What's French for Help, George?

Determined to win the free ticket and join his friends on their trip to France, George devises a zany plan to rig the computer program that is to pick the winner.

Grade 3-6-- A fast-paced story with a main character who moves from one zany escapade to another with hardly a moment's hesitation. When a school trip is planned and only one free ticket is available, George wants to be the chosen student. He invades a computer program in order to rig it; with much rigamarole, he ends up the winner and off to France he goes. Once there, the action continues, culminating with the group's involvement with a kidnapping plot. Numerous black-and-white drawings accompany the action. Aside from a reference to the wild driving conditions and a few attempts at speaking French, the book does little to impart a sense that the group has entered a different country. Its emphasis is on George's hectic behavior rather than on a concrete plot line. This would make a great film, comparable to Wayne's World or Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventures , but it isn't a strong story. --Cheryl Cufari, N. A. Walbran Elementary School, Oriskany, NY
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 5-7. Thirteen-year-old George and his gang go international in their second adventure, but that doesn't stop them from creating their usual mayhem. When George learns that there will be a free ticket for the school trip to France for a deserving student, he's certain that he should be the one to get it. All of his friends are going, and he can't bear the thought of staying home alone. There is a slight problem, though. The computer teacher has created a program to choose a student at random, so George has to invade the program to ensure his selection. With the help of his friends, he succeeds, and they all head off to terrorize the French. Preteen readers will probably think George's adventures are hilarious. Adults, however, may find George somewhat wearing--his chaperones certainly did! Chris Sherman