Prince of Underwhere

January 28, 2008
The author of the Chet Gecko mysteries launches a new series, billed as half comic/half novel—Hugo Cabret
, however, this is not, nor, for that matter, is it Captain Underpants. A trio of kids discovers Underwhere, which, as narrator Zeke feels compelled to specify, is “the place, not the tighty-whities. I already know about those.” It seems that Zeke, his twin sister and best friend tumble into a “black hole” in a partially constructed house and land in an underground realm, where the zombie-like Undies (who wear their underwear on the outside) proclaim Zeke the “lost prince of Underwhere” and give him a 21-bun salute, then explain that he must “free the land from under the Underlord's cruel butt.” The text cedes to a gray-scale graphic novel style whenever the kids descend to Underwhere; the pictures, surprisingly, skimp on humor and try for heavy-duty action. For readers who find wedgies, mooning and the like intrinsically funny, this book is good news; everyone else, stand warned. Ages 8-12.

July 1, 2008
Gr 3-6-Zeke and Stephanie's Great-aunt Zenobia has disappeared, and the family has received a number of her belongings, including an old-fashioned toilet and a letter. As the twins are fighting over who gets to use it for a family-history project, two "agents" appear at their door, investigating unusual happenings in the neighborhood. The kids' cat takes advantage of the open door and escapes with the coveted letter in his mouth. Zeke, Stephanie, and their friend Hector chase Fitz, and all four fall down a hole into the land of Underwhere. Here, the story shifts to graphic novel format as readers meet its residents, who wear their undies on top of their clothes and believe that Zeke is a prince who has come to save them from the Underlord. The remainder of the book is a jumble of bathroom humor and rollicking adventure; the children travel back and forth between home and Underwhere several times, taking on zombies, thunder lizards, and eventually the Underlord, who is disguised as a rap star. A talking cat, a last-minute science project, and those pesky agents complicate the tale. While the mixed format is innovative, characters and objects in the illustrations are sometimes difficult to distinguish. The ending is clearly a setup for the next adventure."Amanda Moss, Maywood Elementary School, Monona, WI"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2008
Twins Zeke (who narrates Prince) and Stephanie (Pirates) fall into Underwhere, an underground kingdom whose inhabitants think Zeke is a prince. In each book, the texts are interspersed with comics-style panels and screenplay scenes that continue the action. Though the plots are forgettable, the dynamic format may appeal to reluctant readers who might also enjoy the frequent puns and underwear humor.

(Copyright 2008 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)