Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, May 1, 2007 (Vol. 75, No. 9))
Another zany adventure unfolds in a startlingly odd alternate universe showcasing Ruby's humorous narration and including characters from The Wall and the Wing (2006.) Bug and Gurl haven't been close since Gurl became Georgie, "The Richest Girl in the World," and landed with a loving family. Bug won a city-wide Flyfest contest and has been doing one commercial after another to be independent of Sweetcheeks Grabowski, his criminal father. Bullied and teased by the "Second Richest Girl in the World," Georgie breaks her promise not to use her invisible powers and finds herself in deep trouble as the Professor's misplaced pen causes trouble. Hungry giant sloths called Kong, vampires who love bagels, Punk aka Mandelbrot, Mr. Fussy and crows who transform into book-club-attending old ladies are just some of the unusual characters who keep the action firing and the suspense building. Having read the first book isn't required, but would be encouraged, as this is definitely a sequel in tone and style. Grand amusement for the hip and clever. 2007, Eos/HarperCollins, 336p, $16.99. Category: Fiction. Ages 13 up. © 2007 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Cara Chancellor (KLIATT Review, May 2007 (Vol. 41, No. 3))
Georgetta Rose Aster Bloomington has had a stranger life than most, and she’s only in high school. That’s because “Georgie,” as she’s now known, can make herself invisible. As if Georgie’s life wasn’t complicated enough, undeniably odd things have started to happen. First, her best friend Bug gets snatched off a dock by a giant octopus. Then, a mutant “punk” breaks through her parents’ state-of-the-art security system and into her bedroom... to invite her to his art exhibit. Finally, a vampire wearing a decidedly fabulous pair of pants keeps making midnight visits to Georgie’s bedroom window to offer her stale poppy-seed bagels. Georgie and Bug suspect the curious happenings have something to do with their even more curious friend, The Professor, and a magical pen he created--and subsequently misplaced. With The Professor missing, though, and Georgie and Bug increasingly getting caught up in newfound fame and high school romances, they’re not entirely sure they have the time to save the world...if they even have the ability! Ruby’s book is an adventurous work of fantasy set within “the real world,” where elevators and brand-name sneakers co-exist with flying humans and animated statuary. The Chaos King is a wonderful story about how being different can be infinitely preferable to being ordinarily beautiful or talented, and Ruby’s off-the-wall writing style and infinite imagination make the lesson fun to learn. Category: Hardcover Fiction. KLIATT Codes: JS--Recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2007, HarperCollins, 325p., $16.99. Ages 12 to 18.

Lu Ann Staheli (Library Media Connection, November/December 2007)
Georgie is the only person in the world who can become invisible whenever she wants, except now her parents have forbidden her to use her powers. Maybe her life was better before she found her parents and became the Richest Girl in the Universe. At least then she wasn't the target of a madman who called himself The King of Chaos. Throw in a pack of vampires, a living stone lion, and a candy-loving sloth, and Georgie has her hands full just trying to survive. The story is filled with adventure. Georgie's history seems perhaps a bit too much like that of the boy wizard to whom she refers, and the mixture of magical elements, vampires, romance, and fantasy creatures is often confusing. Additional Selection. 2007, HarperCollins, 336pp., $16.99 hc. Ages 7 to 12.

April Spisak (The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, September 2007 (Vol. 61, No. 1))
In this sequel to The Wall and the Wing (BCCB 4/06), Gurl has taken up her old name, Georgie, and a challenging new life with her loving but oblivious parents (the richest people in the world). Her old friend Bug is also trying to establish a new life: the impressive flying champion is now considered advertising gold, but he is still haunted by his criminal father’s legacy. Worst of all, the two formerly close pals have fallen out of touch, each fearing the new role will put off the old friend. So they suffer alone, Georgie at her snobby new school, and Bug under the blatantly self-serving tutelage of his manager, until increasingly odd events lead them both to believe that the magical pen they thought was well hidden has been found and is now being used to influence the world. Thank goodness for bizarre incidents, as Bug and Georgie together are hilarious, freewheeling, and foolhardy, and with their combined talents and strong friendship, they are easily a match for chaos. Though a few of the oddball characters from the earlier novel wear a bit thin under repetition, most of the humor is still fresh and quirky. In addition, Ruby’s impeccable knack for developing characters with whom readers will identify and empathize complements the absurdity nicely to form a novel that is both amusing and emotionally taut. As an unexpected sequel (the earlier volume seemed to wrap up all loose ends), this is a rare treat: an update that requires little exposition and is nearly as memorable and ironic as its predecessor. Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2006, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2007, Eos/HarperCollins, 325p, $17.89 and $16.99. Grades 5-7.

Arlene Garcia (VOYA, June 2007 (Vol. 30, No. 2))
Books aren't supposed to be fun," says the crow-like Mrs. Vorona in this sequel to The Wall and the Wing (Eos/HarperCollins, 2006/VOYA February 2006). Ruby proves yet again that books are indeed just the opposite-wicked, clever fun. Readers who loved Bug and Gurl from their first adventure will welcome them back for this latest, equally audacious romp. Bug is now adjusting to life as a superstar corporate spokesperson, and Gurl-now Georgie-must cope with being the Richest Girl in the Universe. Both are finding that fame and money are not all that they are cracked up to be when weird (well, weirder) things begin to happen in their already strange, alternative New York. Besieged by re-animated prehistoric behemoths, Bug and Georgie team up again to track down the mysterious Pen and equally mysterious Book of The Undead and restore them to their rightful owner, who happens to be missing, before the world falls to the forces of Chaos. Other colorful characters from the first book return, including the Answer Hand, Noodle the net-surfing cat, and the ingeniously named Pinkwater's Momentary Lapse of Concentration, C.D. Number 14. But Ruby does not rely on names alone to give her hero and heroine life. Georgie is a strong young woman whose intelligence and resourcefulness proves more powerful than the vapid beauty of a Paris Hilton wannabe. Biting but subtle social commentary and homage to pop culture make this book perfect for adult fans of Harry Potter. In a time when teen fantasy novels proliferate, this series is an exceptional standout. VOYA CODES: 5Q 4P M J (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2007, Eos/HarperCollins, 336p., $16.99 and PLB $17.89. Ages 11 to 15.