My Buddy, the King

As in The Fantastic Freshman , Brittain presents an ordinary boy in an extraordinary predicament. This time, the result is a madcap adventure tinged with foreign intrigue. The escapade begins when Timothy Quilt, 14, saves a young king from choking. The incident is witnessed by government officials and Tim is summoned to act as King Tokab's guide. What follows is a string of hilarious episodes featuring larger-than-life characters. Timothy narrowly escapes two assassination attempts, exposes the would-be killers and persuades the king to change the educational system in his country. And Tim's heroics are applauded and highly rewarded. Readers will find Tim's ability to outwit grownups extremely satisfying; most will recognize and appreciate the story's satire and will not fail to be entertained. Ages 10-13. (Oct.)