Maybe it's the comic book lover in me, but I love the trend in young reader / teen reader books including art, graphics, comics and diagrams to further the story. I think about Captain Underpants, Dork Diaries and others. This book does also does this very well. And it's a good book, too.
The Tapper Twins Go to War (With Each Other)
by Geoff Rodkey
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
April 2015
Reece and Claudia are siblings that just can't stop one-upping each other with pranks. How it started may be a misunderstanding but at this point its on. And the best part is that they determine to document the whole thing in this book. Both siblings use the book to provide evidence against the other. Evidence is presented in diagrams, illustrations, pictures and narrative form.
I love that the story includes both perspectives (although lead by Claudia) - the way the book is written naturally illustrates the ongoing "war." Bickering is documented. They argue with each other as the author changes perspectives regularly. The book also includes "interviews," "stolen" screen shots of phone texts and such with other characters, like the parents, the sitter and friends at school.
(I also loved the useless trivia hidden in pictures and diagrams, which reminded of asides on Family Guy (but clean) or the Simpsons. Sarcastic, silly and fun.)
While the book is written for Middle Schoolers but adults will enjoy it as well. It is clean, so no worries. Consequences are natural and shown so lessons also get learned. A fun book.
