This is my first experience with an Andrew Clements book, and I was very satisfied. This book is a light, quick read that would be perfect for an accomplished 4th grader and up, at only about 150 pages. This book is incredibly entertaining for a few reasons. The author uses incredible descriptions to set the scene and paint pictures for the readers. Scenes that include intricate descriptions are sometimes accompanied by useful illustrations. Another reason for this book being so entertaining is that it includes short, 10 page maximum chapters. This allows for many ebs and flows in the story and holds the readers attention. Often times, chapter titles are humorously connected to the text. For example, the chapter titles "Switzerland" contains a line of dialogue where a man says "I'm neutral, like Switzerland." ( )

Narrated by Keith Nobbs. I like how Alton owns up to the disaster of his making by proactively apologizing and explaining to the parties affected by his creative maps. Clements knows how to make relatable for young readers a protagonist's dilemma and turn it into a learning experience. Nobbs reads with a youthful timbre that is just right for this elementary school story. ( )

I like Andrew Clements a lot. This is a good one. Very short, quick read. Good characters. Nice illustration. Interesting way to look at the world, through maps. Good message without being heavy handed. I liked how Alton overcame his preconceived notion of the popular kid. I appreciated his figuring out to apologized first. I was interested to see that the author chose to point out that teachers are just like kids too. I think this would make a good book club book for middle graders. ( )

Move over, Frindle. A new classic has arrived!

Below is my review of audiobook, The Map Trap by Andrew Clements, as it appeared in the October, 2014, edition of School Library Journal.

CLEMENTS, Andrew. The Map Trap. 2 CDs. 2:29 hrs. S. & S. Audio. 2014. $14.99. ISBN 9781442357013. digital download.

Gr 3-6 -- Alton Ziegler is crazy about maps. He particularly loves the way they can visually display any manner of information in a variety of ways. Surreptitiously, he collects data and creates humorous maps detailing such trivia as the popularity of lunchroom tables (depicted as a topographical map of the cafeteria) or a weather map of a teacher's clothes. Striped tie today? Look out -- the probability of a pop quiz is high. He never meant for anyone to see his collection, but when it's "mapnapped," there's no telling where the road might lead. Keith Nobbs is perfectly cast as the narrator. He creates a pensive Alton that fits the mood of the story. Clements's (In Harm's Way) use of subjective third-person narration is interesting in that the listener is privy to the inner concerns not only of Alton but of his teacher Miss Wheeling as well. Rarely is a teacher's perspective presented with such honesty and clarity in a middle grade novel. Though Nobbs's voice sometimes cracks when portraying female characters, his delivery, nonetheless, is still pleasing and believable. The Map Trap is a thoughtful, holistic look at the middle school environment that will have wide appeal.

Copyright © 2014 Library Journals, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.
Reprinted with permission. ( )

Vintage Clements -- a realistic fiction, stand-alone school story aimed at middle grade readers, with appealing characters who are just smart enough to land themselves in hot water. 6th grader Alton Ziegler is a map fanatic, who makes maps of pretty much everything. Trouble begins when a special collection of Alton-made maps go missing at school: maps how how many times the principal says "um" during announcements, of his young teacher's brain, of the kids in his grade whose parents have divorced... Alton unexpectedly befriends a cool kid who joins Alton is his quest to recover his maps. I really enjoyed this book, and I love Andrew Clements. Really, this is a celebration of the interesting ways to visually display data. I could see reading this aloud at the beginning of a school year, and creating maps inspired by this book all year long.