Summer 2004 Review:

Eddie was asleep at Awful End (his new home) when he was awakened by an electric eel that fell out of his great uncle's top pocket. His great uncle had come to get Eddie to show him something in their driveway. In their driveway was a hearse with a coffin in the back. Eddie didn't want to wake his parents so his great uncle went to get his nephew's gentleman's gentleman to help them move the coffin to the stables. Before his great uncle left, one part of the house blew-up. They moved the coffin but only when the coffin was down it opened and out came the great escapologist, The Great Zucchini. 
The Great Zucchini and Eddie were walking around talking when Eddie found Malcolm. He decided to take it to his Great Aunt Maud, who now lived in a hollowed out cow. The Great Zucchini went along too because they were in the middle of a deep discussion of escapology. 
After delivering Malcolm they sat down on a garden bench when a hot air balloon came crashing down. In it was Daniella, Zucchini's helper (Zucchini's real name is Herald). There was also another surprise, about an hour later police officers came. Daniella had stolen the famous photographer's hot air balloon. They were all taken to jail, Eddie was found innocent and was let go about a week later, but Herald and Daniella were found guilty. Eddie was trying to find the famous photographer when he found himself in the moors. He was found by three men who escaped from Grimpen Jail. He was to help them escape for good ,but that didn't happen! I really enjoyed this book, I must say it was better than the first. I would recommend this to middle school students. 

~ Ashley Aldan, grade 6, Boardman Center Middle School