The Right Hook of Devin Velma

Description

When Addison Gerhardt's best friend, Devin Velma, begs for his help, Addi knows he'sin trouble. After all, Devin wants to hit it big on the internet by pulling a stunt at an NBA game-one the entire nation will be watching. Addison can't turn Devin down, but he can barely manage talking to his teachers without freezing up. How's he supposed to handle the possibility of being a viral sensation? Addi's not sure why Devin is bent on pulling off this almost-impossible feat. Maybe it has something to do with Devin's dad's hospital bills. Maybe it all goes back to the Double-Barreled Monkey Bar Backflip of Doom. Or maybe it's something else entirely. No matter what, though, it's risky for both of them, and when the big day finally comes, Devin's plan threatens more than just their friendship.

Jake Burt's debut middle-grade novel, Greetings from Witness Protection! was named a Fall 2017 Indies Introduce title. A fifth-grade classroom teacher, Jake lives with his family in Hamden, Connecticut.

A Junior Library Guild Selection A BookRiot Middle Grade Gift Guide Selection Spot-on sixth-grade humor and sympathetic characters will hook readers as he explores fame and friendship in the age of social media. --Publishers Weekly Fisticuffs ensue, but so in time do good and brave words in this goofy, affectionate tale of loyalty, family and fraternity. --Wall Street Journal A sweet, accessible comedy about two sixth grade boys. Short and punchy sentences get straight to the funny stuff and leave just enough unexplained to keep readers moving to the resolution. . .A wholesome, appealing, and fast-paced friendship tale. --School Library Journal Features a fantastic male friendship and a well-developed roster of characters. . .This is a novel fully rooted in the experiences of today's tweens, certain that they're one social media stunt away from fame but also still struggling with timeless concerns, whether it's managing the expectations of adults or crushing on their BFF's older sister. Hand to fans of basketball and friendship stories. --Booklist He may not be the best candidate for the job, but twelve-year-old narrator and introvert Addison is willing to step in as cameraman/sidekick/lookout for his friend Devin, who plans to pull off an epic stunt, record and post it, go viral, and monetize his millions of views to cover his ailing father's medical bill. . .fast-moving. . .just the ticket for easy entertainment or middle-grade book reports. --The Bulletin Greetings from Witness Protection!: Jake Burt is a storytelling magician. Part coming of age tale and part spy thriller, Greetings from Witness Protection could be a collaboration between Judy Blume and Ian Fleming. --Ann M. Martin, New York Times-bestselling author of Rain Reign and the Baby-Sitters Club series This inventive, clever story has a lot of heart at its center. Jake Burt's debut is utterly rewarding." --Wendy Mass, New York Times-bestselling author of The Candymakers and Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life A funny, action-packed novel about the trials of school, parental arguments, and sibling rivalry--all with a dash of high-stakes thrills and dramatic showdowns. . .[Readers] will relish the action and fast-paced plot as well as the engaging and competent Nicki, whose emotional strength and quick wits carry her through much of the narrative. --School Library Journal