Nothing But Trouble

Reviewed by: Ann Marie Townsend - South Berwick Public Library, South Berwick, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 7, 2017

Review

A well written middle school novel about Maggie, setting off for her first day of sixth grade in a run down school closing after this year. On her own most of the time, wanting to follow in her late father's footsteps of going to MIT to become an engineer, she takes things apart, such as the vacuum cleaner to learn how they work, then puts them back together again.The child of a mother who works then retreats to her room to drink, a grumpy, disabled grandfather, she is strong, creative, and lives by her late father's hacker bible. Hacking was planning and carrying out pranks, not causing damage. Her pranks broke rules, but gave her school spirit. To finance her hacks, she created a website to sell vintage auto parts taken from a pile of parts in the basement belonging to her grandfather. Maggie's new best friend, Lena, a free-spirited photographer, is her new partner-in-crime. This is humorous, full of spirit, scientific, about friendships and a strong female character. A good read.

Overall Book Score: excellent