Hamstersaurus Rex

This book is well written and is fun to read aloud. There are a number of clever bits, especially with (fictional) product placement throughout the book. The characters are somewhat the usual suspects for middle school, with a couple of moments of vulnerability and honesty sprinkled in.

This was a little bit of a reach for my boy entering 3rd grade—especially the teasing of romance. However, he enjoyed the jokes and all the antics that show up throughout the book.

I liked that the book has a good takeaway in the end, pointing the reader to look past the exterior and to realize that we are all real people with struggles and pains in different ways. We also get to see what becomes of keeping secrets.

Overall, the writing is great. I still don't miss middle school. The boy would probably say he really liked it. I'd wait to see if he chooses to come back to it before I would call it a favorite