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Publisher's Note:

In the follow up to the bestselling Janitors series, a former student is now a teacher and founder of the School of Garbage who is training a new generation of young garbologists to trash talk and fight evil. Garbage comes to life as animated creatures called junklets, wreaking havoc in elementary schools. Specially trained kids from the magical School of Garbage are sent to stop the rise of the trash monsters. With the school’s magical janitorial supplies—brooms that can fly, toilet plungers that can reverse gravity, and mops that can capture anything in their strings—the ordinary becomes extraordinary. Landon Murphy discovers the undercover janitorial world when his soon-to-be stepsister, Jade Shu, guides him through a magical portal at the bottom of a dumpster that leads to a fantastical landfill and the home of the School of Garbage, where she has secretly been a student for the last few years. Problems at home with his family make it hard for Landon to feel like he belongs anywhere, but he is quickly welcomed by a student at the intriguing school for wizard-like janitors. His class on the science of garbology is like being a crime scene investigator, and every student gets to bond with one of three Servites—small, magical animals who exhale enchanted dust to help kids focus or be creative or have energy. Landon and Jade—along with allies from the original series—are tasked to take out the trash and figure out who—or what—is behind the mysterious garbage attacks and stop them before the entire world i…

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Janitors: School of Garbage

by Tyler Whitesides

Reviewer: Jenny
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: 9+

Overall Book Review:

Janitors: School of Garbage is a spinoff of Tyler Whitesides’ Janitors Series and begins many years after the previous series’ conclusion. While it would be great to start at the beginning of the previous series, School of Garbage is easy to jump into even if you’ve never read the series, but those who have will love the references to it. They will also appreciate a few roll-over characters and guest appearances. 

The story begins with a magical dumpster and an unbelieving student. We also meet characters, unlikely to be friends who must find their commonality and work together to fight evil. Along the way, they discover that teamwork and perseverance can accomplish anything. Whitesides is a wonderful writer who brings imagination to life in a fantastic way. Readers who enjoy Chris Grabenstein’s books and fans of fantasy will love this magical, clever story.

Review of an Advance Reading Copy Provided by Shadow Mountain

Content Analysis: 

Profanity/Language: None

Violence/Gore: Several (20) brief incidents including a reference to a shark bite; characters planning to fight the enemy; character nearly squished; character asked another if witches had their heads cut off; reference to witches dying; references to human characters fighting fantasy characters; reference to character dying and coming back to life; character falling and getting a bruise; character hit head into the door; character asking another to kick her; characters hitting each other as part of a game; fantasy characters attacking humans; adult character unconscious; a few extended incidents of human characters fighting fantasy characters.

Sex/Nudity: One brief reference of a young male character liking a young female character.

Mature Subject Matter:

Divorce; characters lying to parents; rude humor (including belch, reference to wedgie and character naming his animal Chickenbutt). 

Alcohol and Drug use:

None

Overall Book Rating
Profanity/Language
Rating:
0
10
Violence/Gore
Rating:
2
10
Sex/Nudity
Rating:
1
10

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About the Reviewer

Jenny
I love being able to help busy parents who just don’t have the time to pre-screen all their children’s books and know how much I appreciate it as my sons have gotten older. I feel very blessed that my amazing husband makes it possible for me to be a stay-at-home mother to four amazing boys. When not reading or enjoying time with my family, I like baking, especially trying new recipes, and the occasional sewing project.

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