Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians

 

Krosoczka, Jarrett J. 2009. Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 9780375946844

 

Brief Plot Summary: 

 

Something is not right in the library.  The librarians have become secretive and a group of students are determined to find out what they are hiding.  With the help of the Lunch Lady and her secret gadgets, they set out to uncover a plot that would threaten the entertainment of kids everywhere.

 

Critical analysis:

 It is easy to identify with the evil-fighting protagonists in Lunch Lady and the League of the Librarians. Who doesn’t want to see the crime-fighting hero with special gadgets and powers to defeat the evil teacher (in this case, librarian)?  The nature of the graphic novel allows readers to easily suspend belief and not question characters that jump out of books to fight the heroes. 

 

This ingenious plot describing a subculture of crime fighters against villains within the staff of a school is both original and creative.  The school’s setting is sure to appeal to all school-age readers, making it an integral part of the story.  The plot to steal a coveted video game will definitely resonate with boys who eagerly await the release of such games.

 

The traditional theme of good versus evil is readily apparent The satisfying ending will leave readers wanting to read more about the resourceful Lunch Lady.  The writing is clear and concise and the graphics lend the right amount of drama to the story, especially in the “fight” scenes as the book characters are unleashed by the librarians as they fight the students and Lunch Lady.

 

Awards won: 

 

WINNER 2010 - Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices

 

Review Excerpts:

 School Library Journal

 

When not serving up French fries and gravy to students, Lunch Lady escapes to her secret kitchen lair to lead the life of a crime fighter. Using an assortment of lunch-themed gadgets (created by her sidekick Betty), she is definitely a quirky superhero. Tipped off by the "Breakfast Bunch" (three students who discovered Lunch Lady's crime-fighting alter ego in Book 1), she attempts to foil the plans of the evil "League of Librarians," who seek to destroy all video games. The black-and-white pen-and-ink illustrations have splashes of yellow in nearly every panel. The clean layout, featuring lots of open space, is well suited for the intended audience. Terrence, Hector, and Dee become more developed in this second installment in the series, especially Dee, who asserts herself as the strong-willed leader of the group. The winking references to book fairs, read-a-thon enrollment, and media specialists fit well with the story line. With its appealing mix of action and humor, this clever, entertaining addition to the series should have wide appeal.

 

Jonker, Travis1. 2009. "Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians." School Library Journal 55, no. 9: 188. Library & Information Science Source, EBSCOhost (accessed July 29, 2013).

 

Connections:

Other books by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

 

Lunch Lady series

Goodnight, Monkey Boy

Baghead

Platypus Police Squad:  The Frog Who Croaked