How appropriate my fortune cookie read, “An optimist is always able to see the bright side of other people’s troubles.”

Boris Snodbuckle and his sidekick Adrian are true optimists. They are seventh grade nerds or geeks at Bendale Public School, which is a K-8 school.  As you might imagine, Boris’ last name gets quite a bit of play in the unpleasant nickname department, but that does not stop him. Boris wants to make Bendale a better place and to do this he plans to run for Student Council President. Boris will be running against super popular, gorgeously handsome, and chief bully Robert. Boris figures out he will need to win over five groups of students in Operation Save Our School: “1. Little kids, 2. Nature lover kids ( Green Goblins), 3. Artsy kids, 4. Brainiac kids, 5. Popular kids”. (30) Boris comes up with a plan, or operation- as he likes to call it, to win over each group.

First plan is Operation Swing Back. This involves getting the swing sets back from the seventh graders for the little kids to use at recess. This operation involves water ballooning the seventh graders. When they give chase the little kids rush in to take over the swings. The operation is a success only to have Robert step in to announce Boris is copying his campaign promise to get the swings backs. Robert is believed.

Second plan- Operation Rally in the Valley involves saving ‘the Valley’ where generations of kids have played from a greedy land developer. Boris succeeds again, only to have Robert take credit for it through social media.

Third plan- Operation Broadway finds Boris auditioning for the school musical. Boris and Adrian both get parts, but so do Robert and his lackeys. Boris’ part is reduced to playing Rock #2, through Robert’s sneaky tricks. Dirty trick after dirty trick Boris doesn’t loose faith. As Rock #2, Boris has no lines, so he learns everyone else’s lines, which will eventually save the show, no thanks to Robert.

These are followed by Operation Triple R,  Operation Feed the World, and finally by Operation Beat His Speech. Each operation has its own set backs, usually Robert. Boris’ optimism rules!

All but once: ” ‘We did all this for nothing, and I’m tired of things never working out– never– and of kids putting me down all the time… and the jokes about my name… and no matter what I do, all I ever get are detentions and suspensions.’ ” (196)  Then Adrian proves himself as a sidekick and convinces Boris not to give up.

Boris has ethics! He won’t throw dirt on Robert in his speech before the election. After the Robert and Boris’ speeches, there is a question and answer session. Here several students ask Robert question after question, as if he is on trial, about all of the things he is guilty of during the campaign. Chanting for Boris erupts!

Boris wins the election, of course. Then, post election, in Operation Gym-Jam the student hold a sit-in (1960s style) until they are given outdoor recess again on mild weather days.

My one complaint about this book is that it needs better cover art to sell this wonderful story!

Be aware the word “wuss” is used once, on page 18.