The Naughty List

Gr 4-7--When the abandoned, zombie-eyed inflatable Santa that Dad left on the roof for an entire year (while he was off in North Dakota working in the oil fields) deflates and attacks Bobbie Mendoza, leaving her with a broken wrist and an epic case of angst, Bobbie decides that Christmas stinks and she is going to ignore it entirely. Then she realizes that her little brother's happiness depends on his belief in Christmas and Santa Claus. Her attempt to get him the gift of his dreams lands them both on Santa's Naughty List, which turns out to be a lot more serious than she could have imagined. Cinematic mayhem includes the evil Watcher, a depressed Santa, Larry the Red-Antlered Reindeer, a helpful whale, lots of refried beans, murderous snow angels, Seal Team Nine (made up of actual marine mammals with helicopter beanies), and an entire contingent of blow dryer-wielding snowmen. Bobbie and her maybe not-so-crazy uncle Dale are tasked with taking down the Watcher and ending the Naughty List for good, and both learn Important Things about courage, family, and the holiday spirit. VERDICT This graphic novel/fantasy hybrid should appeal to graduates of Captain Underpants.--Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library