Peg Glisson (Children's Literature)
Overwhelmed by the prospect of summer vacation with their five boys ages ten and under, Will and Marty's parents decide the older two will spend several afternoons a week reading at the library. The boys think this is a punishment worse than death, for every kid in town knows that the "lovely old" librarian uses a gas-powered spud gun that can fire a potato half-way across the library to make kids behave, keeping them on the small carpet in the children's area, and limiting them to reading the four shelves of books there. After several boring afternoons of sitting on the carpet, pretending to read, and a couple of run-ins with Spud (although none with her infamous gun), they start actually reading the words in the books. Sucked in by the magic and adventure, the boys become converts to reading and libraries. Narrated by young Will, Colfer's latest is an easy read, with several amusing moments. His skill as a storyteller holds up a rather weak plot. The adroit writing allows young readers to "see" Mrs. Murphy and travel with both Will and Marty as each eventually travels beyond the patterned carpet, although not necessarily for the right reasons. Certainly not a conventional librarian (at least I hope not!), Mrs. Murphy has a rational for her behavior and a sense of humor to boot. Put this in the hands of a young reluctant reader, and he or she may well be a convert too. 2004, Hyperion Books for Children, $12.95. Ages 7 to 10.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, August 15, 2004 (Vol. 72, No. 16))
Being one of five brothers isn't easy on Will Woodman. He's in the upper middle, so he's too young to be in charge and too old to escape blame through strategic use of cuteness. He and his elder brother Marty are mortified when their parents decide to drop them off at the library a few times a week. They're mortified because Spud Murphy is their town librarian, and she hates children. She makes youngsters stay in the children's area, which is in front of a single shelf of kids' books on a small square of carpet. Marty tests Spud and ends up with a very embarrassing stamp in permanent ink on his arm. The boys accidentally discover that reading is fun and quickly exhaust the children's books. When shy Will breaks library rules in search of a new book, Spud's reaction and Will's punishment are nothing like he expected. Colfer aims at a younger audience and hilariously hits the mark. Spud-er, Angela-Murphy is not a stereotypical librarian by any stretch, and young readers will hoot over Will's wry narration. 2004, Hyperion, 40p, $12.95. Category: Fiction. Ages 7 to 12. © 2004 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Anne Hanson (Library Media Connection, February 2005)
Spud the librarian embodies the spirit of The Library Dragon (Peachtree Publishers, 1994), The Librarian from the Black Lagoon (Cartwheel Books, 1997), and characters from the Captain Underpants series (Blue Sky Press (Scholastic, Inc.)). She's onto every trick Will and Marty perpetrate in the public library when they are forced by their parents to spend several hours a day there to do something educational during summer vacation. Spud is deft with her rubber stamp and her eagle eye recognizes any book out of place. She has very strict and child un-friendly rules, which she rigorously enforces. The boys are bored silly until they start to read the books in the children's section, and then time seems to fly every day. After the boys have read every title there, they sneak into the adult section for more reading. When Will stands in front of her desk to reap the consequences of that action, Spud hands him a new library card that will allow him to read any book in the library, after she checks to be sure it's "suitable." Spud promises to expand the children's section and to be less restrictive in the future, and Will is invited to call her "Angela" by the end of the story. This funny, action-packed story would be an excellent read-aloud in any library setting. Recommended. 2004, Hyperion Books for Children/Disney Publishing Worldwide, 40pp., $12.95 hc. Ages 8 to 11.