Blart: The Boy Who Didn't Want to Save the World

Reach for this book when your child feels overwhelmed by the pressure to be 'special' or 'extraordinary' and just wants to be themselves. It is a perfect antidote for the high-achieving child who is burnt out or the reluctant student who feels like they do not fit the traditional mold of success. Dominic Barker delivers a hilarious subversion of the classic hero's journey that validates a child's right to their own identity and pace. Blart is a smelly, unheroic pig-boy who is told he is the only one who can save the world from an ancient evil. He really does not want to. As he is dragged along on a quest with a wizard, a princess, and a knight, the story explores themes of independence and the humor found in resisting forced expectations. It is a lighthearted, witty read for ages 9 to 13 that celebrates the person who dares to stay ordinary in a world obsessed with greatness.