156. Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie Thief

Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie Thief (Cookie Chronicles #4) Matthew Swanson. Illustrated by Robbi Behr. 2022. [September]  304 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Ben Yokoyama scooted glumly down the sidewalk with a thump thump thump. He was mad enough that stubbing his toe would have taken him all the way to furious. But he wasn't quite mad enough to stop and kick an unsuspecting tree.

Premise/plot: Ben Yokoyama is still addicted to cookies, and his favorite may just be the fortune cookies in his daily lunch. (For the fortune, not the cookie). But when a school bully starts stealing his cookies...and his FORTUNES....something must be done. Justice for the playground is much needed...

My thoughts: This one reminded me of an episode of RECESS. Ben and his friends are being bullied into giving over their desserts (not just cookies) to the school bully. And they must team up to see that justice is served. But what is justice? Is it always so black and white? 

I have read all four books and enjoyed them. I would definitely recommend the series as a whole. Each fortune (from a cookie) allows for a different theme to be explored. The fortune in this one is the best things in life are free. 

Quotes:

Ben sighed in a way that was meant to be heard and admired. But no one was close enough
to appreciate it. He sighed louder. But the sidewalk remained empty. Not being able to share his mad feelings made Ben madder.

A lot of money seemed like less when it was gone.

 

His mad had turned to sad. Sad was for sitting down, so he sat on a bench and sighed again, daydreaming that a careless millionaire might wander by and drop a gold nugget at his feet.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers