Richard W. Jennings (1)

Stephanie Zvirin (Booklist, Sep. 15, 2003 (Vol. 100, No. 2))
Quirky is the operative word for Jennings' previous novels, and this one is possibly the most outrageously imaginative yet. The curious cover photo--a grasshopper, a pile of popcorn, and a piece of plaid fabric--sets the tone for not one mystery as the title implies, but three: What happened to Mr. Farley, Mt. Mole Middle School's disagreeable assistant principal? What's that rumbling issuing from Mt. Mole, the odd, solitary mound show more rising from the flatlands surrounding the town that takes its name? And who is Andrew J. Forrest's father? Precocious, 13-year-old Andy, whose vocabulary and dreamy philosophizing makes him seem like a grown-up stuck in middle school by mistake (except when pretty Georgia Wayne is around) is the narrator here, a bumbling, truly dedicated fan of both Mt. Mole and the odd characters (Andy being one himself) who live there. Before the separate stories come together in one literally slam-bang conclusion, readers are treated to lots of tongue-in-cheek humor and some genuine surprises revolving around the larger-than-life Mt. Mole populace and the small town in which they live. It's a large-hearted entertaining burlesque, set in a world apart yet still very recognizable. Category: Books for Older Readers--Fiction. 2003, Houghton/Walter Lorraine, $15. Gr. 6-9. (CLCD) show less

Imagine being the last teenager in town. Spencer Adams Honesty knows because he and his mom are the last two people in Paisley, Kansas. The school is 30 miles away so he is homeschooled, sort of. To while away the hours, he photographs the town with his ghost camera, so named because each roll of film developed mysteriously includes photos of former/deceased residents. He also converses with his imaginary friend, Chief Leopard Frog, who carves good-luck talismans from bee burl wood and show more writes bad poetry. Things were getting dull in Paisley, but as the old saying goes, “beware of what you wish for”. Looking through a mail order catalog, Uncle Milton’s Thousand Things You Thought You’d Never Find, Spencer sees a listing for a ghost camera. He writes to Uncle Milton, receives a zany response and soon a correspondence and business develop. Things begin to get busy. More busy than Spencer ever imagined, and not necessarily in a good way.
Ghost Town will make you chuckle. It is filled with ghosts in photographs, good-luck talismans providing bad luck, pumpkins that look like celebrities and a smash hit book of bad poetry call Burl Hives. Spencer’s activities are humorous, the results sometimes bone shattering. Uncle Milton never appears, however his letters are hilarious. Chief Leopard Frog is wise, despite his lack physical presence and poetic talent. There is adventure and romance, fun and action. Jennings has a talent for humor and middle school boys and girls will smile as they read Ghost Town. show less

When a wounded wild rabbit is found in the front yard, he is given a good home and a memorable name by a twelve-year-old with a liking for basketball, the trombone, and the newspaper’s daily horoscope.
But Orwell is no ordinary rabbit. It soon seems that he is attempting to reward his young caretaker by mysteriously sending coded messages in the form of the final score of the Super Bowl, advance notice of a pop quiz at school, tomorrow’s winning lottery number! Can this little rabbit show more foretell the future? Can Orwell actually make luck happen?
Here is a magical and heartwarming story about kindness, friendship, and hope in the shadow of fortune’s ever-turning wheel. show less

Surreal and sweet. Almost *L*iterary, as there are gimmicks like not naming any of the characters (except the rabbit) or their location (except, a small town or suburb along a pipeline somewhere between Oklahoma and Detroit). For open-minded readers looking for something different.

Also for youth discussion groups:

Since everything changes all the time, is there such a thing as luck?
See also: [b:Fortunately|349389|Fortunately|Remy show more Charlip|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1277756567s/349389.jpg|339659] by [a:Remy Charlip|27552|Remy Charlip|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1311577404p2/27552.jpg].

Should we live by science, making our choices logically? Or can we make our own luck? Or is everything set by destiny? Is it justifiable to read horoscopes or buy lottery tickets? show less