The Troubling Adventures of Jesse and Owen by Ted Lemon

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I met Ted at a recent book festival and he asked me to read his book.  "It's a mid-grade," he said, "about two kids doing normal kid things in the trailer park where they live."  Ted lied.

Yes, this book is indeed about two kids who live in a trailer park.  But they don't do normal things.  When one introduces the other to the power of books and story... well, that's when the adventures really begin.  

This book is wonderment.  I've always loved books about books, and this one hits the mark.  It does two things that are exemplary; first, it proves to kids who may not yet have been exposed to books just how fascinating a few good pages can be.  And second, it gives us two unlikely heroes in the form of these two young boys - brave enough to use their imaginations to be entertained, and to seek revenge -  in a way where they rise above, and no one gets hurt.

This story has tremendous compassion and allows boys to be boys, while learning that there's a better way to enjoy life... using brain power rather than just brainless brawn.

I've given this book four and a half stars only because the publisher/printer didn't take into consideration the reader audience and formatted the book with a font size far too small for mid-grade readers.

Congratulations to Ted Lemon, he has created stories for boys!  I eagerly await his next installment (I'm told it's a trilogy in progress.)