From School Library Journal
Gr 4–6—In this second installment in the series, readers return to the quirky school for evil henchmen with favorite characters Runt, Syke, and the titular Dr. Critchlore. The adventure begins when a girl explorer-turned-monster recognizes Runt as family. Not knowing what this means, Runt sets out to discover from where the creature came and what this means about his long-lost relations. His quest is constantly waylaid by an ancient feud between sirens and mermaids, a fashion show, and a hostile takeover of his school. After a promising debut, this title pales a bit in comparison; a fashion show doesn't stir quite the same drama as zombies and dragons. The pacing is a bit slow and drags in the middle, but Grau's characters are likable and entertaining. Sutphin is back and delivers soundly with fantastic illustrations of EOs (that's Evil Overlords for the uninitiated) and enamored gorillas. While the book's conflicts resolve far too easily, Gorilla Tactics does end on a strong note and with a promise for a follow-up. Give to fans of the first book, lovers of fantastical humor, and advanced elementary school readers. VERDICT Purchase where the first volume was popular and where there is a need for advanced middle grade text with relatively clean and entertaining content.—Taylor Worley, Springfield Public Library, OR
Review
"Another smart, funny romp featuring a notably diverse cast headed by a minion who's looking more and more like a hero." ― Kirkus
"Give to fans of the first book, lovers of fantastical humor, and advanced elementary school readers." ― School Library Journal
"The fast-paced action and monstrous cast, a hallmark of the series opener, continues in the follow-up, and fans of the series will be eager to find out what happens to Runt." ― Booklist
“This continues to be a strongly diverse (even though we’re talking magical creatures, there’s a nice mix of cultures, skin tones, and personality types represented), clever, and high quality series that stands out amid the deluge of middle-school books about monsters. Clever chapter headings quoting minion and overlord philosophy and elegant illustrations don’t impact the central plot but add effective additional flavor notes. A school map provides a handy reference.” ― BCCB
About the Author
Sheila Grau is a writer living in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and four children. www.sheilagrau.com.
Joe Sutphin has been illustrating since he was small. He lives in Columbus, Ohio. www.joesutphin.wix.com/joesutphinart.
