The Boy Who Cried Ninja

The Boy Who Cried Ninja by Alex Latimer

2011

     Nobody believed Tim when he told the truth. He told his mother that a ninja had taken the last slice of cake. He explained to his father that an astronaut had taken the hammer.  He told his grandfather that  a giant squid had eaten his book bag.  They all thought he was lying so Tim was punished.  So when a pirate shows up and drinks all the tea, a sunburned crocodile breaks the house's antenna, and a time-traveling monkey throws pencils at Grampa, Tim lied and said that it was all his fault. And of course, he gets punished.  "If he told the truth, he was in trouble, and if he lied he was in trouble." So he came up with a brilliant plan: throw a huge party and invite the ninja, the astronaut, the giant squid, the pirate, even the sunburned croc and the time-traveling monkey.  What will his family say when the unexpected guests show up? 

     The Boy Who Cried Ninja is a clever reinvention of the classic tale of The Boy Who Cried Wolf.  It has a surprising twist that makes it fresh and funny.  The illustrations by Latimer gives it a modern, cool, feel.  I love the randomness of the characters...sunburned crocodile and a time-traveling monkey? Love it.