Fake Mustache

How Jodie O’Rodeo and Her Wonder Horse (and Some Nerdy Kid) Saved the World

Written by Tom Angleberger, Illustrated by Jen Wang

It begins innocently enough one day when Lenny Flem, Jr. (self-described as “some nerdy kid”) lends ten bucks to his best friend Caspar to buy a fake mustache at Sven’s Fair Price Store. Little does Lenny know that the mustache is actually the greatest fake mustache ever made, a hairpiece so potent that, when combined with a new man-about-town suit, it gives his friend power not only to convince people that he is an adult, but to rob banks with impunity, mesmerize crowds, assume control of international corporations, rig elections, and ascend to the presidency in a matter of days. It is now left up to Lenny and recently-cancelled tween pop cowgirl TV star Jodie O’Rodeo, seemingly the only two people in the world immune to the overpowering charisma of the ‘stache, to stop Fako Mustacho from his diabolical scheme for world domination.

This book is so absurd and hilarious, I just loved it. Tom Angleberger here confirms that he is one of the smartest, funniest, most creative writers of middle grade fiction working today. This time he puts aside the sly subtleties of the Origami Yoda series for something far more adventurous and epic (in a saturday-morning-cartoonish sort of way), and it works. This book has Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-like levels of ridiculousness. And beneath all the bombast and goofiness, it can also be read as a satirical send-up of American politics and culture. I read this book weeks ago and I still think about it and laugh to myself. We can only hope that Angleberger continues to crank out these kinds of middle grade gems.

Review by Joshua Whiting, Granite District Library Media Program
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 4 and Up

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Fake Mustache
Written by Tom Angleberger, Illustrated by Jen Wang
Amulet Books
208 pages
Release Date: April 1, 2012
ISBN: 9781419701948 (hardcover)

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14 thoughts on “Fake Mustache”

  1. GIVEAWAY! I have 2 copies of this awesome book to give away. Leave a comment on this post before Wednesday, April 25, 2012 for your chance to win!

    (Dian, you are already entered. Thanks for the comment.)

  2. Vala'dee Tanner

    We can’t keep the Origami Yoda series on the shelf. Anything by the same author is sure to be a hit. We’d love a copy at Rosecrest!

  3. I just read Origami Yoda and can see why the kids like it so much. Fake Mustache sounds like another winner and I would love one for Fox Hills!

  4. I love Tom Angleberger’s books and so do the kids at our school. They are so funny!! I hope, I hope we get picked!!!

  5. Sharon P. Christensen

    Many of our kids are fans of the Origami Yoda series. Origami Yoda was the top choice of our school for fiction in the Beehive Book Awards. I feel that makes us highly qualified to be chosen for this book giveaway! Thanks

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