Cover Image

The capybara conspiracy

by Perl, Erica S.,

Format: Print Book 2016
Availability: Available at 6 Libraries 6 of 6 copies

Available (6)
Location Collection Call #
Bethel Park Public Library Juvenile Fiction juv PERL Erica
Location  Bethel Park Public Library
 
Collection  Juvenile Fiction
 
Call Number  juv PERL Erica
 
 
CLP - Main Library Teen Department - Teen Fiction TEEN FICTION Perl
Location  CLP - Main Library
 
Collection  Teen Department - Teen Fiction
 
Call Number  TEEN FICTION Perl
 
 
CLP - Squirrel Hill Teen Fiction TEEN FICTION Perl
Location  CLP - Squirrel Hill
 
Collection  Teen Fiction
 
Call Number  TEEN FICTION Perl
 
 
Monroeville Public Library Juvenile Fiction J PERL ERICA
Location  Monroeville Public Library
 
Collection  Juvenile Fiction
 
Call Number  J PERL ERICA
 
 
Mt. Lebanon Public Library Children's Fiction j PERL Erica
Location  Mt. Lebanon Public Library
 
Collection  Children's Fiction
 
Call Number  j PERL Erica
 
 
Penn Hills Library Juvenile Fiction CHILDREN PER
Location  Penn Hills Library
 
Collection  Juvenile Fiction
 
Call Number  CHILDREN PER
 
 

Summary
Fans of Tim Federle and Louis Sachar will love this hilarious story of what happens when the non-jocks kidnap their sports-obsessed school's beloved mascot.

Seventh-grade playwright Olive Henry is frustrated by her middle school's lack of appreciation for anything but sports. While the principal drones on and on during morning announcements about the sports teams' victories, all non-athletic club meetings are relegated to the school basement, never to be mentioned on the loudspeaker. So Olive and her best friend, Reynaldo, hatch a plan to kidnap the school's capybara mascot, planning to return it, heroically, just in time for the school's pep rally and claim a reward: permission for their drama club to practice in the auditorium. And, hopefully, some overdue respect for the school's non-athletes. But when an animal-rights student activist and an undercover athlete with murky motivations join in the conspiracy, their plans--along with Cappy the capybara--veer wildly out of Olive's control.
Published Reviews
Booklist Review: "The latest middle-grade from Perl (Aces Wild, 2013) is a bit of a departure, yet delivers the same sharp wit and humor that readers are used to. Seventh-grade playwright Olive Henry reveals the exciting kidnapping, return, and rekidnapping of beloved school mascot Cappy the capybara as new student Dev patiently listens. Quirky and endearing characters enrich Perl's hilarious three-act script, which, as she suggests, would make a fun read-aloud. Additional staging notes are conversational and informative, though the practicality of memorizing and performing the entire script might be challenging for younger participants, as Olive and best friend Reynaldo constantly have lines long enough to be monologues. Though the messages of animal rights and funding for the arts in school are a bit heavy-handed, it's easy to root for determined Olive and company when their plan goes haywire. The big reveal (was it all just Olive's newest creation?) not only adds a clever metafictional element; it might even make readers flip back to the beginning to discover what really happened.--Kling, Caitlin Copyright 2016 Booklist"
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Publisher's Weekly Review: "Olive Henry takes matters into her own hands after her principal goes too far in this entertaining school drama from Perl (Aces Wild), written as the script of a play. Seventh graders Olive and Reynaldo are fed up: while the drama club is relegated to meeting in the basement, anything sports-related gets top-notch treatment at school. Furthermore, mascot Cappy, a live capybara, is credited with the school's sports winning streak and treated with more respect than students pursuing academic extracurriculars. When Principal Higgley gives the auditorium to the Ultimate Frisbee Club for practice, Olive is determined to "do something radical"-kidnap Cappy-because "every kid here who can't catch or throw or look cute in a uniform is being persecuted." When some unlikely students, including ex-baseball player Pablo and animal activist Brie, join their scheme, Olive's plan gets hijacked. Staged over three acts, Perl's novel zips along thanks to all the back-and-forth dialogue, and is well suited to be performed. An unexpected ending and comprehensive notes on how to stage the play round out an amusing tale. Ages 10-up. Agent: Carrie Hannigan, Hannigan Salky Getzler. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved."
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Additional Information
Subjects Theater -- Juvenile fiction.
Middle schools -- Juvenile fiction.
Schools -- Juvenile fiction.
Mascots -- Juvenile fiction.
Capybara -- Juvenile fiction.
Theater -- Fiction.
Middle schools -- Fiction.
Schools -- Fiction.
Mascots -- Fiction.
Capybara -- Fiction.
Humorous stories.
Humorous fiction.
Publisher New York :Alfred A. Knopf,2016
Edition First edition.
Language English
Description 181 pages ; 22 cm
Bibliography Notes Includes bibliographical references (page 177).
ISBN 9780399551710
0399551719
9780399551727
0399551727
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