The Boring Days and Awesome Nights of Roy Winklesteen – Adventure 2
By Sally Dill
Middle Grade | Action and Adventure
Summary
Sometimes, what happens at night should never enter the realm of day.
Roy has a lot going on in his life:
A new school.
A grumpy blob.
A new neighbor.
A bald mouse.
Some water balloons.
Two kid zombies.
And a few embarrassing noises.
Sounds like the perfect list for the perfect adventure—right? Wrong. Just as Roy settles into middle school, a big problem plows its way into his life. Fortunately, a new kid moves in across the street and fills Roy’s nights with plenty of distractions and mischief. As the two become friends, Roy’s days and nights get jumbled together, and a few pranks lead up to a Halloween night of tricks and fright. Sweet revenge quickly turns sour as Roy realizes he has become the very person who scares him the most.night of tricks and fright. Sweet revenge quickly turns sour as Roy realizes he has become the very person who scares him the most.
Praise
“The Boring Days and Awesome Nights of Roy Winklesteen is filled with high-stakes escapades, bald mice, mysterious neighbors, and amusing pranks to keep middle graders turning pages. This story is compelling not just for its well-executed speculative plot, but also for its heartfelt characters. Roy faces a number of problems that young people will relate to. Aside from the mysterious girl next door, he also must cope with an annoying younger sister and a school bully. Author Sally Dill handles these topics in amusing yet sensitive ways, both validating young people’s emotions and providing them with sound moral guidance.
The common worries that challenge Roy are blended well with the inventive plot. Dill’s writing is considered and logical, which lends credibility to the eye-catching speculative elements. Older readers will be struck by Dill’s insight into children, as Roy feels well-considered, rounded, and real as a young character. It’s a terrifically enjoyable middle grade speculative novel. Dill’s insightful prose elevates this story, making it one that young readers can return to with joy as they await the next installment in the series. – Independent Book Review
