Lubar, David. Punished! Darby Creek Pub., 2006. ISBN 9781581960631. $4.99. 96 p.
Reviewer: Sandra L. Tidwell
Reading Level: Intermediate
Rating: Excellent
Genre: Fantasy fiction;
Subject: Boys--Juvenile fiction; Friendship--Juvenile fiction; Word games--Juvenile fiction; Books--Reviews;
Logan, who would much rather be playing baseball, accompanies his best friend Benedict to the library to work on a report that is due in two weeks. When the boys take time out for a little game of tag before getting down to serious researching, Logan accidentally runs into a mysterious old gentleman. To punish the boy's inappropriate behavior in the library, the gentleman blows some "magic" dust from an old book on to Logan's face. Soon Logan discovers that whenever he talks he speaks in puns. At first it is funny, but when every response, even in school, comes out as a silly pun, he is headed for big trouble with his teacher and with his best friend. He must break the magic spell, so he goes back to the library searching for the old gentleman. The man, Professor Robert Wordsworth, tells Logan he must pass three "tests" before his speech patterns will return to normal. He must find seven oxymorons in a specified time, then seven anagrams, and finally seven palindromes.
This quick read provides a creative way to introduce children to the above mentioned specific language patterns. The cover illustration by Sheban is appropriately inviting. An enjoyable fantasy to help make learning about oxymorons, anagrams, and palindromes fun for children in school or at home.
Volume 28, no. 3 (Jan/Feb 2008)
