When Jasper John Dooley realises a can of Torpedo High Energy Drink has rolled out of the vending machine instead of the bottle of apple juice he selected, he knows he shouldn’t drink it. His parents had warned him about these Bad drinks that were full of things like sugar and caffeine. Jasper was allowed sugary things only as a special treat and only after he had eaten good things. Like celery. But Jasper finds the allure of the ice-cold can irresistible. He just has to take a sip. Right away his mouth exploded in prickles. When he swallowed, the prickles went down, too. But the drink was sweet, and as soon as he took one sip, he wanted another. And before Jasper knows what hit him, the overabundance of caffeine and sugar in the energy drink has fuelled all kinds of misbehaviour. Is there anything that can bring him back to his senses? Caroline Adderson’s early chapter book series starring the endearing Jasper John Dooley combines relatable experiences with a hilariously entertaining main character who sees the world in his own offbeat way. Here, Jasper’s intriguing naughtiness is honestly portrayed as a struggle between the exhilaration of being bad and the discomforting downsides of feeling so hyper (and so guilty). Its readability and good fun mean that youngsters, particularly boys, will not want to put this book down. But it also offers priceless lessons about personal responsibility and making good choices.
Grades: 2 to 5 / Ages: 7 to 10
AUTHOR: Caroline Adderson grew up in Alberta, a girl with long, messy braids and a baseball cap. After she finished school, she spent a year travelling around Canada doing all kinds of jobs such as sheep farming, carpentry and working at a community radio station. She went to Vancouver, British Columbia, to attend university and liked it so much she stayed. Ben Clanton is a story scribbler, picture squiggler, book aficionado, child advocate, dragon tamer (he wishes!) and avid sock wearer (especially of the striped variety). He came to this planet in 1988 and has spent most of his time here reading, drawing, sleeping, gardening and eating chocolate. Illustrated