About the book: You see that chipmunk over there? I’ve got to make sure it’s dead in less than three minutes. Don’t make that face—it’s my job.
Midnight Smith has a problem. He’s a hoodie. Well, almost. He has to go through Death’s Academy so he can learn how to snuff out shorties (humans, like you and your friends) and outsmart those pesky halos. Then he’ll get his shroud and calling and become a full-fledged Grim Reaper. But to get into Death’s Academy, there’s a real killer exam . . . and Midnight stinks at exams.
What he doesn’t know is that the exam is the least of his worries. When the hoodies and halos go on their yearly retreat, the time is ripe for an old enemy—the diabolical Unicorns—to strike. That leaves Midnight and his friends the only ones to stop the attack . . . and this is something he just can’t fail at.
Death's Academy turns convention on its head. Root for the “bad guy” in this delicious twist on good versus evil.
My Review: This is a really fun take in the war of good versus evil. I like the way that the Grim Reapers are portrayed in this book. They aren't necessarily bad, just...necessary. I like that they whole book is shown from the point of view of Midnight "Night" Smith. He's trying to get ready for his entrance exam for Death's Academy, but his parents can't afford a tutor for him, and he can't quite get the whole killing thing down on his own. He's sure he's going to fail the exam. That's what finds him in the park trying to kill a squirrel. The only problem: it's not time for that particular squirrel to die yet and he gets caught by a pesky halo. Night is a really fun character, I loved seeing his world through his eyes. I loved his friend, Mal, she's quirky and brainy and always has just the right tool for the job, and she's made most of those tools herself. This book is zany and just fun, and don't forget to watch out for those pesky unicorns!
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.Labels: Michael Bast, middle grade book
