The Fourth Stall

The Fourth Stall #1

by Chris Rylander

Chris Rylander delivers a funny Ferris Bueler-style middle grade novel with The Fourth Stall.

Do you need something? Mac can get it for you. It's what he does—he and his best friend and business manager, Vince. Their methods might sometimes run afoul of the law, or at least the school code of conduct, but if you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can pay him, Mac is on your side. His office is located in the East Wing boys' bathroom, fourth stall from the high window. And business is booming.

Or at least it was, until one particular Monday. It starts with a third grader in need of protection. And before this ordeal is over, it's going to involve a legendary high school crime boss named Staples, an intramural gambling ring, a graffiti ninja, the nine most dangerous bullies in school, and the first Chicago Cubs World Series game in almost seventy years. And that's just the beginning. Mac and Vince soon realize that the trouble with solving everyone else's problems is that there's no one left to solve yours.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Mystery, Humor, Young Adult, Fiction, Friendship

314 pages, Hardcover

First published December 24, 2008

Reviews

[Chris]

I don't feel comfortable rating my own book, but I have read it. I promise.

[Carolyn S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm currently reading "The Fourth Stall" by Chris Rylander, it's one of the funniest books I've ever picked up and all the chapters crack me up. I've only gotten to page 29 but I already see the problem forming and things getting more intense. So far I've learned that Mac (a small six grader) has made his own little "business" in the East Wing boys bathroom, forth stall from the high window. Other kids in middle school bribe him with money and small favors so they can get test cheats, fake doctor notes, and video games their parents wouldn't allow. All has gone well, until a crying boy named Fred walks into the stall....he claims that he works for the legendary Staples and when he tried to quit, Staples threatened to send people to scare and torture him. Now Mac has the duty of body guarding Fred and to find Staples. One thing I like about this book is that the author thinks in the readers perspective, he knows when a question pops into our mind and he immediately answers it (but without giving anything away.) One thing that I can relate with the character Mac is his appearance, when an emergency or something bad happens, he always tries to stay "chill" and not let anyone get to him. For example (this actually happened to me before) when I lost my favorite watch in second grade I didn't tell anyone and I tried to stay focused/calm, but on the inside I was really panicked and I frantically scanned my eyes around the room for any signs of it. Although the things I said before, I reason I really like this book is because of the funny characters. My favorite one is Vince, a boy who is book-smart and good at statistics and charts, he has a weird passion for his grandma and often quotes her like "When the coin purse is empty, the pocket lint is king." All in all I would defiantly rate this book 5 STARS and if you get the chance, please read it! :-)

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a bit of a sleeper for me. I picked it off the shelf at my library because I knew it was popular with boys from 3rd-6th grade. It didn't grab me right away. I was not instantly struck with an intense desire to find out what happens next. But it had a sneaky way of building up, and by about six chapters in, I was hooked. I kept finding time to slip off to my room to read another chapter or two.

The whole concept of the book is clever and imaginative. Mac is a 6th grader, a little on the small side, not much of an athlete, not much to look at, but he more or less runs his school. You see, Mac and his bestie, Vince, operate a business out of the fourth stall of a little used restroom. Mac is the problem solver. Vince is the manager. Together they make peoples troubles go away in exchange for money or favors. Generally, it's nothing illegal; Mac and Vince are nice guys, and they don't want to see anyone get hurt. But then someone else moves in on Mac's territory, and starts an all-out war.

Mac is a thoroughly likeable guy. He is smart and resourceful, but also compassionate and intuitive. Rylander also manages to create a villain in Staples, who is at once detestable and sympathetic.

Some of the funniest moments in the book come when Vince quotes metaphors from his senile grandma. For example: "Don't wash the cat until the raccoon eats his glue stick."

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. We have books two and three at our library, and while I won't be beating down the door to get to them, I will probably read them eventually. I can see just why this series would appeal to middle grade boys. It's right up their alley.

I blogged about this book and others at http://haikulibrarian.blogspot.com/

[Jeanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book because it and its sequels were constantly on my "hold" list in the library the last two months of school. I must say, while I see why it was so popular with the 6th grade boys, it left me sorely disappointed. First of all, its appeal by the kids is clear to me: they like Mac who gets things done while skirting all authority figures and often the law, or at least school rules. It is super easy to read with a basic vocabulary and short sentences. The only thing to go over their heads at all would be some references to The Godfather and a few other vengeance movies. The elements of whodunit are all here with a problem, evil antagonist, and false accusations. The kids would also enjoy the comeuppance of the "evil" high school villains.

However, as an adult I found this story severely suspect in morality. While Mac claims to work against bullies, most of his tactics involve his own intimidation moves or hiring thugs to do his dirty work for him. I'm not saying that all middle school stories have to be preachy, but this one asserts it has a moral code. Mac disses Staples' business and elevates his own by claiming, "You're jealous that I have a business that works without cheating... " (p. 277). You've got to be kidding me! This kid admits that much of his business is stealing test answers or getting homework. He steals information/keys/supplies from the school, businesses, and even the police. I don't care if the other kids threaten first, his answer to a threat is to hire the biggest bullies in the school to put a beat down on a rival. Not to mention, almost everything that is done in this school is at the exchange of money or owed favors--nothing out of friendship or justice. While it's not unusual for books about this age to avoid adult intervention, we're talking about life-threatening beatings and illegal gambling. Even if the kids could solve such problems on their own, should we be encouraging them to completely shut out adult help? I have read promotions of this book compare Mac to Ferris Bueller, a clever kid who skirts the rules. Sorry, Ferris wasn't ordering the beatings of classmates. Ferris completely knew what he was doing was wrong but did it anyway. Mac insists that he is right in everything that he does in this book, even when it is making him sick to his stomach. Not to mention, Mac knows what he is doing is wrong (helping the kids is okay, but to make thousands of dollars helping his classmates?) or his enterprise would not have to be kept such a secret.

I know, it's just supposed to be a comedy. It's supposed to be clever that Mac is a teenage "Godfather." However, an adult sees The Godfather and recognizes that it is an alternate world of violence, real for a small segment of society, and just an escape for those who enjoy such stories. Even high school kids would do a better job at separating fiction violence from the real world. On the other hand, the 9-12 year old audience for this story is not as sophisticated at recognizing the humorous take on the adult mobster story. They may think the bullies are funny, but they may also pick up the notion that violence is the only option in response to violence and that adults should be kept out of children's conflicts at all costs. Maybe I'm not giving kids that young enough credit, but most of my readers are not savvy enough to put a tongue-in-cheek spin on such a story.

[Sadie Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have you ever wanted to read the fourth stall.This is a realistic fiction book with a bit of mystery. My overall opinion of this book was 3 stars.The theme of this book is you should be able to count on your friends to help you out.Mac got him self into a tough situation but his friends were always by his side.This book was person vs person because Mac develops a huge problem with a guy named Staples. The setting of this book takes place in Mac's school in the forth stall in the boys bathroom .One day a third grade kid named Fred comes in Mac's fourth stall office with a big problem.Fred needs Mac to get him out of a gambling ring that is run by a guy named Staples. Mac forms a group of the school bullies to take down Staples.The boys later find out that Staples is using the gambling money to try and get his sister out of a foster home.The climax in this story starts when Mac finds outs that Fred the boy he was protecting from Staples was actually sending Staples every thing he heard Mac and his best friend Vince say. Mac is not happy about this so he calls in Staples to talk about it . Mac threatens to kidnap Staples dog and do a lot more things.Staples gets all mad and is ready to beat up Mac.Staple's group gets to the yard but don't want to beat up Mac because he's a middle schooler. Once Staples is under Mac's control and Mac has every thing Staples stole from Mac says that Staples has a choice to leave the school forever or go to prison. Of course Staples chose the fist one.One again every thing was back to normal at Mac's school. In this book the author builds suspense because for most of the books climax the author has you thinking that the person telling all the information to Staples is Vince. I thought it was Vince but now that am done with the book it is kind of obvious that's what the author wanted you to think. The author gave you the allusion that Vince was the snitch because every time Mac would say something about wanting to find out more Vince wouldn't like that idea and say to think about how much money that was going to cost Mac. Now I know that Vince did just really care about the money because he wanted to go see the Cubs game. Something I really liked about the book was the way the author brought up the subject of friendship. That was one of the biggest themes in the book because Mac had so many friends that cared for him and stood by him when he was in a tight spot. Something I didnt quite like was the ending because it's a series. This book didn't have a great resolution because the author wants you to keep on reading the rest of the books.

In conclusion I rate this book 3 because I didn't really like it in my opinion it was boring.I would recommend this book to people of all ages just because I dint like doesn't mean other people might not enjoy it .This is a good suspenseful book that we'll keep you flipping the page. If you don't believe you just might want to read it yourself .

[Snazzy Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Soooooo good!

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted at Heise Reads & Recommends

I'm always on the lookout for books that will appeal to the boys in my classes. I struggle to find those books that will really engage them through contemporary situations and humor - well I've now found another one to add to my highly recommended for boys list with THE FOURTH STALL. Chris Rylander has created a funny book with heart. Mac, so nicknamed because he can get anything kids want and can solve their problems, thinks he has everything under control at his school as he works from his office in the basement bathroom that no one uses. He has long lines out the door everyday at recess of other kids needing help, and he runs a tight ship of a highly organized business with his best friend, Vince, who is the money guy. The two of them pretty much have control of the school and help people with all kinds of problems - whether it be bullies, dating, homework, or loans - Mac has what kids need. He takes payment or favors for his work. The payment is being saved up so Mac and Vince can go see the Chicago Cubs play in the World Series - if they can make it there. He has an internal network throughout the different levels of the school hierarchy who help him do what he needs - for a small fee. He thinks he has it all under control, until the day Fred walks in with a problem to solve that changes it all for Mac. Someone is infringing on his territory. Now he has to figure out how to solve the illegal gambling ring problem Staples has brought to his school.

This book has a full cast of characters who are each entertaining in their own right. As much as I adored Mac, some of his helpers (I'm looking at you M) were laugh-out-loud funny. The way that Mac runs his business is somewhat mobster-style and is impressive as such a well-oiled machine. Mac's voice is also greatly engaging in this book. It's written as if he's talking right to the reader with asides and side notes. It's like hearing a story from a good friend (almost Ferris Buehler style). Chris throws in some great similes that bring more character to the story overall. The one aspect I was a little concerned about was the slight glorification of the school bullies. There is a whole range of types of bullies in his school and Mac (humorously describing them all) uses them to do his dirty work. He pays them to be his muscle and while they have his back in the end, I worry if it puts them in too good of a light. I do think, though, that because of the humor and tone of the book, and the way they help protect Mac in the end, that it overall has a positive message about sticking together and standing up for oneself. The book also deals with friendship and trust and honesty between friends Mac and Vince. There's action and mystery and scheming and humor and friendship. It's a great middle-grades book to recommend to boys that should engage them in reading.

[Marius · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book had a very interesting plot that kept the reader(me) paying attention to the book and not being bored about the book. This book is about a small 6th grader named mac who is the problem solver of his whole school. But one day he gets a problem that is so challenging and ginormous, that he jeopardized his safety, best friend Vince and his entire business.But at the end of the story, he uses all of his intelligence and power and knocks out staples(the super evil guy) from the whole town and saved his entire school from massive debt. this book also taught me life lessons such as never jump to conclusions without seeing lots of evidence. This has been depicted when Mac only saw one piece of evidence showing Vince was working with Staples, but he was not which has been proved further i the book. Another life lesson learned here is don't judge a book by its cover. This has been depicted when we learned who Staples was collecting money from children at Macs school. Mac and his crew first thought Staples collected money for his dad so he can pay the bills, but that was not true. We learned Staples collected money to get his sister back from a foster family. She was given away to a foster family when Staples father could not take care of her anymore. So Staples has been trying to give his dad money, so he can get Staples sister back to their home. In conclusion, I believe I will rate this book 5/5 stars because of its excellence in content, plot,characters and because the book was fun to read. I can't wait to read the Fourth Stall Part 2, where there is supposed to be more dangers and a ventures with Mac and Vince.

[Jeff Raymond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back in my librarian days, the hardest thing to do, hands down, was to find good books for boys. The publishing industry is basically crap for boys - it's all paranormal romance, vampires and creatures of the dark, or over-the-top action books for guys. There's no middle ground, and then people wonder why boys don't read. There are a lot of reasons why, but the problem only compounds itself when, during the most important reading times of their lives, we're not providing the literature they need to want to continue reading.

The Fourth Stall is one of the better boy books I've read in a long time. It hits all the right notes - it's funny without relying too much on gross-out or gutter humor, it's authentic without being vulgar, and it features a great friendship between two boys that anyone can relate to. It's a book that sort of starts out as a spoof on the mafia and the criminal underground, and ends up being a story with a great mystery, an excellent twist that I didn't see coming at all, and maybe a scene or two toward the end that it got a little dusty in my reading chair, if you catch my drift.

I don't know who I *wouldn't* recommend this to. I'm glad I won this in a Goodreads giveaway, because it's unlikely that I would have found this gem otherwise, and now I just hope that the rest of the world gets the memo about this one. Definitely a big fan of this one.

[Colby Sharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This morning I finished Chris Rylander’s first middle reader novel The Fourth Stall. I think that authors get better the more books they publish, but sometimes I wonder if that first book is their best book. Authors work so hard to get published that they often spend years thinking about, writing, rewriting and then rewriting that first book. It is so hard to get published that I bet to get noticed that first book has to be a knockout. Mr. Rylander may go on to have a huge career as an author, but I think that first book authors publish have so much heart and soul in it that it always excites to read their early work.

The Fourth Stallis about Mac a sixth grade boy that basically runs the school out of a bathroom stall that is buried in the corner of the school. If a kid has a problem they turn to Mac. For a small free, or a favor, Mac can take care of you. When a boy wants to find out if a girl likes him, or if a girl wants help getting a bully off their back they turn to Mac. His business is going well and he and his best friend Vince have saved up almost enough money to go to a world series game, when a mysterious high school bully tries to derail their plans.

This book is about many things: trust, bullying, and most of all friendship. If you are looking for a book that will really challenge your thinking of what is right and wrong you should read The Fourth Stall.

[Diane Ferbrache · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sixth grader, Mac, is the Godfather of his school. Do you need help? Protection? Mac and his crew can provide it – for a price. His office is in the abandoned East Wing bathroom….the fourth stall. He meets his match when a third grader comes to him seeking protection from the legendary bully, Staples. Staples has been running a gambling ring in the school and rigging the outcomes of sports events. Now half the school is in his debt and he’s threatening to collect.
I really looked forward to reading this book. I hoped it would be satirical and funny, much like the Time Warp Trio books. Unfortunately, a good premise does not a good book make. The story is just a string of unbelievable events, many of them unfunny and violent. The adults in the book are not only absent, they are stupid and apparently blind. No one notices the endless fights. Although there are some redeeming moments when readers find out why Staples is the way he is and why Mac’s best friend is stealing from him, but these are just not enough to counteract the rest. Perhaps I was taking it all too seriously, but I can’t recommend this book.

[Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fourth stall is a great kid's book about Mac, a sixth grader who owns a multi-thousand dollar buisness. This superb tale starts when the infamous crime boss Staples, starts to come after Mac's buisness. An odd, book, and an odder premise, this books pulls off the ideas. It almost feels like a mystery/thriller, and yet simplistic and light-hearted enough to be a good book for many different people. As you go through the story, there are many twists and turns, which are really good, and better than expected to be in a children's story. It is full of quirky and lovable characters, and you don't want to put it down, even if it isn't your favorite. This is a wonderfully crafted book and deserves more love.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book because I felt that is was very realistic. Most books trying to appeal to middle schoolers try hard and make it cliche. An example is when I was reading Lone Stars, I felt the texting abbreviations where cliche. On the other hand, the dialogue in The Fourth Stall sounded very realistic even though the plot of two 6th graders making $6,000 solving problems is very unrealistic. I love that I can envision the events playing out in my head. I also liked the vivid imagery of big events playing out. The author made the big events seem like they were playing out in slow motion with all of his imagery. When books are realistic and use vivid imagery, they are first-class.

[Nolan Walchuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was awesome. It was a very interesting concept with his business and a so-called legend coming true that I couldn't stop reading. The challenges that the main characters had to overcome were seemingly impossible but they push against all odds and come out on top in the end (you could have known since there is a book 2 and 3). It definitely makes the top ten in books I've read so far in my lifetime. I would recommend it to anyone just because I think it is so good and different.

[Emma]

A boy named Mac solves problems since he was little, now he has the hardest problem yet. I really liked this book because it was fascinating how one problem just leads to even more problems. I recommend this book to people who like to help others and solve problems.

[Giovanni Zuniga]

I enjoyed reading this book because it talks about a kid and his own little business in his school. He is very sneaky because he has a office in the bathroom. He goes through some challenges and I really liked this book.

[Lisa Zinkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been recommending this book to my students since we’ve had it. I finally read it and loved it (I knew I would). There were points where I was laughing out loud and then trying to figure out who the rat was ... anyway. I’m glad I can continue to rec this book to my kids! 💜💜💜💜💜

[midnightfaerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book for middle school aged kids, this has a young boy named Mac running a business from the 4th stall of the bathroom. He provides any services his classmates need for a small fee or favor. It's lucrative, and he's saving up to go to a Cubs game. His best friend Vince helps him run it and it goes smoothly until a bully comes into town and threatens to take over his business. When I read the negative reviews, I think sometimes people forget to think like a kid. Yes, we all remember what it was like, but do we ever think about how we really felt during those times? What stories got us going? What made us excited? In this world, the underdog overcoming a bully is huge to a kid. Bullies are a real life scenario, and this is an exciting and fun solution that every kid can stand behind and see in their minds eye with a full blown orchestra behind the climax of this book. I remember this was how I saw these stories in my head. I think sometimes we forget that. So, I'm approaching these books like a child and am enjoying the simplicity of a hero winning. I also love the analogies in this book. Rylander keeps the plot moving and adds much humor in the form of analogies and quotes from Vince's grandmother. Overall the only thing I can really say is, I will I was a piece of cheese.

[Madelyn Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about a boy named Mac and his friend Vince who have a business in the fourth stall of an abandoned boys bathroom at their school. Their business is helping people and the people that they help give them money for their work. But when they encounter a problem that they are not sure they can fix but give it their all to try to, things don't really go their way. I love this book because it can be really funny but also really scary at times. I think I would recommend this book to almost anyone I see.

[Pink · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mac runs his business helping fellow students with his best friend, Vince, out of the abandoned 4th stall in the least busy bathroom. Mac knows everyone in his school and everything that happens there. At least that's what he thinks until someone brings him a problem that uncovers a secret gambling ring that threatens to bring his business to the ground.

This would be an entertaining book for a middle school boy. I was surprisingly amused myself.

[Kirsten Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun book with an amazing lineup of interesting characters, hare-brained situations that ring true to the social politics of middle school, the humor of inept adults who have no idea what’s going on in the world of middle schoolers, and nods of recognition to good old classic movies of monsters and criminal masterminds like “The Godfather.” And above all, this is a great storyline in which the themes of trust, bullying, and friendship are at its core.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book much more than I anticipated. I enjoyed it so much I read it all in one sitting. There's some great relationship stuff, cool dialogue, interesting characters, and an action scene near the end that was very satisfying. I'm definitely going to read books II and III.

[ari ♡]

no one gets this book like 6th grade me did

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Our book club at school (funnily enough made up of all girls) chose this as their first read of the year and seemed to really enjoy it. For me, it definitely felt like a middle school boy book, and I was not the target audience.

[CharlieeB · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fourth Stall, By Chris Rylander is about two friends Mac & Vince who own a business helping kids in their school for a price of course. But one day a boy named Fred walked in his office in need of protection from a guy named staples whom is suppose to be a myth they found out soon he isn't and is giving them major problems.
I liked a lot about this book. It has a good plot, strong and diverse characters. I like the relationship between Mac & Vince. Also i liked the major turning point throughout the book it had me on my heels.

[Ayomi]

I cant believe that Staples had a good reason to steal

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll make you an offer you can't refuse!

The Fourth Stall first showed up on my radar over a year ago while I was reading the bios of the Tenners - the debut authors of 2010. Chris Rylander was writing a book I wanted to read - it's like The Godfather in Middle School? Count me in! I contacted the author, who told me the book was pushed and wouldn't release until 2011. It felt like SO long to wait. Imagine how excited I was when Walden Pond Press sent me the book!

My only problem was keeping The 8 Year Old's hands off until I could finish it. What's not to love about this cover? It screams BOY BOOK! And as the mother of an avid reader, I can assure you, this is not an easy audience to hook, but Chris Rylander nailed it.

Christian Barrett, known as "Mac", is the main character and the anchor of the story. The 6th grader runs a business out of the fourth stall of the East Wing boys' bathroom. He does small favors like doctor's notes, late passes, and forging parents' signatures on report cards. Mac either gets money or another favor in return.

Vince is Mac's business partner and best friend. Vince runs the books and makes sure that they have the cash available, so when the Cubs get to the World Series, they are ready to get prime seats, snacks, souveiniers, the works!

These two clever guys are just the beginning of a hilarious, memorable and well-developed cast of characters. (Kitten was my favorite supporting character - what does this say about me?!?)

One day, trouble walks into the East Wing. Fred, a 3rd grader, comes in asking for protection from Staples, a legendary bully and head of a gambling operation. Mac and Staples are immediately thrust into what can be described as a turf war. Mac can't have Staples terrorizing the kids in his middle school - it's not right, and it's bad for business.

"Now, you have to understand, I'm not usually afraid of much. I own this school. But if all the rumors about Staples are true, then we were dealing with one dangerous guy."

What happens next is full of twists and turns, good guys and bad guys, and more than a few punches are thrown. There are some heart-pounding scenes, and with the turn of a page, you can't be sure who Mac can trust!

Well written, exciting, suspenseful, and a lot of fun! The Fourth Stall was well worth the wait!

[Austin Krause · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personal Response:
I thought that overall this book was a fairly decent read, but at times it could get a little sketchy. The author, Chris Rylander, was able to keep me in, wanting more of the book. He used some suspense at times when the plot got too boring and helped me stay with it the whole way through. I actually bought this book a while back not knowing anything about it, never hearing any good/bad reviews on it, but I only read it now. I think, even with the certain areas of sketchiness, that this book was well worth my money.
Plot:
The main idea of the book was that the main character, Mac, runs a secret business inside his school with some of his best friends. His business is booming and he and his best friend Vince are very close to reaching a goal of funds. The both of them are serious Chicago Cubs fans and they are saving their funds from this business to buy tickets to go to a Cubs World Series game. Of course, something had to throw a wrench in that plan. One day, a third grader walks into Mac's bathroom office and releases the worst problem Mac has ever had to solve. A character called Staples, who is a long thought legend is actually a real person and he is at Mac's school wreaking havoc on everyone's' wallets. Mac is forced to go deeper into this and take down Staples for good, but it will take a lot for either Staples or Mac to give in. Just when Mac's business is near crumbling point, Mac devises a plan to take down Staples forever. At the end of it all, Mac and his group come out victorious, but the mystery of Staples still continues as to what ever happened to him on that final day.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to basically anyone. I do think that males would have a greater interest in the plot and the whole book in general. This is not a book of very high reading level so kids could probably read this book at around 10 to 12 years old. I would say though, that any person over the general age of 17 would probably not have any interest in this book whatsoever. Overall, this book was a pretty decent read and would be a pretty good book for anyone who wants a slightly easy read.

[Brandy Painter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Originally posted here.

When Noir meets The Godfather in the bathroom of a grade school you get The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander. It is an interesting concept and there are many amusing parts to the book. I think that it is quite possible that much of it will go over the heads of its intended audience though. However, I can also see how this might appeal to a certain boy reader who is into super heroes, crime shows, and action moves and video games. (So, most boys really).

Mac is the narrator of this story and he is a sympathetic one. He and Vince started a business to help the kids in their school. It is an underground business and they have "hired muscle" and clandestine arrangements with the janitorial staff, but they are not doing anything illegal. Although they certainly have the minds to go there someday and they are more than a little vigilante in their methods. Batman wannabes without the altruistic motives, because they are in need of a cash flow. Then they run afoul of the high school gambling syndicate and their business, friendship, and way of life is all threatened.

What I Liked: Mac has several struggles with his conscience that are very real and he learns a lot about being a loyal friend. I liked how Mac and Vince dealt with the struggles in their friendship and how they resolved their issues with each other. And that both of them seemed to learn from it.

What Concerned Me: Mac blurs the lines between right and wrong quite a bit and his narration gives tips on how to be a better liar and avoid adult detection. There is also a lot of violence. There are several fights and kids are being bullied and the adults are oblivious to all of it. There were many scenes that had me thinking this is a book I would want to be familiar enough with to discuss with my son if he were reading it.

The inside cover says the book is for ages 8-12 but honestly I think 10-13 might be a better demographic.

[Raina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, I was hoping for more toilet humor.

Unusual for me, it's true.

But with a title like "The Fourth Stall" and a roll of toilet paper on the cover? I thought this would be a slamdunk for middle school boys.

But no, it's a disappointingly clean read. It plods a bit, and I agree with my Goodreads colleagues who say that it majorly pales in comparison to the awesome The Big Splash.

And here are some specific complaints:

1. Mac seems to ricochet between crazy-saavy and unbelievably nieve. At one point, he's talking about his Uncle Bruce: "I heard my parents say something about him falling off a wagon. I think maybe he hit his head pretty hard when he fell off that wagon and is now brain damaged or something" (pg. 147). I think a kid this smart would get alcohol.

2. Later in the book, a character explains his fishy actions by saying that he sold his dad's bike. After the whole explanation, our narrator explains that the bike has a massive amount of sentimental value. If the narrator had explained the weight of the item as soon as it was mentioned, instead of waiting until after the whole angsty conversation had occurred, we would understand the implications of the choice earlier and feel the angst more.

I had a few more marked, but in hindsight, I'm not sure they're worth calling out on the interwebs. Suffice it to say, I found the writing annoying at times, and it's not as strong as it sells, but it's adequate for an upper elementary or very gentle middle school boy mystery.

Eh.