TJ and the Time Stumblers: AAAARGH!

AAAARGH! is the unusual title of book two in Bill Myers series, TJ and the Time Stumblers. Myers, author of the popular Eighties series, McGee and Me, still uses humor and creativity to teach character-building lessons.

TJ Finkelstein is having a hard time adjusting to life as a junior high student in Malibu, California. After her mother died, TJ, and her family move from small-town Missouri to Malibu. Life in Malibu is not at all the same, and to make matters worse, she is being shadowed by Herby and Tuna, two annoying, miniature boys from the future.

Herby and Tuna have come back in time to study TJ, since she is an important, historical figure in the 23rd century. However, they use faulty equipment, don't understand life in the 21st century, and generally make TJ's life more difficult. When pirates blast holes through TJ's bedroom walls, or get stuck in her locker at school, it is up to Herby and Tuna to reset time and fix the present. In the midst of many unusual events, TJ has an opportunity to cheat in her English class. She has no idea making one little wrong choice will lead to such dire consequences.

Unbeknownst to TJ, her cute neighbor, Chad, is faced with a similar dilemma. Even though he is a professional surfer, he may not win the next competition without the help of a mechanically enhanced surf board his friend made for him.

Herby and Tuna show TJ and Chad just how serious cheating can be. Plot Spoiler Ahead: Herby and Tuna provide powerful glimpses of a terrible future, and eventually, both TJ and Chad make the right choice.

What I Like: Although the topic is serious, Tuna and Herby's mischief leads to some hilarious mishaps for TJ. We used this as our family "read-aloud", and both my ten-year-old and seven-year-old laughed hysterically, more than once. My son (age seven) said he liked the glimpses of the future the best, and my daughter liked the "crazy zworkedness and torkedness." (Did I mention, Myers makes up words, writes words backwards, writes words up and down, and uses tons of sound effects?)

As a mom, I appreciate how clearly Myers shows long-term consequences of the choices we make. We see how choosing to do something you know is wrong can lead to poor character and a lifetime of regret.

What I Dislike: Even though my kids got a kick out of the sound effects and goofy use of text, I found it annoying to read, especially aloud.

Also, none of us liked the cliff-hanger ending. Although we know TJ is going to confess to cheating, we never see how her teacher handles her confession. We also don't know whether TJ and Chad actually become friends, and we don't see how TJ's rival, Elizabeth, handles knowing TJ won't write papers for her. I guess we will have to read book three!

Overall Rating: Very good

Age Appeal: 8 and up

Publisher Info: Tyndale; 2011; ISBN:978-1-4143-3454-7 ; Paperback, 188 pages, $6.99

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TJ and the Time Stumblers: OOPS!

OOPS!, is the third book in Bill Myers series TJ and the Time Stumblers. Everyone at school thinks TJ -- a.k.a. "Thelma Jean" or "The New Kid" -- is crazy or an alien. This could be because she carries on a running dialog with two invisible time travelers from the 23rd century who've come to train her to be a great world leader.

This book opens with the seventh-grader and her time traveling buddies being chased through the school by a British-accented African elephant. As is typical for TJ, things only get worse from there.

Through a course of snowballing catastrophes and monumental embarrassments, TJ discovers that what she thinks really matters. In her case, this is evidenced (among other things) by a malfunctioning "Thought Broadcaster Pen." At first the broken device simply relays everyone's thoughts through cell phones, but before long it actually transforms people into what TJ thinks of them. (Picture big babies, jittery puppets and chickens.) TJ's dad and her new friend, Chad, remind her that "each of us is God's creation" and "we all need to be loved."

But can TJ really control her thoughts? At what cost to life, limb and the future of the human race?

What I Like: Everything about this book is attractive to the target audience. It's wacky, entertaining, and moves at a good pace. The text includes changes in font and appearance. Action and humor begin on page one and continue to the end. I like the encouragement to be positive toward others both in words and in thoughts; the assertion that everyone was created by God and that they just want to be loved. I appreciate the explanation that many people can behave in arrogant or odd ways out of insecurity.

What I Dislike: The point of the book is to think and speak well of others, but the author consistently employs stereotypes with a snarky tone. This even extends to the names of characters including Bruiseabone, Mindlessfan and Tauntalot. This seems contradictory.

The overuse of caricatures and the silliness in the story seem to overshadow the message (which, by the way, isn't introduced until halfway through the book). I would have loved to see more emphasis on the point and less on the nonsense. An included Scripture passage (Philippians 4:8, for example), perhaps in a note from the author, would also solidify the truth behind the book's moral.

Also, I hesitate mentioning this, but I don't like the cover. The illustration accentuates TJ's breasts and the title is nearly indiscernible

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: 8-12

Publisher Info: Tyndale House, 2011; ISBN: 1414334559; Paperback; 160 pages; $6.99

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Special Info: See our reviews of other books by this author, including some in this series.

TJ and the Time Stumblers: New Kid Catastrophes

T.J. Finkelstein has a lot going on in her life. Her mother died, so her family has just moved from the Midwest to California to get a fresh start. That means T.J. has to start a new school, make new friends, and still do the cooking. To make matters worse, some time traveling students from the 23rd century have stopped at her doorstop to study her for their history project. The only problem is they keep interfering with her life.

Those familiar with Bill Myers’ writing style from Wally McDoogle books like My Life as a Tarantula Toe Tickler or My Life as a Smashed Burrito With Extra Hot Sauce, will find New Kid Catastrophes (T.J. and the Time Stumblers) written in like manner. The story is peppered with sound effects, such as chug-a-chug-a choke-a-CHOKE-a cough-COUGH-cough (the sound of the time travel pod running out of fuel) or blah-blah-blah- BLAH-blah-blah- blah-BLAH-blah (the sound of the snobbish girl Hesper talking on her cell phone). It follows T.J. as she tries to fit into her new life and junior high. No thanks to the time travelers, she fails miserably. (The time travelers accidentally turn friends into goldfish, students into flies, a science project into a killer kitty, and wreak all kinds of havoc.)

T.J. soon crosses paths with Hesper, teen star of the Dizzy channel. When a ball pops out of T.J.’s hands in PE class and breaks Hesper’s nose, T.J. becomes the target of great ire.

It’s fast-paced entertainment filled to the brim with humor.

What I Like: I always appreciate humor, and Bill Myers creates crazy, laugh-out-loud situations and comments. It makes for a fast read. Also, my son is a big Bill Myers fan, and that means a lot to me as a reviewer.

What I Dislike: The story is entertaining, but low on the faith aspect. That’s not a bad thing, it just depends on what you are looking for in a book. If it’s a clean, humorous story you want, yes, this is a great choice. If you want a story with a big take-away value, you might consider something else. Though written with a moral worldview, Page 127 is the first and only mention of anything related to Christianity in the book. Also, I was bothered by some stereotypes in the book. For example, the rich, beautiful girl is a self-centered snob. The smart boy is a geek who suffers from allergies and dresses in Goodwill rejects. Sigh. In addition, the story doesn’t provide closure. That’s probably because there are more books in the series to follow, which will bring about a more satisfying ending.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: Recommended for ages 8 and up. Main character is junior high school age.

Publisher Info: Tyndale Kids, 2011; ISBN:978-1414334530; Paperback,192 pgs., $6.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $5.99
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Special Info: Read a CCBR review of the second book in this series, as well as reviews of other books written by Bill Myers.