The Odd Job Squad

The Odd Job Squad by Karl Fields, 2011. 238 pages. Published by CreateSpace. Source: Author.

The best way to get even is to get Odd... Thirteen-year-old Ander Cartwright is an expert on two subjects: fortune cookies and payback. Especially payback. When he’s not struggling with algebra, Ander leads an anonymous revenge club that operates within the walls of Marina Middle School. Got a beef with a classmate? Email Ander’s crew and, if your case if legit, they’ll get even on your behalf. It’s not easy to right wrongs and fly under the radar at the same time. That’s why Ander developed three simple rules designed to help him and his friends stay incognito. But when Ander spots the opportunity to settle a score of his own, he ignores the rules, setting off a chain of events that threatens to blow his cover, and it’ll take all the butt-kicking, detention-dodging skill the guys can muster to keep a lid on their secret.

First Sentence:

We almost never got revenge requests during the summer.

I am both happy and disappointed with myself that it has taken me so long to get to reading The Odd Job Squad. Happy because it such a fun and quick read, which I needed; disappointed because the author kindly sent a copy to me for review.

I am not sure if The Odd Job Squad was supposed to be this humorous, but I snickered and even laughed aloud quite a bit while reading this one, especially when a certain something between characters started to become obvious.
While the story may have been a little predictable- in the outcome- I still found myself not wanting to put it down as the Ander and gang found themselves facing one problem after another, especially since with each mishap things got a little more desperate for them.
One of the most interesting aspects of the story-to me- would have to be how Ander and his friends began to learn that getting revenge on others does not always go as expected and that there are consequences for their actions, and that the tables can always be turned living you on the receiving end.

Ander, was definitely an interesting character; what I liked best about him was that he thought he could read every situation just by reading the body language of a person, or as he liked to call it preactions.
Shooter, was by far one of my favorite characters. I liked her because she had a little more depth to her character and was not entirely about the whole revenge thing; truthfully I just think she liked a challenge.
As for the rest of the cast, I thought they were all petty great and that each of the characters complimented each other quite well.

While I do not condone revenge, I thought that the basis of the story- four kids who take on the job of getting back at the bullies for others- was interesting and well written out.
The Odd Job Squad also has to be one of the funniest books I have read in ages. I laughed pretty much the entire time I was reading it, and that just made my day because I don't generally find must books laugh-out-loud funny.
     I actually cannot think of a single thing I did not enjoy about The Odd Job Squad while reading it. Which is pretty high praise from me.

Final Verdict: The Odd Job Squad was a light and funny read that I could not put down.

The Odd job Squad earns 4 out of 5 pineapples.