Tito the Bonecrusher

In Melissa Thomson's first standalone middle-grade novel, the beloved author of the Keena Ford chapter book series delivers a funny yet moving story about fathers, sons, and criminal justice.

Oliver "Spaghetti-O" Jones's dad is about to be jailed for a crime he didn't commit, and Oliver believes the only way to save him is with the help of his favorite lucha-libre wrestler turned action star, Tito the Bonecrusher. Together with his best friend, Brianna (a.k.a. "Brain"), and their new ally Paul "Popcorn" Robards, Oliver devises a madcap plan to spring his dad from a Florida correctional facility.

Heartwarming and hilarious, this book looks at what it takes to be a hero . . . and what happens when you realize that saving the day might not always be possible.

*Kirkus Best Book of 2019*
*A Junior Library Guild Selection*

"Thomson's excellent middle-grade debut plumbs the absurdity and desperation inherent in a painful situation. Throughout the ordeal, Oliver battles and suppresses his grief and pain in a way that younger readers can recognize and perhaps understand amid the humor; more than anything, it's this implicit focus that makes this novel a great one. An uplifting gem." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"An engaging and entertaining story that sensitively explores the challenge of seeing flaws in oneself and those one admires." —Publishers Weekly

"[This book] will strike sympathetic chords in middle-grade readers." —Booklist

"A solid ground floor introduction to kids-will-fix-this adventures, with the lucha libre backdrop adding interest." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books