Janitors by Tyler Whitesides

Blake picked up this book a long time ago and suggested that I read it at some point.  Well, honestly a year later I finally decided to read it since it seemed really short and easy to read.  Something I could finish before we leave for a couple of days.  Well, it was short and easy to read and kind of fun to read.  I did not have high hopes for it since the back cover talks about how mothers and other people who clean a lot will appreciate this book.  That does not really get me interested, however, I am glad I read it.  It is not a series I am 'needing' to go out and get, but I would eventually like to get the rest of the series.  It is a fun book that is definately geared more for elementary/early middle school age.  Well, our main characters are in 6th grade.

Spencer finds himself being bullied by Dez and one day ends up with an Algebra equation written across his face in permanent marker.  In hopes to get it off he finds this soap in the bathroom, however, once he washes his face with it he starts to see magical creatures around the school and no one else can see them.   He teams up with gullible Daisy and has her wash her face with the soap so she can help him.  The BEM, a government janitor section, shows up and has Spencer help them to retrieve a magical hammer and nail from the wizard that has set up his domain in the school.  Unfortunately Spencer finds out later that the BEM are the bad guys and the janitors of the school are in fact the good guys.

The janitors use their magical "glop' powers to kill these creatures that suck up brain waves from children.  The three creatures suck up brain waves from children making the children dumb.  Some make the kids fall asleep while others distract them.  Each creature has it's own territory it prefers.  Like Grime prefers bathrooms and drinking fountains that build up slimy residue.  It really grosses you out and makes you want to never go in a public area.  See, when kids get older they use less brain waves because they tend to be less eager to learn, that is why the creatures like elementary schools and all the janitors in the country are meant to keep the schools clear of them.

I will warn you that this book is not necessarily the most entertaining thing you will read, but it is just a fun book that puts a twist on schools and janitors.  Most of the story seems almost believable by the way Whitesides incorporates the magical creatures, kids, and janitors in the story.  It really brings you back to Elementary school and how annoying some kids can be.