The Exploding Toilet

Hey, did you hear the one about the man who dropped a lit cigarette into the toilet with some gasoline-soaked rags? Of course you did, it happened to your gym teacher's cousin. Or was it your cousin's gym teacher?

Grade 7 Up–Seamy, quirky, or scary, these expanded versions of urban myths and legends are striking nuggets of jolting, sometimes shocking episodes for an audience that is difficult to shock. Even for those who've heard it all before, these pieces are good for laughs, gasps, winces, or sighs of relief or disbelief. A follow-up to Holt and Mooney's Spiders in the Hairdo (August House, 1999), these often humorous entries provide surprise twists. In one selection, a woman licks an envelope only to find it filled with roach eggs that eventually hatch on her tongue; in another, thanks to a gas station attendant, a woman avoids getting into her car where an attacker awaits. The book is perfect for sleepovers or camping trips where a bit of a thrill is in order. Simple writing style and brief entries make this a fun selection for reluctant readers as well.–Tracy Karbel, Glenside Public Library District, Glendale Heights, IL
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