MOB SCHOOL SURVIVOR

Despite, not because of, carefully pre-laid plans, Gerald Creeper survives his first month of nights at Mob Middle School in this novel based on “Minecraft.”

Following a well-laid course but cast entirely with the popular video game’s “mobs,” the porkchop-loving young Creeper’s day-to-day narrative—presented in a “hand-printed” type on ruled paper with lots of appropriately blocky line drawings—charts a rapid downward spiral. Along with acquiring, thanks to his Evil Twin, Chloe, the humiliating (if accurate: he has psoriasis) nickname “Itchy” on the first day, Gerald struggles not to explode (as Creepers do) while being bullied by skeletons and navigating rocky new friendships with decidedly uncool classmates Sam Slime and Ziggy the zombie. On the other hand, a genealogy assignment gives him grounds for taking pride in his Creeper ancestors, and he finds worthy ways to mend fences with his friends by month’s end. Less worthily, he finally explodes all over the skeleton who has been harassing him and Chloe. Not only does the bully then lay off (as if), but Gerald actually earns approving nods from his parents, because “being a pacifist doesn’t mean that you choose peace ALL the time.”

Runs off the rails at the end, but even nongamers will appreciate this unofficial spinoff’s “achievement.” (Graphic/fantasy hybrid. 8-10)