"Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute" Book Review

1.      Bibliography

Krosoczka, Jarrett J. LUNCH LADY AND THE CYBORG SUBSTITUE. New York City, NY: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 9780375846830

2.      Plot Summary

Readers are introduced to the star of a graphic novel series with meeting the Lunch Lady, a secret crime fighter that serves in the cafeteria at a school with her sidekick assistant who also helps her in the kitchen.  When three students complain of a substitute teacher, Lunch Lady unravels a mystery, all while using spy gadgets disguised as kitchen appliances.  Lunch Lady uses her crime solving skills to uncover an evil plot of a fellow teacher who replaces a popular teacher the students’ love, with a robot substitute who gives too much homework.  Lunch Lady follows the teacher home to find herself in a fight with robots, all while the three students are curious of Lunch Lady’s behavior, and follow her as well.  All paths are crossed, Lunch Lady solves the mystery of the missing teacher, and the students promise not to reveal her secret.

3.      Critical Analysis

Jarrett Krosoczka gives readers a modern day superhero that students will be cheering for.  Lunch Lady has the smart, crime-fighting, secret spy qualities readers find interesting.  Her gadgets are sprinkled within the novel in the illustrations or in the text which keeps readers entertained.  This easy to read novel will give readers the confidence they need when approaching a longer novel.  The full page illustrations, comic strip panels, and character dialogue give readers a perfect combination of visuals with text.  Students can connect with the setting of the story with it being at school and involving teachers, a substitute, and of course a lunch lady.  Students will even get a mini lesson on bullies and how to stand up to them. 

4.      Review Excerpt(s)

Kirkus Reviews – “Filled with goofy puns and grayscale art with cheery yellow accents, this is a delightfully fun escapist read.”

5.      Connections

*Students may choose a scene to create a readers theater and perform for the class.

*Students will choose a character and write the story from their point of view.