Book Summary:
The story centers around a seventh grade student named Griff Carver who transfers to Rampart Middle School and quickly becomes a member of the hallway patrol. He has previous experience from his other schools where he has gained recognition and awards for his work with the hallway patrol. He reluctantly agrees to be partnered with fellow officer Tommy Rodriguez and they uncover a counterfeit hall pass scheme led by the popular Marcus Volger who is running for class president. Griff is removed from his position as hallway patrol because of supposed misconduct. The story culminates when Griff and Tommy catch the counterfeiters in one last act of making fake passes; however, everyone is afraid to finger Marcus Volger and he escapes blameless and victorious in the student elections for class president. Griff is re-instated as a hallway patrol and resolves to eventually expose Marcus Volger if it takes all of his days in middle school.
APA Reference of Book:
Krieg, J. (2010). Griff Carver, hallway patrol. New York, NY: Razorbill.
Impressions:
This was one of the few books that I found to be actually funny and entertaining to read. It's written in a fashion that makes if feel like a TV show. It combines humor, mystery, and problems faced by middle schoolers into one story. The main character, Griff Carver, with his dead pan delivery of comments makes him a character that maybe reminds us of someone from our own days in middle school. It's a mystery that starts because of fake hall passes, and it's up to Griff and his partner to solve the mystery. The ending, however, is not a completely resolved, but it is revealed sufficiently to end the counterfeiting ring.
Professional Review:
Gr 4-8--This is a clever take on a police procedural. Griff Carver is your typical hard-boiled cop who has seen it all during his time on the force--but the force just happens to be the middle school hallway patrol. For reasons not immediately clear to readers, he is changing schools and his mother urges him to join band instead of signing up for hall-monitor duty. He can't stay away from the force, though. The need to stick it to the rule breakers is just too great. His first day walking the beat sees him berating the school principal for dropping his straw wrapper on the floor and not picking it up. Clearly he's not out to make friends, especially when he discovers who's behind the group counterfeiting hall passes. He does manage to make reluctant allies, including the fresh-faced rookie of the force and the girl ace reporter of the school newspaper. With the exception of a scene at a video arcade where Griff snaps while under the influence of too much sugar-filled soda and has to be dragged away in a troubling parody of cop rage, Krieg keeps Griff's story light and humorous.
Ellison, K.
M. (2010, March 1). [Review of the book Griff Carver, hallway patrol, by Jim Krieg]. School Library Journal, 56(3),
160-162. Retrieved from www.slj.com.
Library Use:
This story reads like a play and I think it would make a good book to make into a school play. It could be used by a middle school drama class or club and performed on stage because it offers up lots of school humor.
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