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Book Review: Timmy Failure #1: Mistakes Were Made

Aug 19, 2013

In the style of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis follows a kid detective with a polar bear business partner. Kidzworld has the book review.

Timmy Lives Up To His Name

Timmy Failure is the founder, president, and CEO of Failure, Inc. - what Timmy believes is the best detective agency in town. He works on simple crimes such as a case of missing Halloween candy or a TPed house. Unfortunately, Timmy fails to see the obvious. He is delusional about all aspects of his life, particularly his detective work. 

Delusional Detective

Timmy's delusional outlook is both a good thing and a bad thing. On the upside, he manages to stay positive, feel confident and dream big about the future of his detective agency. On the downside, Timmy doesn't respect other people's property (such as his mom's closet or his stepdad's car), disregards school (by refusing to study and makes his teacher have a nervous breakdown), and doesn't care if he ruins other people's futures (by sabotaging group projects and ruining his friend Rollo's perfect GPA.)

The Evil One

Worst of all, another girl in his class also has a detective agency, and Timmy thinks she is evil, bent on destroying his business and his life. This is another one of his delusions, of course, because she doesn't even know his name.

Book Review: Timmy Failure #1: Mistakes Were MadeTimmy Failure #1: Mistakes Were Made by Stephan PastisCourtesy of Candlewick Press

The Bottom Line

Timmy Failure is a very backwards character. And he is certainly not a role model for kids. If you read Timmy Failure, make sure you don't adopt any of his beliefs or practices, such as lying, destroying other's property, flunking school, and feeling an outrageous sense of entitlement. Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made is written in the style of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dork Diaries and Planet Tad. While reading this book, remember that Timmy is showing you how NOT to be.

Have Your Say

Will you read Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis? Tell us in our comment section below!