Waylon! The Most Awesome of All: Waylon! Book 3

Waylon! #3

by Sara Pennypacker, Marla Frazee (Illustrator)

From the creators of the New York Times bestselling series Clementine comes another chapter book collection that will keep readers engaged and laughing until the very last page.Waylon can't wait to participate in the Boston Science Expo on June 14. He's confident that his project will impress the crowd, and his idol, a famous astrophysicist, is sure to be in attendance. Maybe Waylon will finally get a chance to meet her! The Expo is on the same day of his sister's performance at the Beantown Repertory Theater. Neon has been preparing for weeks, ever since she won third prize in a New Voices in Boston Theater contest, and their dad has agreed to be the centerpiece of the show. June 14 is also the deadline Waylon's dad set for himself to sell his screenplay to Hollywood. Finally, Waylon's mom has a mysterious appointment that day that she won't talk about. It looks as though Waylon will be going to the Science Expo by himself. But at least there's that astrophysicist!When Waylon's dad is summoned to Hollywood at the last minute, Neon is in dire need of a replacement. She trains her eyes on Waylon, and he has no choice but to be the stand-in, even though it means missing the Expo. It promises to be the most embarrassing night of his life . . . yet it could turn out to be the most awesome of all.But what is Mom up to, anyway?

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Fiction, School, Family

209 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 4, 2019

Reviews

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this lower middle grade series and this is the best Waylon book yet. All the characters are so well-defined and deeply human. And Clementine (Waylon's classmate and the series that this one spun off from) appears in a supporting role. In this story, Waylon's fourteen-year-old sister who has changed her name from Charlotte to Neon directs an improv performance (It's NOT a play!), Waylon's dog Dumpster Eddy becomes a star, Waylon's dad is up against his deadline to sell his screenplay or he will have to return to his former corporate imprisonment, and Waylon's mom drives him mad with her own secret. When it all comes to a boiling point, Waylon makes a supreme sacrifice for his family, then learns that he isn't the only family member undertaking a selfless act to help loved ones. Though packed, the plot is tightly woven, demonstrating the same interconnections that Neon portrays with streaming toilet paper all over the stage.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful. Oh my goodness. When you're feeling blue, or frustrated, this could cheer you right up. Inspirational for kids, too. And I love Neon's performance art... what a brilliant teen.

[EJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a DELIGHT.

[DaNae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of warmth, joy and toilet paper.

If at some, most unlikely, point in the future I was told I cold only read from one designated reading level for the rest of my life, I would choose these types of early chapter books that do such an excellent job capturing to joys and embarrassments of elementary life. Pennypacker can truly take her place alongside Cleary and DiCamillo.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super sweet story that my third graders loved.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waylon is really starting to grow on me. He's not as complicated as Clementine and at first I just wanted more Clementine and probably held that against him. But Waylon's simplicity and earnestness is incredibly endearing and that made me really enjoy getting to know him more in this book.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

On June 14, fourth-grader Waylon hopes to meet astrophysicist, Dr. Margaret J. Geller, when he presents his Sound Waves: Good Vibrations project at the Boston Science Expo. Neon, his sister, is directing her original performance at the Beantown Repertory Theater with their father playing the main role, and Mom won’t disclose her mysterious appointment on the family calendar for that day. Things get more complicated for Waylon when Dad is summoned to Hollywood about selling the screenplay he’s worked on for two years, and he volunteers to save Neon’s play by substituting for him in a role that’s sure to embarrass him for life. And his friend Mitchell will present Waylon’s science project and be the one to meet Dr. Geller. Marla Frazee’s expressive black-and-white drawings add to the enjoyment of learning how Waylon’s awesome story unfolds.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waylon! What a great character - he is everything you'd want in a brother, friend and classmate. This is the third book about this character and while it certainly helps to read the books in order, the perfect Waylon-ness of Waylon shows on every page from his daily care of Dumpster Eddie, to his interactions with Neon as she explores her passions, to his support of Mitchell and his love of baseball. Waylon is totally unique and wonderful!

[Wendi (Alex) Werner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only problem I have with this story is that it perpetuates the stereotype of the dumb jock and makes it sound like being into sports is mutually exclusive from being into science. I would hope that parents and teachers use this part of the story to talk about stereotypes. Maybe find examples of scientists or other academic types who also participated in sports. An easy start would be with many astronauts since they have to be fit and clever!

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore the Clementine and Waylon characters. (Maybe it's because they're from Boston...) Thank you Sara Pennypacker! This time Waylon is looking forward to the Science Expo and still visiting his dog at the Police Station. He's worried about his parents who seem distant but, of course, it all works out in the end.

[Melissa Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waylon has grown on me. I enjoyed the performance part , it was hilarious. Now. I wished Sara Pennypacker would give us more Waylon along with more Clementine. Also why was Waylon almost 11in fourth grade. Did he skip a year ?

[Haza · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say, this is my least favorite book of the series. I don't get why Waylon was acting the way he act in this book, and how he is getting hungry half of the time in the book. I kind of miss his interaction with Baxter, even his science-y rumbling

[Jen Petro-Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me tear up at the end.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book - can't go wrong with Sara Pennypacker and illustrator Marla Frazee! :)

[Grace Minter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t love This book but I liked it!

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute end to the series

[Mara K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

three and a half stars

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dumpster Eddy, Waylon, and his family get their happy ending!