Mac Slater Hunts the Cool

Australian writer Bancks makes his U.S. debut with this witty, if predictable, novel. Eighth-grader Mac is an outsider, living in an old bus with his bohemian mother and only rarely seeing his environmental activist (and frequent jailbird) father. When Mac and his best friend, Paul, attempt an insane bicycle stunt, a representative from a Web site called Coolhunters witnesses it and asks Mac to audition for a tastemaking job as an official Coolhunter. Mac is competing with the coolest—and hottest and most arrogant—girl in school, Cat; they have to record and edit video clips, which are voted on at the Coolhunters site. The winner of the best of five contests gets the job. As the decidedly uncool Mac does his best to find cool stuff (and to avoid Cat's assorted dirty tricks), he also reconnects with his father and his childhood friend, Jewels. Bancks seems to gloss over the rifts underlying these relationships, and the book feels a little rushed as a result. Still, the characters are fun, particularly Mac, and most kids should have a blast reading about him. Ages 8–12. (Apr.)