Pizza Boy and the Super Squad

by Dan Allen

It’s PB versus J in the greatest food fight in American history.

For Peter Barnes’s whole life, all of Surly has pushed him and Jaylee “J” together to make Surly’s favorite pair: PB&J. But all manner of sticky villainy explodes when Peter decides he’s done being the town poster boy.

With J looking for some serious payback, it is the perfect chance for work-from-home criminal mastermind Soccer Mom to finally make her move. With the town's beloved J as her secret weapon, Soccer Mom begins a covert war in the underworld of Surly. Soon J and Peter are caught up in a war of espionage and food conspiracy that leads to epic dance battles, crazy car chases, and mysterious food poisonings.

With the help of a squad of misfits, Peter takes up the mantle of Pizza Boy. Now it’s up to Pizza Boy and the Super Squad to stop Soccer Mom and her criminal underworld before everything in Surly is under her control.

229 pages, Paperback

First published February 16, 2021

About the author

Dan Allen is a multi-genre fiction writer, a father, husband and technologist. His debut novel is FALL OF THE DRAGON PRINCE from Jolly Fish Press. He is also the author of THE EXALTING, an epic fantasy/scifi crossover from Future House Publishing.

Dan has designed lasers for the government that see through envelopes and (eek!) clothing, lit a three-story electron accelerator on fire (looks just like a warp core—well, before it burned), chased a flying stool across a high magnetic field zone, created nanoparticles in a radioactive hot lab (sorry, no spiders allowed), failed to make a quantum computer, and designed sensors for smart phones. Dan spends time in outdoor adventures with youth groups, 3D printing cool gizmos, designing games, and having fun with his kids and drummer-artist wife.

Reviews

[Cassidy Gladieux · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pizza Boy is a humorous and heartwarming middle-grade adventure that follows twelve-year-old Kel, an ordinary boy who suddenly discovers he has superpowers. The book mixes fast-paced action with a relatable coming-of-age story as Kel navigates the pressures of middle school, friendship challenges, and his newfound abilities. The witty dialogue and quirky cast of characters make this a fun and engaging read for younger audiences. However, while the humor is sharp, some plot points feel a bit predictable. Overall, Pizza Boy is an entertaining story with a lot of heart, perfect for readers who enjoy lighthearted superhero tales.

[Austin Aponte · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a decent middle-grade novel. Peter Barnes, a young man in the small town of Surly, Idaho, embarks on a journey to free himself from the expectations of his community. Since the day he was born, coincidentally the same day as Jaylee (“J”), he has been half of a long-running joke in Surly: “PB&J.” The two have been intractable in Surly’s imagination, and, consequently, the community dreams up a future for them together, taking every opportunity to commemorate what is deemed the most spectacular event in their otherwise uneventful town. Peter, however, feels tremendously burdened by his association with J. Despite their lifelong friendship, Peter feels that this community-wide joke represents all the ways in which his town has defined him, limiting his agency, his independence, and his ability to decide his own future. One day he makes a radical decision to free himself from the limits of Surly—by breaking up with J. However, in doing so, he must face severe social consequences, becoming an outcast as the community reels from his rejection of their hopes for him and his former friend. Meanwhile, J, who can’t imagine her life without Peter, goes down a dark path to avenge herself following Peter’s decision to destroy what seemed like their inevitable future together.

I think this book has a great deal to say about how fame can actually limit people, rather than empower them. I think this is particularly important in the modern digital age, when it seems that anyone can become an overnight celebrity for the most trivial, if not blatantly stupid, reasons. There is a way in which public attention, particularly through social media (which plays a significant part in how the characters navigate the fallout of Peter’s decision), very much deprives the person in question of the agency to define themselves.

In terms of criticism, I think that the characters could be a bit more realistic. While I understand the novel to be absurd, bordering on satire, I think its strongest points are when it takes its characters seriously. There are times when it is hard to relate to J, the other main character of this novel, because she seems relatively immature, compared to Peter. I think, also, that the book struggles to strike a balance between its absurdity and its verisimilitude. There are moments when it seems like its world is more similar to ours, but the many absurd events surrounding these moments make them seem out of place at times, as though the author cannot exactly decide what kind of story to tell.

Overall, I think this is a good book for young readers nearing the end of the middle-grade spectrum before they start reading young-adult fiction. It is relatively well-written, humorous, and relatable.

[Mar1]

For Peter Barnes, nothing could be worse than an entire town deciding your fate based on a baby picture. He will always be known as PB. Peter Barnes, Peanut Butter, Pig Boy. But his new identity as "Pizza Boy" begins to show some promise as he attempts to break free from the town's expectations and begins to live his own life. From the PB in PB&J to town hero, Peter Barnes is recruited into a secret group created to stop the mysterious food poisonings and "Save the Monkeys" pyramid schemes. But will he be able to identify the mastermind in time and be the hero everyone sees him as?

If you are looking for a superhero story, there are elements of that here that will keep you guessing who is the culprit. If you like love stories, the strained relationship between Peter Barnes and his friend (and expected girlfriend) Jaylee, "J", will satisfy your desires. If you are looking for a tale with toddlers working for a mob boss, this is definitely the book for you.

Personally, I did not like this story. Everything seemed to revolve around a relationship Peter didn't seem to want, and when he does begin to come around to the idea of dating J, I felt he was conditioned to want her rather than actually having feelings for her. The entire town was against him when he "broke up" with J, even though they never were together in the first place. Any moment he expressed wanting something else, he was told he was wrong for his feelings and should be happy with what he had and not try to be anything more. Additionally, I don't agree with the idea of ninth graders focusing on and pursuing romantic relationships. Kids should remember to be kids, not try to be in adult relationships when they can't even understand themselves. And this story proves that. When J learns Peter doesn't want to be her boyfriend, she instantly turns to a life of crime bent on destroying him.
My little brother fits into the age range of this book and even he didn't make it past half-way for similar reasons. The large focus on how Peter Barnes couldn't be normal and how things were awkward became a constant issue for him. He wished things could move on, but that never came.

We liked the action-packed car chase. Peter Barnes' derring-do in that moment not only brought humour to the tale, but it also showed how caring and brave he was, setting him apart from many of the townspeople. Moreover, the use of toddlers doing a mob boss' dirty business was very comical. The terrible twos have a new meaning now!

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pizza Boy and the Super Squad
5 Star Read
If you are in for a tremendous amount of hometown laughter and just enough pathos to shed a tear or two and are ready to be transported back to a place you grew up or are presently living. Then hurry and find a copy of Dan Allen’s latest book “Pizza Boy and the Super Squad.”

The author Dan Allen takes us on a journey with his two main characters who, fortunately, or unfortunately, were born on the same day in the small town of Surly, Idaho.

The firstborn was a boy Peter Barnes whose hospital receptionist embroidered his welcome onesies with the letter’s PB, and the next child born shortly after was a girl named Jaylee. The receptionist sewed the letter J before leaving for a monster truck rally.
I hope you are catching on to what it would be like to be born on the same day in a small town, and you are not related, but the townspeople connect you to the recognizable label PB&J.
That’s right, PB&J stands for peanut butter and Jelly. A label that you carry wherever you go in Surly, Idaho. Through narrative and dialogue, Dan Allen’s storytelling is a comfortable read as the language is so conversational with a touch of sarcasm as he flushes out each hometown character as they remind you of your neighbors. The latter live next door or down the block.
The antagonists are those nosy neighbors who have to get into everyone’s business. You know, the type, a little power-hungry, love to be in control of the town and everyone in it.
The heroes or protagonists are real superheroes but not the kind you find in the movies. No, these are genuine hometown heroes who are not looking for fame and glory but perform heroic deeds.
The twists and turns in the plot are not predictable, but there are plenty of foreshadowing in each chapter to keep your interest.
Dan Allen does a terrific job of combining youth and adults in a story, which will keep you laughing and possibly shedding a few tears as you take a journey with PB&J.

[Morrigan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Peter Barnes wants nothing to do with Surly, Idaho, and I understand why. At its best, this book really captures small-town claustrophobia and has a lot of funny banter between the characters. At its worst, it’s a disjointed mess with ill-defined characters and plotlines that left me gnashing my teeth.
The main issue of the book is Peter Barnes, both in how he is written and how the story treats him. He is a smalltown boy overwhelmed by the mild celebrity status he’s had since he was a baby and his seemingly inevitable future. In most stories, this would be a fine internal conflict with an admirable goal of carving out your own path in life, but this book treats leaving a small town like a mortal sin. Peter is framed as having “given up on the town” and on his best friend. While he doesn’t always make the right decisions, the treatment he receives from everyone from his parents to his guidance counselor to his peers is downright abusive and borderline cultish, and yet he is consistently painted as needing to make amends. His character is also confusing because it’s unclear exactly what he wants beyond just not doing what people want him to do, which is fair enough for a fourteen-year-old boy but makes for a monotonous character.
The characters get into some interesting hijinks, and the episodic nature makes this book good for reading one chapter at a time, but the overall plot is clunky and doesn’t build well. The best side characters are the two-dimensional ones, because they can just be funny caricatures. Certain characters are set-up to have some depth but then are randomly discarded, such as Emo-G. There are also more grammatical issues than one would expect for a published novel.
I think for middle-school-aged boys, you could do a worse, but you could also do a lot better. Personally, the message of “follow the status quo” is obnoxious enough for me to not recommend this, but I also know I’m a lot pickier than the target demographic.

[Cassondra ❝ ❞ ✧ ೃ༄ · Rating 1 out of 5]

While I am not the intended audience for this novel, I have read plenty of well-written middle grade novels before, so I know, unfortunately, that this one isn't one of them. The characterization could use major work, but overall the plot wasn't bad. A group of quirky kids teaming together to overthrow a local villain hellbent on undermining the current PTA president is pretty funny in theory. Its execution, however, left much to be desired.

Every character came off as a two-dimensional caricature, and I didn't find any of them likable, other than Gabriella, or Emo-G, who was constantly made fun of by her own friends, which I found off-putting. I thought it was weird that Peter asked her to the Harvest Ball and then immediately discarded her since he was so set on rekindling his friendship/romance with J. That brings me to the main issue I took with the plot: Peter's feelings towards J. He showed absolutely no signs of romantic interest in her for the first 200 pages of the book, and then all of a sudden he's jealous that she's "moving on" with Lewis. It didn't feel like a natural progression of character development, and therefore them ending up together seemed off.

Additionally, I have to say I noticed a lot of grammatical errors as well as an abundance of gender stereotypes embedded into the narrative—female characters talked about their looks and weight pretty frequently, while male characters adopted the "Women. Who can understand them?" mindset. I don't think this sends a very positive message for kids.

[Jayden · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book starts very promisingly to me; it explores the themes of small-town life and the weight that comes with its expectations. I liked the initial portrayal of the town of Surly; everyone knows everyone, and tradition is important. The author captures the town's quirks and charm of such a close-knit community, especially with the town's events like the Cheese Pull.
As the story progressed, I was slightly disappointed by the lack of depth in the character's development. Peter does undergo a noticeable transformation, but characters like J and Emo-G stay the same. J's motivations for sabotaging Peter are touched on and feel a bit underdeveloped. Also, Emo-G is a very interesting character, but she feels a bit one-dimensional to me; all her actions are to advance the plot rather than have any significant character growth.
The story also left me with some questions regarding the plot. While there was a lot of mystery around Soccer Mom's identity, which kept me engaged, her ultimate goals and the reasons behind her schemes were a little unclear. I understand she wanted to be head of the PTA, but I feel there should be more to the story than that.
Despite these little critiques, I thought this was entertaining to read and funny at times. I liked the author's ability to capture what small-town life is; the plot is pretty fast-paced, and it kept me engaged. But I think the supporting characters were a little underdeveloped, and the occasional plot holes prevented me from fully connecting with the narrative at times.

[Salwah Chowdhury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved reading Pizza Boy and the Super Squad! As a reader who enjoys books for younger audiences, I found this book to be a delightful and refreshing read. The book's lighthearted tone and imaginative storyline perfectly captured the essence of a coming-of-age tale without the heavy baggage of adult complexities. The protagonist, Peter Barnes, is a relatable character who finds himself caught up in a whirlwind of unexpected adventures. He embarks on a mission to save his hometown from a mysterious villain, all while navigating the challenges of friendship, love, and self-discovery.

What I loved most about this book was its ability to blend humor, action, and heart (and food ofcourse!). The author's vivid descriptions and witty dialogue kept me engaged from beginning to end. The characters were well-developed, each with their own unique personalities and quirks. The plot, while not overly complex, was filled with twists and turns that kept me guessing.

If you're looking for a fun and heartwarming read that will leave you smiling, I highly recommend "Pizza Boy." It's a perfect choice for young readers and adults alike who appreciate a good story without the added stress of world-ending threats.

[Becsbooknook · Rating 3 out of 5]

This middle-grade book features straightforward writing, making it easy for younger readers to grasp, which I think is a significant strength. While it may not align with my personal taste, as a mom, I appreciated the story and believe it will resonate with younger readers. I read parts to my 7-year-old daughter, who rated those parts a perfect 100/10.

The emotions and experiences portrayed are relatable for young readers, and scenes like the food fight at the beginning are particularly engaging.

The author’s talent for creating vivid imagery kept me engaged throughout the book, providing delightful visuals for young readers. A quote that illustrates this well:

"What if he did fail? Then he would see how it feels to have his heart stomped on and senselessly crushed—like a snail on the pavement under the wheels of a kid’s skateboard."

I also enjoyed the intriguing subplot involving the mystery villain, "Soccer Mum”, which kept me invested in uncovering their identity.

Additionally, the artwork throughout the book is a fantastic touch!

Overall, *Pizza Boy* is a wonderful choice for young readers, tackling relatable coming-of-age issues while avoiding complex adult themes, making it a fun and enjoyable read.

[Julia:) · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Pizza Boy and the Super Squad” is a zany, action-packed middle-grade romp that turns a classic pairing into a full-blown showdown. In the quirky town of Surly, Peter Barnes—aka PB—is tired of being half of Surly’s beloved PB&J duo with his childhood friend Jaylee, or “J.” But when he decides to break free, J isn’t too happy, and things take a hilariously dark turn. Enter Soccer Mom, a clever and dangerous mastermind working from home, who seizes the chance to use J as her pawn in a plan to take control of Surly’s underworld.

The story quickly escalates, with Peter reluctantly assuming the identity of Pizza Boy and gathering a squad of misfit allies to stop Soccer Mom’s villainous schemes. The novel is packed with comedic espionage, surprising twists, and imaginative scenes, from dance battles to food-related mayhem. Peter’s journey from reluctant hero to Surly’s unlikely savior is engaging, while the quirky, diverse cast of characters and the outrageous plot twists keep the pages turning.

“Pizza Boy and the Super Squad” is a fresh take on the superhero genre, blending humor, action, and a dash of food-fueled chaos. Middle-grade readers who enjoy offbeat adventures with a strong dose of fun will find this book a delightful treat.

[grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review: "Pizza Boy and the Super Squad" by Dan Allen
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

As an adult reading "Pizza Boy and The Super Squad", I found it to be a fun, quirky adventure that will capture the imaginations of younger readers. The story is packed with action—from wild food fights to high-speed car chases—while blending in plenty of humour and over-the-top scenarios. The idea of a villainous Soccer Mom orchestrating food-themed chaos is refreshingly original and is sure to appeal to kids with its playful, fast-paced narrative.

Peter Barnes, a.k.a. Pizza Boy, is a relatable protagonist who grows throughout the story, learning to stand up for himself and redefine his identity beyond being the town's mascot. His team of misfit sidekicks brings added humour and camaraderie, and the absurd situations they encounter—like dance battles and mysterious food poisonings—are sure to leave younger readers laughing.

Imaginative and delightfully silly, "Pizza Boy and The Super Squad" excels as a middle-grade book, filled with adventure and the importance of friendship. It’s an easy, entertaining read that will certainly amuse its target audience of kids.

[Rachel]

DNF at 47%

I couldn’t finish Pizza Boy and the Super Squad. My decision to stop reading was because this book was not for me and I didn’t enjoy it. It’s middle grade; it’s meant for older kids or tweens. I knew this going into the book but still gave it an honest shot.

While the concept of the story is interesting, there was too much I couldn’t ignore. For one, it was hard to believe that the main characters were high schoolers. Maybe I was just a mature high school student and my perspective is skewed, but it felt like the way the characters acted was more in line with middle schoolers.

The constant grammar mistakes also bugged me. Just because it is a book for kids should not excuse the missing words and improperly placed punctuation marks. If anything, I would except a book meant to be read by developing minds to take more care with its grammar as that is what they are learning.

As for my last point, the humor is not my thing. Even if I read this when I was the target age, I still would not have found this book funny or entertaining.

It is a middle grade book, so I’m sure some child out there would enjoy it. I tried giving it a chance, but it is ultimately a no.

[Rachel Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I don't fall within the intended age demographic for this novel, I found it surprisingly endearing, and enjoyed my time reading it. It reminded me of series like Big Nate, not meant to be taken too seriously but offer a fun, almost nostalgic read nonetheless. I think the story struggles with pacing at points, taking a bit too long for the "Super Squad" to actually form and then spiraling at top speed towards the end a bit too drastically with Peter's arrest and trial, which felt a bit farfetched even for a book of this nature. I'm also seldom a fan of contemporary pop culture references, so I find the book's reliance on names like "Little Cheeser's", "Pinstaglam" and even "Emo-G" a bit corny. But something about the combination of an interesting cast of characters and action-packed plot made for a charming story regardless. The illustrations were a really smart inclusion as well.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Pizza Boy and the Super Squad" follows Peter Barnes, one half of the famous PB&J friendship, as he attempts to shake off the small town hero expectations that have been placed on him since his birth. After dumping Jaylee Yates ("J") in an effort to distance himself from the PB&J legacy, Peter discovers he's now at the center of a plot of destruction, beginning with a botched (and highly dangerous) driver's exam and ending with a pig unleashed on the Harvest Ball. Peter joins with a band of misfits to discover the culprit of these events and stop them, all while battling his regrets at leaving J behind.

The story is juvenile in the best ways, teaching middle grade readers that you can be whoever you want to be (even the "Pizza Boy") without leaving behind the best of friends. A funny and quick read, "Pizza Boy and the Super Squad" is great for young age readers!

[Raeliah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not a disaster, and the story itself is not necessarily a two star story. That being said, "Pizza Boy and the Super Squad" felt under its age audience. I am well above middle school, but have read numerous middle grade books and know the average writing style and language used in them. This felt like a long elementary level book with romance. The writing was basic and a lot of the content was cheesy and a little boring. Additionally, I found multiple typos, even in just the first couple of chapters.
I am certain there will be plenty of children that are entertained by this book and have a good time reading it (the art is definitely in-genre and is a nice addition, I will admit), but rating the book as it stands alone as a piece of literature, it just is not very impressive.

[Alondra Guzman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book definitely serves the younger population of elementary and middle schoolers, ranging from 7-14 years old. I thought this book was fun, and was full of action that would draw in a younger reader. The writing was decent, and weren't many grammatical issues that would cause an eyesore. However, I would say that this book was very surface layer. Readers of a younger age, especially in the early pre-teen and teenage years, would want to read characters with more emotional depth and character growth. This book just gave very cliche and surface level situations, with no deep introspection or emotional awareness. Overall, this is a good book to recommend to a younger audience, however, it would probably not be as memorable as other books for that age range.

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I am not the intended audience for Pizza Boy and the Super Squad, I found it to be an interesting read. The overarching premise is intriguing and certainly a quirky, unique approach to coming-of-age adventure. It humorously tackles the small town, big dreams inner turmoil that kids like PB face, which I feel like would be very engaging for the intended audience. All this said, I gave this book three stars because there were some glaring grammatical issues throughout, and it felt at times like there was too much going on plot-wise, which muddied the story. Overall, it was a fun world to get to be a part of!

[Joan Mabansag · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall Rating: 8/10

Strengths:
A simple coming-of-age story of a young boy trying to find himself and his identity. I greatly enjoyed the writing style and humor, and the illustrations were beautiful and full of life and whimsy.

Weaknesses:
As others have mentioned, it's hard to sympathize with such a judgemental main character. I understand being unsatisfied with his life in Surly, but having a less narcissistic outlook would've made the reading experience more digestible.

Final thoughts: A sweet and simple kind of narrative suitable for young elementary school students trying to find themselves.

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun, but also sweet, middle-grade read. The entire concept of this story was definitely unique, especially the villainous Soccer Mom. I think Allen does an good job with balancing the complexities of growing up with humorous and exciting scenes, making for a compelling but still at its core relatable narrative. You'll get to read a classic tale of friendship and overcoming the pressures of others' expectations of your identity, while also reading some humorously absurd situations that will definitely be enjoyed by a middle-grade reader.

The plot could at times feel cliche, but overall, this was a heartwarming and enjoyable read.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pizza Boy and the Super Squad is a hilarious action-packed adventure following Peter Barnes (PB) as he tries to detach himself from his legacy as one-half of PB&J. The middle-grade book is filled with heart and humor as Peter finds himself facing the evil supervillain Soccer Mom. The characters are all quirky and lovable and I loved the uniqueness of Peter trying to branch out from the town's expectations of his path. Full of a team of misfits, identity, friendship, silliness, and even dance battles, this story is the perfect imaginative tale.

[Loren Ingold · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pizza Boy and the Super Squad, follows Peter “PB” Barnes and his best friend Jalyee “J” Yates as they navigate their friendship in the small town of Surly, Idaho. I liked the quirky aspects of the small town and the characters. Even the small background characters had funny names or personalities. I do think that the book would do better with younger readers, and I wish the main characters were in middle school instead of highschool. The plot seemed a little bit silly at times, but most kids would probably love the outrageous hijinks PB and J get into.

[Michael Rosheim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pizza Boy and the Super Squad is a exciting, middle-grade adventure, that, while predictable at points, is still a lot of fun. The premise of the story is relatable to a lot of middle-grade readers as they are going through a time where they are discovering who they are for themselves and often they feel as if they have to go against what others think of them. It's this premise and the main characters that make this story a good fit for its genre. Again, it isn't the most complex story out there, but for its audience, it is a really good read!

[Nate · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't recommend this book unless you happen to live in a small town that has outlawed dancing. The writing is fun and the humor and stakes are perfect for middle-grade readers, but I would not give this book to a kid.

The message of the story is bizarre. The setup for a feel-good story about a kid learning about himself and finding new friends is all there. It could have been good. But instead of offering a message about reaching for your dreams and learning to respect yourself, this book tells the reader to "just conform to what everyone else wants you to do."

[Grace Turnbach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pizza Boy and the Super Squad was a fun adventure that young readers will enjoy. Peter Barnes is a great protagonist to follow and the side characters are interesting as well. The story was entertaining throughout and made me desperately want to figure out the mystery! Children will definitely enjoy this book.

[Cole Strzelecki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pizza Boy and the Super Squad is a good book for its demographic. Even though I'm not in that demographic, I can see what people that age would like about it. The author wrote with vivid imagery, and Peter Barnes acts as a good protagonist, which combines to create a well-made story. I personally wouldn't rate it higher than a three, though. It's suitable for its audience, but not me.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Pizza Boy and the Super Squad with my 8-year-old son. It was a little too old for him but we had fun reading it together. The way Peter, Jayleen, and the squad evolved was well written. If there is a second book we will be reading it.

[Julian White]

9781950020096 Kobo 250

A charmingly funny YA novel - small town high school with all the usual suspects and a scheming PTA chair wannabe determined to bring down the incumbent. Lead characters, neighbours (and born almost at the same time) known as PB and J are inextricably linked - but PB is feeling the need to exert his independence, with predictably poor results...

Enjoyable fluff - illustrated by Joshua Covey.

[Jennifer Kleut · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Pizza Boy & The Super Squad" is a funny, heartwarming read that will appeal to middle-grade kids who are fans of series like Captain Underpants and Diary of A Wimpy Kid.

Peter Barnes and Jaylee are the unwitting heroes of their town of Surly, ever since a hospital worker embroidered their initials on their onesies in the hospital and some genius took a photo of "PB&J" together. However, since that day, their hometown of Surly has made the pair the poster kids of the town, and they can't escape it. Like Harry Potter, everyone automatically knows who PB and J are, and they hold the town's hopes in their hands, being expected to live up to their involuntary reputations and remain forever friends--or, maybe now that they're teenagers, more than friends. PB has had enough of it. Even if he really does like J, he is determined not to let the grown-ups of his town decide his whole life for him.

When PTA take-over conspiracies and food wars abound, PB and J find themselves on opposite sides of the battle...maybe it's the perfect way for PB to play the hero and rewrite his own fate? But how will his friendship with J be affected?

Kids will get a kick out of this fun, escapist novel, and hopefully there is more PB&J to come?