The Book Youre Not Supposed To Have Timmy Failure

Timmy Failure #5

by Stephan Pastis

Banishment from his life’s calling can’t keep a comically overconfident detective down in the latest episode by New York Times bestseller Stephan Pastis.This book was never meant to exist. No one needs to know the details. Just know there’s a Merry, a Larry, a missing tooth, and a teachers’ strike that is crippling Timmy Failure’s academic future. Worst of all, Timmy is banned from detective work. It’s a conspiracy of buffoons. He recorded everything in his private notebook, but then the manuscript was stolen. If this book gets out, he will be grounded for life. Or maybe longer. And will Timmy’s mom really marry Doorman Dave?

Genres: Humor, Middle Grade, Childrens, Fiction, Mystery, Graphic Novels, Juvenile

Paperback

First published September 27, 2016

About the author

Stephan Pastis was born in 1968 and raised in San Marino, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1989 with a degree in political science. Although he had always wanted to be a syndicated cartoonist, Pastis realized that the odds of syndication were slim, so he entered UCLA Law School in 1990 and became an attorney instead. He practiced law in the San Francisco Bay area from 1993 to 2002. While an attorney, he began submitting various comic strip concepts to all of the syndicates, and, like virtually all beginning cartoonists, got his fair share of rejection slips. Then, in 1997, he began drawing Pearls Before Swine, which he submitted to the syndicates in mid-1999. In December, 1999, he signed a contract with United.
Pearls Before Swine debuted in newspapers in January, 2002, and Pastis left his law practice in August of that year. Pearls Before Swine was nominated in 2003, 2004 and 2007 as "Best Newspaper Comic Strip" by the National Cartoonists Society (NCS) and won the award in 2004 and 2007. Pastis lives with his family in Northern California.

Reviews

[Michelle (FabBookReviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Do you love others, Timothy?"
...
"I dunno. Do you?"

Oh, Timmy.

Five books into the eccentric and comical Timmy Failure series by Stephan Pastis and mysteries and misunderstandings are still running amok. In a previous post, I talked about my love of the series- the weirdness, laughter and strange sweetness of Timmy's world. The aforementioned mix of traits are still alive and well with The Book You're Not Supposed to Have; but in this title, we meet a few new great characters that show just how helpless, in denial (and extremely obstinate!) Timmy can be.

In The Book You're Not Supposed to Have, a big change is looming for Timmy: his mom is set to marry Doorman Dave. Now, those familiar with Timmy's great skill in avoiding big, personal issues, will know that Timmy will focus his attention on everything but the major issue at hand. Rather than face the impending wedding and life changes, Timmy turns his attention on continuing detective work (surreptitiously) in the midst of being banned from doing any detective work. Throwing further wrenches into his plan to operate his spy work on the sly are cousins Merry and Larry- staying with the Failures and in Timmy's room- before the big wedding. So, Timmy does the rational thing and decides to take over a garden shed at the Home Despot to continue his operations... Of course, being Timmy, he is waylaid by focusing on spurious dead-end cases and by the fact that his best friend Rollo Tookus is becoming chummy with (gasp!) Merry and Larry. Standing fierce by Timmy's side through all of his mistakes (both small and...HUGE), though, is Molly Moskins- the tangerine-scented girl who loves Timmy. Pastis throws in a little surprise courtesy of Molly at the end, which I especially adored, as Molly Moskins has become a series favourite for me!

Overall, the Timmy Failure series, five books in, continues to surprise with Pastis' particular brand of offbeat, very funny writing, and new characters who prove to be a real hoot. While Timmy himself is an ongoing puzzle, sometimes infuriatingly stubborn and oblivious, Pastis manages to balance those less-than-beguiling characteristics by matching Timmy against family and friends who push Timmy to show his vulnerabilities. Any readers who have enjoyed the previous titles in the series or Pastis' other work with comic Pearls Before Swine will likely enjoy The Book You're Not Supposed to Have. Readers who like series such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Terrible Two, Big Nate, or Tom Gates, might especially be interested in giving Timmy Failure a read.

I received a copy of this title courtesy of Penguin Random House Canada/Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and comments are my own.

[Jenny Staller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another installment in the always entertaining Timmy Failure series. I didn't think this one was quite as strong as some of the others, but it's a quick, fun read with great illustrations, so not a bad way to spend an hour. Because there's actually not very much text per page, it's perfect for reluctant readers (there are some 6th graders I can think of who would eat these up even though they "hate reading") and fans of the Wimpy Kid series.

[Paula Lyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Timmy Failure. He is the world's worst detective, which makes it not only possible but mandatory that kids solve the "mysteries" that he doesn't. He is the most self-involved kid and still has loyal friends and a loving family. Share these books with kids and you'll both laugh.

I received an ARC copy from Net Galley.

[Xavier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this one and it kind of continued from what the last one ended on unlike the others. I think that books 4 and 5 were both okay individually but when you combine the 2 they compliment each other perfectly. The storyline finally started getting intense in this one and has good character developement.

[brookie the cookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooookay.

So Merry and Larry are very strange.

WHERE IS CORRINA CORRINA?!

Have they given up on her?!

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[Adele Broadbent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Timmy is in disguise at the start of this book. His mum has banned him from his detective business - shut it down - dead.

What's even worse is his creepy-weird cousins Merry and Larry have come to stay, leaving him sleeping on the floor between their beds in his room.

Mum decides that since Timmy isn't wasting his time being a detective he will have so much more time on his hands, signing him up for piano lessons and taking him to an orthodontist - neither of which go well.

But through all these obstacles, a teacher strike (leading to an extended school year into his summer holidays!), Timmy finds himself a new headquarters, a way to increase business, and a crime that must be solved. His best friend Rollo Tookus has gone missing. Can he solve his most important crime to date?

[Colona Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love this series. In this book he has to move his office into a home depot like garden center. He sets up in a garden shed where he has more room and more foot traffic. In this book, he must look for his friend Rollo who is missing. I highly recommend reading this book along with the others in this series. The stories are great!

[Kiri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really cute.. and funny! But of course I didn't read it.. never saw a word. Couldn't possibly tell anyone...especially Timmy's mom. ;)

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

When being attacked by a puma, be noisy and make yourself large. -Timmy

[Lakshit Sen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous plot and Timmy is such a peculiar character. Must read book....

[Kerri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another chronicle from Timmy's life, with spies, death (or is it?), mystery, secrets, a strike that messes up the school schedule, and a piano teacher. Teenage cousins join the Failure family, and they are the best additions to this character lineup, though I am really missing Flo. This is the second book with no appearance and it is making me sad. Otherwise, a fantastically quick, ridiculous read.

[Katsuro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good like always. And like usual, I feel that Total the polar bear didn't get enough of a role in the story. More and more, I feel he was introduced to make the book series stand out to people who think about reading it, and not because the plot actually needs a pet polar bear.

[Clayton Reed · Rating 3 out of 5]

love these books! hope stephan pastis makes more and more!!!

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing new here in the series - just good, enjoyable fun. Looking forward to seeing how my students react to this series.

[Pop Bop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just the Right Amount of Timmy

I like these books, although I sometimes wonder how much of the screwball, dry and ironic humor kids actually get. But I'm always and constantly surprised by kids' insight into exaggeration and deadpan humor, so it's probably a big mistake to underestimate their capacity to appreciate irony.

That said, sometimes you can have too much Timmy, and he can start to feel like a single, extended one-note joke. This book avoids that problem by surrounding Timmy with a fine, extended cast of foils, assistants, and minor characters who add a great deal of variety to the book's essential Timmy-ness.

Of course, we have long suffering Mother. And soon to be step-dad Doorman Dave. And, Rollo and Molly are in fine form. While Mother and Dave get to play straight man roles, Molly and Rollo bring out the best and most antic side of Timmy. But here we also get two visiting cousins, who are constant targets of Timmy's suspicions, and a piano teacher, an orthodontist, and a substitute teacher, each of whom offers something new for Timmy to get worked up about. Throw in a dozen more incidental characters, and Timmy is totally on a roll.

It also helps that there are multiple story lines. Timmy has to run his agency on the sly. There's a teachers' strike. The wedding is coming up. Rollo has been kidnapped. The cousins are up to something. And more.

The upshot is that among all of the other characters, and betwixt and between all of the plot threads, Timmy gets to be Timmy without at all wearing thin. For me, this may end up one of my favorite Timmy Failures.

(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

[Teresa Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Timmy Failure #5 is silly, goofy, fun! And that is just what it is supposed to be. After fleeing criminals in book #4, Timmy's mom grounds him from being a detective for 6 months. Using his superior negotiation skills, Timmy only has to wait until summer break to reopen his agency...that is, if he can bring his grades up, endure piano lessons, and survive his crazy cousins, Larry and Merry. There is a small mystery, but most of the book is a hilarious recounting of Timmy's everyday adventures. (I especially enjoyed his visit to the orthodontist, Mr. A.Goni. So clever.) Both fans and newcomers to the series will love this book.

[The Erudite Gryffinclaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are some books that demand to be read aloud this is one of them. First off, this I havn't read any of the previous Timmy Failure books, but this one felt pretty stand alone, so even though there was some back story references, you still knew what was going on.

I liked that the story line keeps you reading. I also liked that younger readers will learn bigger vocabulary words, if anything because Timmy explains what the words mean, but not in a way that feels like he is talking down to you.

Over all, I'll read the previous books, and I look forward to reading more Timmy Failure books that are published.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, when you read it and love it, don't tell anyone. Especially your mother. Seriously. Don't you dare.

[R-109 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an EPIC book,
toots is a fat waster, but timmy needs that shed man!!!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a funny book I liked how they made it a little different then the normal books.

[Stevie Twicetimes · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING: 3.5 stars, rounded up.
This is the first of the books that I have not previously experienced, and it is unsurprisingly a very pleasant read. Following the amusing but mostly unremarkable (and perhaps excessively heavy) fourth novel, Pastis returns to the format of the first two books, providing a series of vignettes strung together with a plot that mostly stays out of the way of the gags.
The jokes in this book are absolutely fantastic; some of them are easily among the best in the series (Timmy's "bra-mobile" is a real standout, and something I can't say I expected in an ages 8-12 book). Pastis, a writer and cartoonist with a genuine gift for crafting characters both narratively and visually, shows once again that he knows the unusual inhabitants of this world inside and out, and brings back some favorites from previous volumes (I, for one, very much welcomed the return of Scutaro Holmes). The unobtrusive plot and quality gags make it a good middle-grade read along the lines of middle-period "Wimpy Kid", though I can say that, as someone who was thoroughly impressed by "We Meet Again", I was a bit disappointed that Pastis didn't take another swing for ambition and emotion. Sure, it was carried to excess in the "Sanitized for Your Protection", but that's no reason to stop when the series had seemingly found its identity.
Outside of that, it's a great, enjoyably breezy reading experience. I was disappointed with the very abrupt ending and the lack of Corrina Corrina (Stephen Pastis is really going to have them kiss in Book 3 and never bring it up again?!?!?!?), but overall, I'd recommend it. Heck, it's Timmy Failure. It has its ups and downs, but not yet has there been a truly bad book in the series.

[Ben P. · Rating 2 out of 5]

In Timmy Failure number 5, "The Book You're Not Supposed to Have", 'perfect detective' Timmy Failure finds himself in a position he never dreamed of; he has to obey his mother's rules! After literally running away from his mother and her fiance, Doorman Dave, while on a road trip with them and the Moskins, Timmy's mom bans him from any and all detective work. However, since Timmy believes himself to be such a wonderful person above all punishment, Timmy just goes ahead and continues his work in secret.
Inside one of Home Depot's many garden sheds, Timmy claims one as his office for "detective work". His best friend, Rollo Tookus, tries to convince him to just obey his mother for once. However, being the self-absorbed child that he is, he ignores it and proceeds to do a bunch of "detective work"; as in, accusing random people of crimes they never committed. He also has his cousins, Larry and Merry, staying at his house. Timmy thinks that they're both out to kill him, because of course he does. He is a "detective", after all.
In all, while the book is written well, Timmy as a character is not exactly likeable. In fact, I found a few times throughout the book where I would have wished that he would just shut his mouth. Most of the other characters are written well, so why not the main protagonist? In all, the book could be so much better if Timmy was just written a little bit better.

[Bookrapt (Est. 1983) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readers can’t help but feel sympathy for Timmy Failure, the young detective with the unfortunate ability to come to all the wrong conclusions. At the same time, it’s impossible not to laugh at his bumbling mistakes.

Timmy’s endearing quality is his unfailing determination to persist in the search for answers, regardless of humiliation and adversity. Timmy is joined in his investigations by his unreliable assistant, Total the polar bear, and his tangerine-scented classmate, Molly Moskins.

The young detective’s work must go undercover in response to his mother’s ban on his sleuthing. To complicate matters, the private space of his bedroom has been invaded by two live-in cousins, sour-faced Merry and homicidal maniac Larry. Timmy decides to set up his detective agency in a display shed in a department store, which leads to several awkward situations.

Amusing black-and-white illustrations by the author accompany the investigators’ antics. The characters’ comical expressions and odd physical appearance add to the humorous storyline.

This is the fifth title in the popular Timmy Failure series aimed at primary to intermediate-aged readers who enjoy graphic novels. The hard-back publication is a bonus for libraries where the books are in hot demand.

Reviewed by Jean Bennett (Bookrapt)

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The Book You're Not Supposed to Have (Timmy Failure #5)' by Stephan Pastis is my first read in this series. It is very odd and very funny.

Timmy Failure has been banished from being a detective until the end of the school year. He is also upset because his mother is marrying the doorman, and they expect Timmy to be in the wedding. Add in his strange cousins Merry and Larry, a missing best friend, and a school strike that threatens to extend school to all year.

Timmy is a weird little kid, and really funny in all of that weirdness. He has a polar bear for an assistant, and his perception and detective skills are a bit lacking. Still it was funny to see him setting up his detective office in a garden shed at a big box hardware store and ripping up a Mickey Molar stuffed animal from his orthodontist.

Stephan Pastis is the man behind the Pearls Before Swine comic strip that I love, and his illustrations are throughout the book. It's a fun read for younger readers. I had a lot of fun gettng to know Timmy Failure.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Candlewick Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

[A Goodreads User · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be hands down the best book ever. This was filled with humor and probably the best storyline in existence. My favorite part is when Rollo dissapeared and Timmy came out with bizzare explanations for what could of happened to him, such as the piano teacher putting Rollo in a jar and how Corrina Corrina could have held him hostage. Another one of my favorite parts is when Timmy rewrote the Buppy Guppy song to sing: "The Buppy Guppy is my Suppy! Chomp! Chomp! Chomp!" This was very great, and I would definitely recommend it to everyone in existence.

[Sladjana Kovacevic · Rating 5 out of 5]

KNJIGA KOJU NE BI TREBALO DA IMATE-TIMI PROMAŠAJ 5-STEFAN PASTIS
📚Peti deo serijala i detektivski tim Timi Promašaj-Moli Moskins se ustalio. Savršeni su i preslatki.
📚Ovaj deo se malo više bavi porodičnim odnosima,maminim venčanjem,rođakama koje su okupirale Timijevu sobu.
📚A tu je i zabrana detektivskih aktivnosti,štrajk nastavnika,nestanak Rola Tukusa...
📚Kako napreduje ovaj serijal postaje i ozbiljniji i zabavniji što možda deluje nespojivo u teoriji ali u praksi je ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 😊
#7sensesofabook #timipromašaj #knjigakojunebitrebalodaimate #stefanpastis

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another laugh out loud funny installment of the Timmy Failure series. My sons and I have each been reading these independently, but we've also been listening to the audio books as a family while on car trips this summer, and the reader is pretty hilarious. I'd recommend either the audio books or the paper copies, although with the actual book, you get the illustrations, which make the stories even funnier.

[flajol · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can't keep a top-class detective down, so even though his Mum has grounded him from gumshoe duties, Timmy Failure will find a way. Hampered by the facts and his lazy hot-dog guzzling polar bear sidekick, Timmy has a mysterious disappearance to solve, all whilst struggling to cope with the inexplicable boom in business.

Delivers the laughs as always, and quite a few 'awws' too as Timmy is quite sweet in spite of his best efforts - because detectives are tough men, but decent men.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Timmy Failure returns after his smash-up in Chicago, his mom has grounded him for six-months, and has forbidden any detective business at all. So what does Timmy do while she is busy preparing for her wedding to Doorman Dave, he opens business at a secret location. His biggest case to date is before him, but the biggest mystery is how did we, the reader, get this book that we're not suppose to have?

[Nuqksh Sapra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a boy named Timmy Failure who thinks he’s the best detective in the world. His detective agency gets shut down by his mom, but Timmy doesn’t give up. He secretly writes this book even though he’s not supposed to. Timmy is really funny because he always thinks he’s super smart, but he usually makes big mistakes. His polar bear friend, Total, is silly and always hungry. My favorite part is when Timmy tries to solve mysteries but ends up causing more trouble instead.