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Jarrett Krosoczka
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Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute: Lunch Lady #1 Paperback – June 1, 2009

by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 807 ratings
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From the author of National Book Award finalist Hey, Kiddo.

Serving justice . . . and lunch!

Hector, Terrence, and Dee have always wondered about their school lunch lady. What does she do when she isn’t dishing out the daily special? Where does she live? Does she have a lot of cats at home? Little do they know, Lunch Lady doesn’t just serve sloppy joes—she serves justice! Whatever danger lies ahead, it’s no match for LUNCH LADY!
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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    7 - 9 years, from customers
  2. Part of Series
    Lunch Lady
  3. Print length
    96 pages
  4. Language
    English
  5. Grade level
    2 - 5
  6. Lexile measure
    GN520L
  7. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.38 x 7 inches
  8. Publisher
    Knopf Books for Young Readers
  9. Publication date
    June 1, 2009
  10. ISBN-10
    0375846832
  11. ISBN-13
    978-0375846830
  12. See all details
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Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta: Lunch Lady #3
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This tongue-in-cheek superheroine graphic novel will hit the spot for chapter-book readers. Lunch Lady and Betty, her assistant in both the cafeteria and her role of wrong-­righting supersleuth, investigate the strange case of an absent teacher, his creepy substitute, and a plan to grab the Teacher of the Year Award by truly foul means. Three little kids join in the action as Lunch Lady, equipped with a variety of high-tech kitchen gadgets like a spatu-copter and a lunch-tray laptop, tracks a cleverly disguised robot to his maker’s lab, where a whole army of cyborgs require kicking, stomping, and the wielding of fish-stick nunchucks. Yellow-highlighted pen-and-ink cartoons are as energetic and smile-provoking as Lunch Lady’s epithets of “Cauliflower!” and Betty’s ultimate weapon, the hairnet. There is a nice twist in the surprise ending, and the kids’ ability to stand up to the school bully shows off their newfound confidence in a credible manner. Little details invite and reward repeat readings with visual as well as verbal punning. Grades 2-4. --Francisca Goldsmith

About the Author

Jarrett J. Krosoczka is the author-illustrator of Punk Farm, Punk Farm on Tour, Max for President, and Baghead. He lives in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Knopf Books for Young Readers; unknown edition (June 1, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 96 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0375846832
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0375846830
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 7 - 9 years, from customers
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ GN520L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 2 - 5
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.5 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.38 x 7 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 807 ratings

About the author

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Jarrett Krosoczka

Jarrett Krosoczka

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Jarrett J. Krosoczka, known since boyhood as "JJK," is the New York Times bestselling author/illustrator behind more than forty books for young readers, including his wildly popular Lunch Lady graphic novels, select volumes of the Star Wars™: Jedi Academy series, and Hey, Kiddo, which was a National Book Award Finalist. Krosoczka creates books with humor, heart, and deep respect for his young readers—qualities that have made his titles perennial favorites on the bookshelves of homes, libraries, and bookstores over the past twenty years.

In addition to his work in print, Krosoczka produced, directed, and performed in the full-cast audiobook adaptations of his graphic novels. The Hey, Kidoo audiobook garnered both Audie and Odyssey Awards for excellence in audiobook production. The Lunch Lady audiobook cast is led by Kate Flannery (The Office) and is rounded out by famed audiobook narrators and real kid actors! Krosoczka has been a guest on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross, has been profiled in The New York Times, was featured on Good Morning America, and has delivered three TED Talks, which have accrued millions of views online. Krosoczka has garnered millions of more views online via the tutorials he has produced for YouTube and TikTok. As well as working on his books' film and television adaptions, Krosoczka has also written for The Snoopy Show (Apple TV+) and served as a consultant for Creative Galaxy (Prime Video), and appeared in live segments for the show.

Realizing that his books can inspire young readers beyond the page, Krosoczka founded School Lunch Hero Day, a national campaign celebrating school lunch staff. A consummate advocate for arts education, Krosoczka also established the Joseph and Shirley Krosoczka Memorial Youth Scholarships, which fund art classes for underprivileged children in his hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts.

Krosoczka lives in western Massachusetts with his spouse, their three children, pugs Ralph and Frank, and a French bulldog named Bella Carmella.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
807 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Jaylia
5.0 out of 5 stars Enthralls reluctant and dyslexic readers
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2010
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As a reading tutor I am always looking for high interest books for my students with dyslexia. This book is perfect--it's funny and has a lot of lively pictures of the cafeteria Lunch Lady saving the day, plus the words used are a good mix of mainly easy and with some challenging ones thrown in too. I have a very smart eleven year old student who can only read at the first or early second grade level and he loves this book. It takes him a long time, but not only can he read almost all of it himself, I have to take the book out of his hands at the end of our session because he is completely engrossed.
29 people found this helpful
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M&M
5.0 out of 5 stars Great for boys or girls
Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2021
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Lunch Lady was such a treat to read with my 9 year old son. It’s clever, silly, fast-paced, and left us both laughing over many pages. Now every time he eats chicken nuggets he pretends they are secret nugget bombs!
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anonymous
5.0 out of 5 stars My son loves these!
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2018
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My son first was into these two years ago when he was 8. He’s always been a bit of a reluctant reader unless he finds something he really likes..well he LOVED these. Fast forward two years, he is 10 now and we are in the summer before 5th grade and it’s to the point I can’t get him to read anything, he says he wants nothing to do with reading anymore this summer! BUT the other night I remembered the Lunch Lady books and casually put them by his bed at bedtime. Since then each night he has read probably half a book and has been telling me how much he loves these books. He loves them so much he doesn’t even feel like he’s reading (so he says ;). I told him when he’s done reading the ones we have we can get the new ones that have come out since he read last. I’m grateful these have gotten him excited about reading again and hope I can find something else like this to keep his interest. Thanks for writing such a great series that kids love!
24 people found this helpful
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Jennifer Metevia
5.0 out of 5 stars Super cool book!
Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2018
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I have been thinking about picking up a copy of this book for about a year for my students. I teach older students who struggle with reading and it looked like it could be a good read for them. I wasn’t sure though as books in a more muted color scheme haven’t gone over as well as plain black and white or full color illustrated graphic novels. I had some points and decided to try the first title.

I’m so pleasantly surprised. My students LOVE it! They think it’s hilarious that a lunch lady is fighting robots. They were reading it together and pointing and laughing. I’m super excited to get other titles in this series now! I keep Book series in plastic tubs labeled with a picture showing which series it is. I cannot wait to get more titles and make a Lunch Lady bin!

Give this book a shot. You won’t be disappointed.
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Cris D
4.0 out of 5 stars Lunch Lady v1
Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2022
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When a teacher is out and a substitute teacher seems questionable, The Lunch Lady with her side kick Harriet (also a lunch lady) investigates. Three children are curious what the Lunch Lady does after school and follow her. This is such a cute mystery book. I actually laughed out loud at some of it. This is the first in a what I believe will be a great series.
One person found this helpful
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F. Alammar
5.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2021
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i love lunch lady but i stop reading them i went to jair book store and i found dog man i used to read them in new zealand whn i found them i took out 100 dollars and RAN to grt ever book i could see i maybe use 60 dollars then i sae diary of a wimpy kid and i remeber how much my 6 year older brother read them and he annoyed me he said i read them at my friends please can i get one i said no and he PLEASE in a annoyjng voice i said fun and i had to rake my brother my mom said so
One person found this helpful
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margaret Barneck
5.0 out of 5 stars Deliver the in original package not paper package
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2022
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My granddaughter loves this book she wanted for her birthday. Only thing I didn't like is that the books came in a paper package not the original bag package the books could of gotten wet because it was raining that day. Luckily I was home and driver hand delivered it to me.
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trulyblessedmama
5.0 out of 5 stars Funny But Easy...
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2015
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Bought this for my newly turned 8 year old since she's gotten into graphic novels and because she likes them it's how I'm encouraging her to do her 20 minutes of reading a day. She reads at a 3rd grade level and although she really enjoyed this book it was too easy for her to read - she finished it in 5-10 minutes so I obviously need to find her something more challenging. Otherwise it's a cute story and my daughter thought it was funny but I would recommend it for a new reader.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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busymom
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!!!👍👍👍
Reviewed in India on March 15, 2018
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I found the characters of this book and their adventure very cool. Since it was a graphic novel, it was easy to read(I am 7 years old) .If you like spy adventures like me, go for it!
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J.E.P
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on September 26, 2016
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My son (who is 8) loved this book. Read it in one day.
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Roberto Bianchini
4.0 out of 5 stars Simpatica lettura per i piccoli
Reviewed in Italy on May 6, 2013
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Una divertente rilettura della figura della "Signora della mensa" (Lunch Lady appunto), in chiave super eroe o 007 se volete. Mi ha incuriosito il personaggio raccontato, in una presentazione dello stesso autore Jarrett J. Krosoczka fatta sul canale web TED. Consiglio il libro ai più piccoli, che abbiano già un pò di dimestichezza con l'inglese.
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white jenny
5.0 out of 5 stars 多読の息抜きに！！
Reviewed in Japan on April 28, 2013
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「英語多読ガイドブック」で紹介されていて、くだらなそう・・・と思いつつ一巻だけ買ってみようと思い購入。
サイボーグが送りこまれた理由や、LUNCH　LADYの秘密基地のある場所など面白くて、はまりました。
あきるまでシリーズを購入してみようと思います。
黄色とグレーの色合いも、読みやすくて良かったです。多読で絵のないペーパーバックに疲れた時など
最高の息抜きになると思います。
3 people found this helpful
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Andrey F.
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book!
Reviewed in Canada on June 12, 2017
Verified Purchase
Excellent book full of action and humour!
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