The Greatest Kid in the World

July 15, 2023
Do you have to be good to be great? Twelve-year-old Zeke Stahls wants to be good--or rather, he wants to want to be good, but he has an irrepressible mischievous streak. He is a dreamer and a schemer, both qualities that can lead to greatness but that, in Zeke's hands, look more like a series of escalating pranks. Though certainly innovative, these hijinks do not endear him to his teachers and frequently cause his mother, a hardworking single parent, to clean up his messes--literally and figuratively. So it's surprising to Zeke when he receives a letter from Gordon Notts, charitable programming director of the Klein Agency for the Betterment of All Mankind, inviting him to participate in a competition for the title of World's Greatest Kid. Aware that he's no kind of altruist, Zeke disregards the letter, but when Gordon Notts appears on his doorstep, Zeke is presented with a complex problem--a Gordian knot, if you will: Should he participate in an impossible contest on the off chance that he could win the $10,000 prize his family desperately needs? Of course he should. There is no shortage of enjoyable golden-hearted rascal stories in middle-grade fiction, and this one stands comfortably among them. Though readers will find no big surprises here, the character development, pacing, and writing are strong, making it an enjoyable read. Zeke and his family read white. The world's OK-est kid makes good in this fun romp. (Fiction. 8-12)

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September 1, 2023
Twelve-year-old Zeke Stahler learns that he is a finalist in the "Greatest Kid in the World" contest. Zeke is pretty sure it's a mistake -- as are his sister, mother, and friends. Although he's whip smart and equipped with a great imagination, Zeke's penchant for outlandish pranks (think creating a zipline from his roof with a ladder, an extension cord, and a tennis racket) keeps him in constant trouble at home and school. But when he finds out that the contest's grand prize is ten thousand dollars, he thinks of his overworked mother trying to support their cash-strapped family, and of the air conditioner that isn't working and the LEGO set his younger brother so desperately wants. Oh, and there's also an all-expense-paid trip to Hawaii thrown in for the contest winner. Zeke decides to go for it. Less about the outcome of the contest and more about Zeke's self-discovery, this novel raises a powerful question: what is the measure of an individual? Anderson (Riley's Ghost, rev. 1/22) subtly drops hints about the family's earlier life and the situation of Zeke's now-absent father, asking readers to infer the circumstances. As advice comes from many characters, Zeke tries to decide what makes a great kid; readers may want to determine that for themselves. Betty Carter

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

October 20, 2023

Gr 3-7-Life offers very few second chances or opportunities to make amends. Twelve-year old troublemaker Ezekiel "Zeke" Stahls does not even realize he needs to atone until he is offered an exclusive spot in the Greatest Kid in the World competition. This competition is sort of like "America's Got Talent," where videos capture a week's worth of greatness and viewers log in to vote. Zeke, an endearing yet unrepentant prankster, plans to scheme his way into winning the contest (and its impressive prize) through trickery. But as the competition gets more serious, Zeke finds himself growing up and getting honest about who he is, and how his behavior affects the people who love him. Anderson crafts a prankster with a heart of gold desperately seeking attention and some joie de vivre. This text could be used in social-emotional lessons about family dynamics, guilt, grief, and how certain friend groups negatively impact decision-making. Rambunctious middle schoolers will be drawn to Zeke's humor and high jinks. VERDICT Although resembling Gordon Korman's Restart and Ungifted, Anderson's latest aims to infuse more kindness in the world by recognizing how one's actions impact others.-Laura Dooley-Taylor

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 20, 2023
Grades 4-7 Twelve-year-old Zeke lives with his mother, his older sister, and his younger brother. More than three years after Dad's death in an accident, the family is barely getting by, financially and emotionally as well. Generally considered a smart, creative, mischievous boy with a liking for stunts and pranks, even Zeke thinks it's ludicrous when he is named a finalist in "the Greatest Kid in the World competition." The process of being filmed by a cameraman for several days makes Zeke question his enjoyment of risky challenges and reflect more on his actions. Maybe he's endangering his adoring brother. Maybe he's being unfair to Jackie. Almost certainly, he's letting his mother down. What kind of person does he really want to be? The author of Ms. Bixby's Last Day (2016), Posted (2017), and Riley's Ghost (2022), Anderson portrays a middle-school kid with problems as well as untapped resources that can help him pull through. The novel's premise and the understated wit of Zeke's engaging first person narrative make this title easy to booktalk and rewarding to read.

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