The Wizzle War. [Former title The War With Mr. Wizzle.] (Macdonald Hall Series). Gordon Korman. Markham, ON: Scholastic Canada, 1982/2003. 215 pp., pbk., $6.99. ISBN 0-439-96902-6. Subject Headings: Boarding schools-Juvenile fiction. Problem solving-Juvenile fiction. Grades 4-7 / Ages 9-12. Review by Ann Ketcheson. **** /4

excerpt:

"Look at this, Mildred," chuckled the Headmaster over the breakfast table. "It's the greatest cartoon I've ever seen!" In the middle of The Macdonald Hall Free Press was a drawing of a computer with evil eyes, sharp teeth and a menacing expression. Around its neck was a wide tie clearly marked WizzleWare. The tie acted as a leash, and was being held by a little man wearing a T-shirt that said Call Me Wiz. In the foreground was the Faculty Building of Macdonald Hall. The computer was spewing a black cloud, which hung over it.

Just what a boys' school doesn't need: a dress code, demerit points, psychological testing and surprise inspections in the dormitory. No wonder Boots, Bruno and their Macdonald Hall friends are upset! And the girls next door at Miss Scrimmage's Finishing School have a similar problem: Miss Peabody, who's keen on calisthenics for all the girls at 6:30 a.m. and who assigns laps of the track for misbehavior. The novel revolves around the students' efforts to get rid of Mr. Wizzle and Miss Peabody. Wizzle's computer paper is hijacked and his house is a subject to mysterious "earthquakes." Peabody takes a direct hit in the girls' paint war. Nothing, however, seems to deter this duo from making student life miserable. Then suddenly, the Student Coalition has a collective brainwave! Wizzle and Peabody should get rid of one another - in the nicest possible way, of course!

     Once again, Gordon Korman takes readers through the madcap mayhem of life at two weird and wonderful private schools. There are adventures galore - plenty to keep even a reluctant reader turning pages. The Wizzle War, originally published as The War With Mr. Wizzle, was first copyrighted in 1982. A timeless story, its high jinks and nonsense are as fresh as ever!

Highly Recommended.

Ann Ketcheson, a former high school teacher of English and French, is currently the teacher-librarian at Peterborough Collegiate in Peterborough, ON.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

Hosted by the University of Manitoba.

 

NEXT REVIEW |TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - February 13, 2004.

AUTHORS | TITLES | MEDIA REVIEWS | PROFILES | BACK ISSUES | SEARCH | CMARCHIVE | HOME