Middle School Misadventures: Operation Hat Heist, Quad-Cities author-illustrator Jason Platt’s second graphic novel, has been named to the Texas Library Association’s 2021 Little Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List. The TLA is the country’s largest state library association. Platt’s debut graphic novel, Middle School Misadventures, was named to the 2020 list as well.
Released on Dec. 1, the list is a recommended reading list of 83 graphic novels nationwide designed for children in grades K-5. The books were selected by public and school librarians who are members of the Texas Library Association’s Children’s Round Table, which promotes services to children and young people. MSM: Operation Hat Heist is one of 51 books selected for the grades 3-5 category.
View the complete 2021 list at https://txla.org/tools-resources/reading-lists/little-maverick/current-list/
Published by Little, Brown for Young Readers (LBYR), a division of Hachette Book Group, the Middle School Misadventures series features a group of friends as they navigate the ins and outs of middle school and its unpredictable predicaments.
In Platt’s second Middle School Misadventures graphic novel, main character Newell’s favorite hat gets taken away at school. With the help of his most talented friends, he concocts the perfect plan to get it back. Operation: Hat Heist is a go!
Geared toward children 8-12 years of age, the 232-page book is available in both paperback and hardcover form through various retailers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
About the author
Platt is a graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) with a degree in illustration. In 2015 he was accepted by unanimous vote into the National Cartoonists Society.
About the Texas Library Association
The Texas Library Association (TLA) was established in 1902 to promote, support, and improve library services in Texas. It is the largest state library association in the U.S. Its 6,000+ members represent all library types: academic, public, school and special. Learn more at https://txla.org/.
Plot summary from Little, Brown for Young Readers - www.lbyr.com
In Jason Platt’s second Middle School Misadventures graphic novel, Newell’s favorite hat gets taken away! With the help of his most talented friends, he concocts the perfect plan to get it back. Operation: Hat Heist is a go!
Newell’s favorite show of all time is The Captain! Newell is beyond excited when he learns that the Captain himself, Patrick O’Shaughnessy, will be at Monster Comic Con. He can’t wait to meet The Captain wearing his once-worn-by-The-Captain WWII crusher hat that his dad gave him. But when Newell brings the hat to school, it gets stolen from his backpack! Fart.
When Newell finally spots the culprit wearing his hat in the hall, Mr. Todd confiscates it and reminds the students, “There are no hats to be worn in school!”
Double fart. What will Newell do?! He wants his hat back so he doesn’t let his dad down and so he can impress his hero, but Mr. Todd refuses to return it! Just when Newell is about to give up, he receives a note from 8th grader Ethan: “I have an idea. Also, bring your friends. They can help too.” Can Newell, Ethan, and this ragtag group of friends pull off the perfect hat heist?
In this fun and imaginative full-color graphic novel, Jason Platt sends fast-talking, daydreaming, Newell on another desperate quest to save his favorite hat before he meets his all-time hero.