A review by lattelibrarian
Rise of the Balloon Goons: A Branches Book by Troy Cummings

4.0

Marketed as a "Branches" book in order to help kids learn to read and learn to love to read, Rise of the Balloon Goons features a fast-paced plot about a new kid in school alongside illustrations and a few peeks into The Notebook of Doom itself.  Introverted Alexander is new in town, and while he does have some expectations for how towns are supposed to operate, this town certainly does not abide by those rules.  With strange teachers, weird school mates, and an abundance of missing air in tires and balloons, there's a lot of strangeness going on, and Alexander gets wrapped up in trying to figure it all out!  It's fun, quirky, and a little zany at times--great for the kid who likes easy laughs and one-liners, or for those who like to write in their own journal from time to time.

Review cross-listed here!