NERDS by Michael Buckley (audio)

NERDS (National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society) by Michael Buckley. Recorded Books, 2009. Narrated by Johnny Heller.
Audience: Grades 4 through 6
My Rating: 3* of 5
Summary: While running a spy network from their elementary school, five unpopular misfits combine their talents and use cutting-edge gadgetry to fight evil around the world.
Comments: Revenge of the Nerds meets James Bond. Clever and funny with plenty of booger jokes to boot. Heller lost my interest in many spots with his slow pacing, but I always made it back on track eventually.
Read-alikes: Give to fans of Wimpy Kid and the like. Or kids with braces. Book 2 (M is for Mama's Boy) available now.

Swindle by Korman

Swindle by Gordon Korman. 2008.

My Rating: 3.5 *s out of 5
Audience: Ages 9-12/Grades 3-6

Summary: After unscrupulous collector S. Wendell Palamino cons him out of a valuable baseball card, sixth-grader Griffin Bing puts together a band of misfits to break into Palomino's heavily guarded store and steal the card back, planning to use the money to finance his father's failing invention, the Smart Pick fruit picker.

Comments: Face paced, predictable, morally ambiguous, entertaining, suspenseful

Awards: 2009-2010 Bluebonnet nominee

Read-alikes: Millions by Frank Cottrell Boyce