THE CURSE OF THE CRUMMY MUMMY

A school film gives a fifth-grade loner his chance to shine in this middle-grade novel.

Bernard Gawain doesn’t have many friends or much of a social life in Green Hill, New Hampshire. But he willingly takes the lead role for a project in Miss Sorenson’s class—a 10-minute film based on local legend Ramesses Ka. This gives him a shot at playing the hero (in this case, a mummy) for his crush, classmate Bridget Matsumoto, who’s a shoo-in for the other lead. It’s also the kind of B-movie material that Bernard loves and streams every Saturday on The Crummy Mummy Show. His overbearing mother, however, doesn’t approve of his watching said series or really anything that doesn’t help maintain his high GPA. In between trying to make sense of Bridget’s feelings for him (she calls him a string bean but then asks for double string beans at lunch), the goofy, charming Bernard wins a few friends. Now if he could just get his mom to let him be himself. Thomas Tosi’s upbeat story showcases the immensely likable Bernard, a smart, well-behaved kid who rolls with the punches. His mother’s relentless nature even sneaks educational bits into this novel: Bernard uses mom-assigned “vocabulary words” he’s consistently learning, like tome, scoundrel, and flibbertigibbet. The supporting cast is remarkable, from zany classmate Dewey, who occasionally bumps heads with Bernard, to Bridget’s little sister, Franny, who’s refreshingly honest, much to the chagrin of nearly everyone else. As he prepares for his upcoming role, Bernard often appears wrapped in mummy bandages, and it’s inspiring to watch the fifth grader uncover his inner fortitude while hiding inside a costume. Illustrator Meaghan Tosi’s artwork includes gleeful, comically expressive faces along with campy B-movie posters (a highlight being the Spanish-language version of The Aztec Mummy vs. the Cat People).

A sprightly tale of self-discovery that’s both affecting and endearing.