle Grade

240 pages, Hardcover

Published September 26, 2017

About the author

Benton began his career in a custom design t-shirt shop where he started designing his own characters. At the same time, Jim did illustrations and artwork for magazines and newspapers. People magazine named him "the most visible cartoonist in America" .

Benton also created greeting cards and worked in the magazine and publishing industry. In 1998, his SpyDogs characters became an animated series, The Secret Files of the Spy Dogs, that aired on Fox Kids. Licensing his own creations brought them widespread attention on products, such as It's Happy Bunny, The Misters, Just Jimmy and more.

Benton currently lives in Michigan, where he operates out of his own studio.

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from a Goodreads Giveaway. It’s a YA book. It was a cute story and entertaining. I will share it with me granddaughter who I think will enjoy it.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although he's not supposed to do so, Jack loves sorting through other folks' trash and finding possible treasures. When his elderly neighbors, the Wallaces, move away and leave behind several boxes, he finds something he'd never have ever dreamed even existed. It's a book hidden inside an unlikely title, and it contains advice to parents about how to control their children. Naturally, Jack decides to test out the book's contents, and along with his friends, Mike and Maggie, they turn the tables on their parents and use the advice to manipulate them. This makes life a lot easier for the three youngsters, each of whom has his/her own familial challenges with which to deal. But their actions do not go unnoticed, and there are two different groups that have their eyes on these children and are determined to get their hands on this secret handbook. I loved the idea for this story, which was pretty unique, but I got bored after the friends were caught and had to figure a way out of the mess in which they found themselves. Fifth and sixth grade readers will surely enjoy this title, though, and maybe, just maybe, they'll try out some of the advice from this secret handbook. Some of the advice will make readers smile since they've probably heard some of these very comments from their own parents. Now they'll know why parents seem to have so much in common when it comes to cautionary words and tales.

[Jean Giardina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When Jack's neighbors decide to retire and move to Florida, they leave a tempting pile of trash by the curb. Jack doesn't know what he expects to find, but it certainly isn't The Secret Parent's Handbook. Jack and his friends Mike and Maggie use their newly found knowledge to flip the script on their parents. Summer is certainly looking up...until agents show up looking for the book.

The kids' summer takes a turn for the worst when they get caught between two groups -- The Parents Agency and The Resistance -- who are looking to secure The Handbook.

The Handbook is an entertaining read with a great premise. The dialogue is laugh-out-loud funny and the middle grade relationships between Jack and his friends were wonderful. At its heart, The Handbook attempts to build some bridges between parents and their kids...despite the terrible rules parents sometimes impose.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why do all parents seem to have the same set of rules ("no playing with sticks") and explanations for those rules ("you'll poke your eye out") when asked about them? Because there is a secret handbook they all get to learn from. That's what Jack, Mike, and Maggie learn after finding a copy that was misplaced. They also learn that if kids know the handbook and how it works, they can reverse the parental manipulations to get what they want. That's why there are two secret organizations, one of parents and one of kids, fighting over that knowledge. And it's why the three of them and their families get caught up in an espionage war.

This book is a combination of everykid complaints, revenge fantasy, spy thriller, and slapstick humor, a combination that works nicely. It has a ton of kid appeal and should be popular.

[Progressional Fantasy Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoughts: This book blew me away. I know I've said this many times about books, but this book is amazing, amazing, amazing! I loved how Jim Benton added a twist at the end with (spoiler) that the leader of the Resistance is the son of the leader of the Parents Agency. I also loved all the hilarious humor - I was laughing out loud all the time while reading this book. Another thing I cherished about this book is its creativity. The entire story line was so original. Finally, I loved the ending, which can perfectly lead into a sequel to keep the story moving. Overall, this book blew me away with how funny, creative, and amazingly awesome it is.

Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friends, Jack, Mike and Maggie find a Secret Parent's Handbook and discover that every parent has been instructed with the same phrases to distract, dissuade and discipline their children. After reading this handbook, Jack, Mike and Maggie have the answers to all of life's questions. They can now control their parents! Until the realize that this handbook issue is bigger than three families. From hilarious dialogue to a juvenile take on a dystopian society - I loved this book from cover to cover. Highly Recommended. Grades 4-7.

[Elaine Fultz, Teacher Librarian, MLS · Rating 2 out of 5]

Three tweens accidentally discover THE secret parent manual -- the one that instructs parents to tell picky eaters they'll get no dessert, to yell at kids playing with sticks about poking eyes out, to question children's hand washing, to use the phrase, "clean up after yourself," etc. etc. etc. These three (Jack, Mike and Maggie) are abducted by the kid-led Resistance who confronts the Parent Agency with predictable (and ridiculous) results. Readers of My Dumb Diary series will not be disappointed -- plenty of moronic action and genuine LOLs.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Jack finds a mysterious book in the garbage which turns out to be a parents handbook on how to control their children. Jack with the help of his friends Mike and Maggie will use the book to turn the tables on their parents.

This book had a great premises and there were many moments relating to the handbook that were laugh out loud funny. However, parts of the book felt a little slow.

[Seth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will speak to many kids and parents alike. The great lessons learned for both parents and kids are plentiful. Even though the book will appeal to kids more because it is about kids controlling their parents, the parents will also find this book enjoyable and may reflect with their child on the lessons The Handbook teaches. This was a very well written story from Jim Benton.

[Bickering Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a more in-depth review watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzKDU...

3.5 Rating:A cute story with an interesting idea that at times moved a little slow. Will appeal to fans of Benton's other series.

We received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Lori Gibbany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can see myself as a kid believing this story. Thinking that all parents says the same thing and wishing i could have a cheat to make my life easier when it came to my parents. The end is amazing when the children are told why the parents have to have a handbook. Pure honesty.....

[Monica Hocking · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beginning was boring, so was end. Best part was in between!

[Marney Hawes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny story about parents, rules, and girls all seen from the perspective of a 12 yr old boy.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really wasn't one of my favorites, but I still really liked it. It was quite slow at the beginning but everything kinda built up and turned out to be really not what it seems to be.

[Bennett Rutkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was pretty good. There was always something happening in the book. At the beginning I did have a little bit of trouble remembering who the chapter was about because they didn't make it obvious. That problem got solved a while later because after that all the characters were always together. This book had a good plot and storyline. The character's were relatable. There was a couple parts that I felt were kind of rushed though, and that's why I rated it 4 stars only.

[Alexa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It talked about how there was this kid that looked for trash. But he didn't really look for trash. at some point in the story they were kidnapped and agents were trying to shoot them and it was kinda confusing.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh, but if I were 11, I'd probably like it. Been in tbr pile for several years; chose it today because I still have a few books to read to meet my goal--thanks to this one, now just 2 left. I thought it got a bit tedious, especially the last 50 pages or so.

[Sarah Azhari · Rating 4 out of 5]

funny, entertaining

[Jasmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and interesting read. Although this book is for kids, adults will equally be entertained.

[Sarah McCarthy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, the story itself was fine, but I didn’t care for how a lot of the characters spoke to one another. There were also multiple fat people comments/jokes that irked me.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't really about digging through trash, it was mostly about secret agents and stuff like that. They were also getting kidnapped for no reason and it was very confusing. I wouldn't suggest it.