The Fourth Stall Part III Book Review (book three of The Fourth Stall trilogy)

If you thought your school rivalry was bad, wait until you hear what Mac has to face from Thief Valley Elementary in The Fourth Stall Part III, a middle grade novel about a boy who runs a shady business trying to keep his school intact, by Chris Rylander. (You can read my review of book one, The Fourth Stall, here, and my review of book two, The Fourth Stall Part II, here.)

In addition to all the great things books one and two have done, the new characters make the storyline pop. Jimmy’s quirkiness makes him feel right at home in Rylander’s bizarre/funny world, especially when he starts talking in third person (and his parents are the best, even if they only show up for a chapter or two). Ken-Co is equal parts terrifying and intriguing; their identity keeps the reader guessing until the end.

Staples is back! The (somewhat) reversal of his character feels authentic and keeps the story interesting—the reader is always waiting to see him go back to his former ways.

A quick-paced, epic conclusion in beat with the rest of the trilogy.

“‘I need your help.’ // Just as I [Mac] thought. // ‘I’m sorry,’ I said, as I had said so many times since school had started back up. ‘I’m not in that business anymore. I can’t help you.’ // ‘I bet you’ll make an exception for me.’ // … …he was still huge. And he still looked like he could crush a pair of fifth graders in each hand like soda cans.’ // ‘Hello, Mac,’ Staples said, smirking as always.”

Recommended for anyone who needs a funny mafia book.

—Grace Nask