BIBLIOGRAPHY
Krosoczka, Jarrett J. Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. ISBN: 9780375960949
SUMMARY
Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta by Jarrett Kroscozka's followed the continuing saga from other books in the series about Lunch Lady. In this particular graphic novel, an author visited the school, and after he left, the gym teacher disappeared from the school and didn't return the next day. This led the Lunch Lady and her sidekick, Betty, on a search for the gym teacher, and along the way, they discovered that other gym teachers had disappeared across the country after the same author had visited other schools. After this discovery, the Lunch Lady, Betty, her sidekick, and three students who accidentally came to her aid, set out on a quest to the author's house to try and rescue the gym teachers.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
CHARACTERS
Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta written by Jarrett Kroscozka was a graphic novel, which falls under the fantasy genre. Before the start of the novel, the reader was introduced to Lunch Lady, the main character, as she captured some thieves in an introduction similar to a TV show. Since she was a person and a lunch lady, the reader automatically felt a kinship with her and wanted to know what would happen next in the novel. In the first set of graphic panels, the reader was taken inside a school cafeteria to see other students and Lunch Lady at work. At this point, readers of all ages could identify with the characters and wanted to follow their saga outside of the school and cafeteria walls.
PLOT AND SETTING
As the story unfolded, it followed a logical and believable sequence of events with an author visiting the school. After the author left the school, the next day Lunch Lady discovered that the gym teacher hadn't been at school since the author had been there. This created a mystery for Lunch Lady that she needed to solve with her sidekick, Betty. A series of events followed with Lunch Lady scouting out the gym teacher's and author's homes in a fast-paced set of graphic panels that showed details to help the reader follow the plot and visualize the setting in which the story took place.
THEME AND STYLE
A normal criteria for a fantasy novel has a theme of good overcoming evil or a task that requires sacrifice. For this specific graphic novel, the theme was good vs. evil, because Lunch Lady, who was considered good, had to overcome the “author visit vendetta.” She accomplished this through a series of comedic and creative stunts that were filled with onomatopoeia, metaphors, and other figurative language. Three students from her school accidentally went to her aid when she discovered all of the gym teachers were being held hostage at the author's house. The students helped the lunch lady and the gym teachers by throwing sock bombs to help the gym teachers get out of their hypnosis, since the strongest sense for memory was smell. It worked, and the gym teachers used their dodge balls to attack the bunnies, and eventually, the author. The end of the novel had Lunch Lady, Betty, and her students with their lives back to normal, for now anyways, and one of the students playing soccer for the gym teacher.
AWARDS, REVIEWS, AND RECOGNITIONS
Best Book- Choices, 2010; Cooperative Children's Book Center
Francisca Goldsmith (Booklist)
The kids at the supersmart Lunch Lady's school anticipate a visit from a favorite author, but when he asks for an autograph he seems a bit odd, and the next day their gym teacher goes missing. Dee, Hector, and Terrence under the watchful tutelage of the investigatory-instrument-creating Lunch Lady unravel the mystery in this third entry in the three-tone graphic-novel series. Krosoczka has created a clever diversion this round, with appeal not just for kids but also for other children's authors. Grades 3-5
The kids at the supersmart Lunch Lady's school anticipate a visit from a favorite author, but when he asks for an autograph he seems a bit odd, and the next day their gym teacher goes missing. Dee, Hector, and Terrence under the watchful tutelage of the investigatory-instrument-creating Lunch Lady unravel the mystery in this third entry in the three-tone graphic-novel series. Krosoczka has created a clever diversion this round, with appeal not just for kids but also for other children's authors. Grades 3-5
Michael Jung, Ph.D. (Children's Literature)
Jarret J. Kroscozka's offbeat super heroine, Lunch Lady, returns in this short graphic novel that pits her against visiting author, Lewis Scribson. While Mr. Scribson seems like your average millionaire, bestselling author, Lunch Lady becomes suspicious when the school's gym teacher Coach Birkby disappears shortly after the author's visit. When an investigation reveals Mr. Scribson has been brainwashing gym teachers to work as servants in his mansion, it is up to Lunch Lady--armed with her Taco-Vision Night Goggles and Fancy Ketchup Pocket Laser--to serve up some justice to the author. Kroscozka offers many funny scenes inspired by superhero story cliches, including a silly scene where the villain reveals his motivation for kidnapping gym teachers and a fight scene where Lunch Lady battles a roomful of the villain's evil stuffed bunny dolls. That said, considering Lunch Lady fought a league of evil librarians in her first graphic novel and an evil author in her latest adventure, one has to wonder if author Kroscozka is indulging in some personal fantasies through these books. 2009, Alfred A. Knopf/Random House Children's Books. Ages 6 to 9.
Jarret J. Kroscozka's offbeat super heroine, Lunch Lady, returns in this short graphic novel that pits her against visiting author, Lewis Scribson. While Mr. Scribson seems like your average millionaire, bestselling author, Lunch Lady becomes suspicious when the school's gym teacher Coach Birkby disappears shortly after the author's visit. When an investigation reveals Mr. Scribson has been brainwashing gym teachers to work as servants in his mansion, it is up to Lunch Lady--armed with her Taco-Vision Night Goggles and Fancy Ketchup Pocket Laser--to serve up some justice to the author. Kroscozka offers many funny scenes inspired by superhero story cliches, including a silly scene where the villain reveals his motivation for kidnapping gym teachers and a fight scene where Lunch Lady battles a roomful of the villain's evil stuffed bunny dolls. That said, considering Lunch Lady fought a league of evil librarians in her first graphic novel and an evil author in her latest adventure, one has to wonder if author Kroscozka is indulging in some personal fantasies through these books. 2009, Alfred A. Knopf/Random House Children's Books. Ages 6 to 9.
Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, November 1, 2009 (Vol. 77, No. 21))
Lunch Lady and Betty serve up another action-filled adventure in the third installment of the Lunch Lady series. It is the long-awaited author-visit day for the students at Thompson Brook School, and Lewis Scribson, author of the beloved Flippy Bunny books, is scheduled to appear. When Mr. Scribson shows up, there's something not quite right about the surly, bespectacled author, and mysteriously, on the same day, Coach Birkby goes missing. It's up to Lunch Lady and the Breakfast Buddies to save the day once again. Their fight to uncover the truth reveals Scribson's secret plot, complete with an entire army of attack Flippy Bunnies, all equipped with cute bow ties and deadly fangs. This episode dishes out more of the same rampant silliness in its trademark gray-and-yellow palette. Those who have followed the series will be pleased with its consistency, though those looking for more development may be disappointed. Although not particularly substantial, this is another helping of hijinks for Lunch Lady fans. 2009, Knopf, 96p. Category: Graphic novel. Ages 7 to 10. © 2009 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.
Lunch Lady and Betty serve up another action-filled adventure in the third installment of the Lunch Lady series. It is the long-awaited author-visit day for the students at Thompson Brook School, and Lewis Scribson, author of the beloved Flippy Bunny books, is scheduled to appear. When Mr. Scribson shows up, there's something not quite right about the surly, bespectacled author, and mysteriously, on the same day, Coach Birkby goes missing. It's up to Lunch Lady and the Breakfast Buddies to save the day once again. Their fight to uncover the truth reveals Scribson's secret plot, complete with an entire army of attack Flippy Bunnies, all equipped with cute bow ties and deadly fangs. This episode dishes out more of the same rampant silliness in its trademark gray-and-yellow palette. Those who have followed the series will be pleased with its consistency, though those looking for more development may be disappointed. Although not particularly substantial, this is another helping of hijinks for Lunch Lady fans. 2009, Knopf, 96p. Category: Graphic novel. Ages 7 to 10. © 2009 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.
CONNECTIONS
*Discuss the elements of a story.
*Review how to create cartoons and graphics in a story.
*Develop a short graphic novel about the Lunch Lady.
*Review words from the novel and discuss their definitions
*Other related books by Jarrett J. Krosoczka:
Krosoczka, Jarrett J. Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown.
ISBN 9780375860959
Krosoczka, Jarrett J. Lunch Lady and the Field Trip Fiasco ISBN 9780375867309
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