The Toilet of Doom - Softcover

At the age of ten Michael Lawrence wanted to be either an archaeologist or an astronomer. Everyone thought he was joking, so he went to art school instead. Since then he's been a graphic designer, an antiques dealer, and a photographer. He's also published a number of children's books and stories.

Grade 5-7-Jiggy McCue and the gang are back in another weird adventure. Milo lets it slip that his mysterious, anonymous friend has almost perfected a computer game, The Toilet of Life, which should not be played yet. The temptation proves too strong for Jiggy, though, and he pushes the forbidden letter F (for FLUSH) on the keyboard, which results in him and his friend Angie exchanging bodies. Now they are stuck in one another's skins until they can figure out a way to make the game switch them back. In the meantime, there is a lot of scatological humor regarding one gender getting used to the other's body parts and hormones as well as discovering that neither child's family is better or less strange than the other. Jiggy is a smart-mouthed boy who tells his story complete with derogatory comments about his intelligence, or lack thereof, in making certain choices that led to his temporary sex change. The humor is definitely typical of middle schoolers as is the dialogue with the characters calling each other a lot of names. There is also some gratuitous use of the word "hell." The major characters are all likable young people; the adults are shallow at best, as they never suspect there is anything amiss with the children. This is not great literature, but it is a fast-paced, entertaining read.
Nancy P. Reeder, Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, Columbia, SC
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.