King of the Bench: Control Freak audiobook

A Fine SequelThis is the second book in the "King of the Bench" series. The first book was very entertaining, on many levels, and I was curious to see if Moore could maintain the charm, energy and clever humor that distinguished the series. At least for me the answer is "Yes", ("No brag. That's just a fact.")This time out Steve and his two pals are lassoed into playing football for Spiro T. Agnew Middle School. The benchwarmers angle that powered the first book isn't really in play this time. Rather, the hook is that our hero, Steve, has come into possession of an old Nintendo64 controller that may "magically" control players. Since nobody actually believes that, it's really just a plot tease; the book is really about whether Steve and his pals can survive football, reach down to find the heroes inside, win the big game without any magical help, and maybe even get the girl.So, add "The Longest Yard" and the football game from the movie "M.A.S.H.", put it in middle school, and sprinkle it with school daze angst, and you sort of have a sense of where this book goes.As before, the real appeal is Steve's narration, and his manic digressions. The voice is something along the lines of "deadpan frantic". By that I mean that there are lots of dry, deadpan funny throwaway lines and observations, but they are somehow melded with a high-energy, upbeat, gee-whiz delivery. The result is very appealing. Steve sometimes comes across as oblivious and sort of a knucklehead, but also keenly observant and mordantly, (for a middle grader), funny. I think that is an extremely difficult tone to strike and maintain, but it is consistent throughout the book. Maybe it works because the author never goes for irony, is never sour, and never mocks his kid characters or the genre. He can slip in the occasional edgy line, but it's kid appropriate edgy, (that is, jokes about certain teachers, the gross coach, Steve's over protective Mom, and so on).The upshot is that this struck me as a fine, entertaining and young reader friendly series. It's funny, good-natured, and big-hearted, which is pretty much the most you could ask for.(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.)

Steve is now on the football team! He was sure his parents would be against it, but when they weren’t he was stuck - so he’s the place kicker ball holder (less chance of getting hurt than in other positions.) Well, on the first day of school, Steve trades his eskimo pie with Billionaire Bill - the homeless guy at the stadium for an old N64 controller. There seems to be magic in the controller, because Steve can turn it on and actually control the movements of people with it. He helps a shy girl navigate the crowded lunchroom, an old lady cross a busy street, but should he use it to win the game? Is it cheating to use magic in football? This is a silly book, full of cartoons - a lot like Wimpy Kid - and will appeal to the same audience. Full of boy humor and the dangers and guffaws of football, romance (did you know when a girl kicks you in the shin she likes you?), and teamwork. This fun read will grab your Captain Underpants and Timmy Failure readers. Start collecting the whole series. Cross posted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com CHECK IT OUT!

Love this series for my sport-loving students.