  | Wiff and Dirty George : the Z.E.B.R.A. incident Author: Swinburne, Stephen R. | |
| Price: $6.50 | ||
Summary:
In 1969 London, 12-year-old friends Wiff and Dirty George try to stop a master criminal from taking over England.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 4.60 Points: 5.0 Quiz: 136356 | Reading Counts Information: Interest Level: 3-5 Reading Level: 4.50 Points: 3.0 Quiz: 49458 | |
Common Core Standards
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → 4.RL Key Ideas & Details
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → 4.RL Range of Reading & Level of Text Complexity
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → 4.RL Craft & Structure
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → 4.RL Integration & Knowledge of Ideas
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → Texts Illustrating the Complexity, Quality, & Rang
Grade 5 → Reading → RL Literature → 5.RL Key Ideas & Details
Grade 5 → Reading → RL Literature → 5.RL Integration & Knowledge of Ideas
Grade 5 → Reading → RL Literature → Texts Illustrating the Complexity, Quality, & Rang
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (02/15/10)
School Library Journal (04/01/10)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (04/10)
Full Text Reviews:
Bulletin for the Center... - 04/01/2010 London in 1969 was a trippy place, no doubt, but it’s made even more psychedelic with the adventures of Wiff and Dirty George, two twelve-year-olds who follow their noses into a world of trouble. While on a morning train, the boys are slightly horrified when everyone’s pants fall down, but instead of worrying overmuch about their own embarrassment, they take off after the large white rabbit who seems to be the instigator of the mass humiliation. Instead of their catching him, he catches them; with instincts honed through countless encounters with bullies, they give him the slip and the chase is on. Coincidently, the supervillain behind the mayhem turns out to be Wiff’s long-lost uncle, bent on a mission of revenge against all of England for past wrongs. His fondness for rabbits, which prompts him to make rabbit suits the uniform for all of his henchpeople, is only one of his eccentricities, and Wiff and Dirty George find themselves in a James Bond-like secret lair full of weird gadgetry and an even weirder girl who turns into a reluctant ally. General silliness seems to surround these boys, with Wiff and Dirty George contributing no small share; they and all their friends and foes are characters in every sense of the word. The humor is more situational than verbal; the characters are all comedic straight men in a twisted, absurd world, completely unaware of how off-center they really are. Their particular quirks of course come in handy in a save-the-queen sort of way, and the open ending promises more wacky adventures to come. Delightfully daft “clues” precede each chapter, and a glossary of Britishisms will help young Yanks navigate the dialect. KC - Copyright 2010 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.
School Library Journal - 04/01/2010 Gr 4–6— In 1960s London, Wiff and Dirty George, 12-year-old friends, inadvertently stumble upon a mad scientist's plot for world domination. When the man proves to be one of Wiff's long-lost relatives, the boys embark on a mission to discover his secret lair and upset his nefarious schemes. Wacky adventures ensue as they are imprisoned in glass bubbles by henchmen in rabbit suits. They escape with the help of a would-be princess, just in time to foil the villain's plan to kidnap the Queen of England. This novel is light on character development but strong in fun plot elements. Swinburne employs just enough British terminology to establish the setting, without overwhelming readers with unfamiliar terms. Hand this book to fans of Wendelin Van Draanen's "Shredderman" series (Knopf) and books featuring best friends who land in weird situations.—Misti Tidman, Boyd County Public Library, Ashland, KY - Copyright 2010 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
