Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute, by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, 2009

Krosoczka, Jarrett J. Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. ISBN13: 978-0-375-94683-7

Cover design by Jarrett J. Krosoczka,
image from goodreads.com

Ages 8 and up

We’ve always suspected there was something strange about the substitutes roaming the halls of our schools….

Now our fears have been confirmed in Jarrett J. Krosoczka’s graphic novel, Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute. Lunch Lady (who’s real name is never revealed to protect her identity) serves lunch… and justice, at Thompson Brook School. In her secret lair, hidden behind the fridge in the cafeteria, Lunch Lady and her sidekick Betty monitor the school for any evidence of foul play. Fellow cafeteria worker Betty is an inventor, like “Q” in the James Bond movies, and provides Lunch Lady with cool gadgets like a Spatu-copter and a lunch tray that doubles as a laptop.

When a favorite teacher of the school’s students is replaced by an unusual new substitute, Lunch Lady springs into action to find out what’s going on. When she follows the substitute after school (on her moped), she discovers a dastardly plot by the school’s science teacher, Mr. Edison, to replace most of the school’s teachers with cyborg substitutes so that HE will become Teacher of the Year. Three nosy students, Hector, Terrence, and Dee, who want to know what Lunch Lady does on her off time (because they don’t believe she has a life outside of school), get caught right in the middle of all the mayhem. And of course, Lunch Lady must come to their rescue.

With plenty of cool action accompanied by onomatopoeia (Screech! Whoooosh! foomp! Hiiiyah!), students are sure to love this quick and easy read, with clever black, white, and yellow illustrations and witty dialogue. And of course, justice is served in the end, and things go back to normal at school. But the author teases the reader with an ending scene that promises we haven’t seen the last of Mr. Edison. Next in the series – Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians. I can’t wait!

Reading/writing connections:

•        The comic book style format of the graphic novel lends itself as a great example of how students can create their own stories in the same format. Teachers and students can discuss plot, characters, setting, and other story elements, then let the students’ imaginations run wild by letting them create their own comic strip stories.
•        Lunch ladies are often unsung heroes in our schools – not because they fight evil, but because they feed our students, sometimes two of the three meals they may get in a day. Have students brainstorm how they can show their appreciation for your schools cafeteria staff. Obvious answers may include thank you cards, drawings, or posters, which you can assign to students as part of discussing communities and community helpers.
•        Lunch Lady is a heroine who uses her wits, ninja-like skills, and gadgets that her sidekick Betty makes for her to fight evildoers. What kinds of gadgets can your students think up that could help Lunch Lady (or other crime-fighting heros) fight villains? Have them write about what the gadget does, its name, and draw a picture of it.

Reviews:

“There is a nice twist in the surprise ending, and the kids’ ability to stand up to the school bully shows off their newfound confidence in a credible manner. Little details invite and reward repeat readings with visual as well as verbal punning.” –Booklist

If you want to learn more about author and illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka, here is a link to his blog, which includes videos, downloadables, and other cool stuff:

http://www.studiojjk.com

On his blog, Krosoczka includes this cool Lunch Lady theme song clip:

http://www.lunchladycomics.com/Lunch_Lady_Theme_Song.mp3