cbr16bingo Bananas
I could have picked disco as there is a disco dancing math teacher, but I picked Bananas just because the whole thing is nuts. It is Humor 101. This should have ice cream and nuts and cherry on top. It is funny, it is sweet, it is not fattening, and you might even lose a few pounds laughing your buns off!
Heebie Jeebies by Matthew Erman and illustrated by Shelby Criswell is not my OMG favorite ever book, and is more of a 3.5 than “pure” 4 rating, but liked the art (bold, bright, simple in a minimalistic form but still gives you what is needed to support things), and the quick flow of the story and the humor. Okay, it might be a smidgen of “boy humor” and not completely “un-crude” but it does the trick. The theme of “Being Rich Equals Power” is not new, but I couldn’t help wanting to see how our main character Blue learns this lesson.
The idea is simple enough. Two misfits, Blue and Herschel, find each other in one of oddest of ways imaginable: Herschel sneaks back into his old classroom on the first day of school, meets Blue, is told to go back to his classroom, and in the meantime they become buddies, and then Herschel is held back a year so they are in the same grade. They are the Ying to the others Yang. The Frick to the others Frack. The Ding to the others Dong.
And one day, they are tricked by the local bullies that there is a treasure in the school. A treasure that had been buried with the owner, a mean man who created their school to try and cover up his misdeeds. The thing is, there really is a treasure and it is guarded by some interesting ghosts! A former principal, a groovy disco dancing math teacher, a librarian and her pooch, and even a ghost-girl who takes a liking to Herschel. Plu, the “they are bananas” cast continues.
The idea of “I will have power because I am rich” is then what causes the downfall of each person before the gang (there is a janitor who has a connection with the past as well) tries for the gold. But like any game, there are traps and perel that they must overcome. Like the one of how Blue feels less than because he physically does not have a lot of material wealth. Of course we know Blue will realize they have the most power with the love of his mom, his friends and his own spunk. 
I was a little surprised to learn that the illustrations were by Shelby Criswell (of Queer as All Get Out: 10 People Who’ve Inspired Me for at least ages 13-14 up), as the style didn’t completely say “Criswell” to me, but by the time I finished reading I was seeing it. Therefore, if you’re not a huge fan of them, that is fine, this is different enough not to be repetitive, but still if you are a fan, their style is there. I am curious to find more of Erman’s titles and their other collaboration with Criswell, Terminal Punks.
Due September 2024, read via an online reader copy.