Captain Underpants and the Revolting Revenge of the Radioactive Robo-Boxers

Title: Captain Underpants and the Revolting Revenge of the Radioactive Robo-Boxers (Captain Underpants #10)

Author: Dav Pilkey

Illustrator: Dav Pilkey

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication Date: January 15, 2013

Genre/Format: Fantasy-Humor/Illustrated Novel

Goodreads Summary: A world without UNDERPANTS?!!!

     When we last saw our heroes, George and Harold, they had been turned into evil zombie nerds doomed to roam a devastated, postapocalyptic planet for all eternity. But why, you might ask, didn't the amazing Captain Underpants save the boys from this frightening fate? Because Tippy Tinkletrousers and his time-traveling hijinks prevented George and Harold from creating Captain Underpants in the first place! Now, having changed the course of human history forever, they'll have to figure out a way to CHANGE IT BACK. 

     Could this be the end for Captain Underpants?!!

What I Think: If you read my first review of this series, you know that I am a big fan. If you are skeptical right now about the value of these novels, I can promise you that I understand. I figured they were just filled with poop and fart jokes to try to sucker boys into reading. While I was partially right (it is more underwear and booger jokes), the series is so much more than that and as the series keeps growing, the wittiness of each novel grows as well. 

     I think this one is by far the most mature Captain Underpants book. The story line jumps around quite a lot, it deals with historical elements, and, like #9, it is quite long. I think Pilkey is growing with his readers (although his first readers are in their 20s now) and it is really taking the series to a whole new level. 

     I think that part of what makes Pilkey's humor work is that he never talks down to his reader. The humor is intelligent and witty, he uses a high-level of vocabulary and explains if needed, and he makes sure to have his books be as entertaining as possible to keep the reader's attention. It is quite brilliant how he puts these books together and, although this is not my favorite of the series, it is no different. A must read for any fan of the series and for those who have not read any of the series yet, you will not regret it. 

Read Together: Grades 2 to 6

Read Alone: Grades 3 to 7

Read With: Adventures of Ook and Gluk, Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future by Dav Pilkey, Captain Underpants #1-9, Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy by William Boniface, Time Travel Trio by Jon Scieszka, Frankie Pickle by Eric Wight, Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar

Snatch of Text: "Unfortunately, I'm sorry to have to tell you that there was no murder at the end of the last book. There wasn't even any blood. What happened at the end of our last story is something called misdirection. It's what happens when you are led to believe that something is true, but in reality it's not true at all. Misdirection happens a lot in real life - especially in politics, history, education, medicine, marketing, science, religion and the Oprah Winfrey Network." (p. 17)

Mentor Text for: Vocabulary Development, Humor, Illustration, Editing (Spelling and Grammar), Making Connections

Writing Prompts: In this novel, Harold, George and a handful of other characters go back in time to try to change the future. What event could you go back in time to try to change?; Rewrite Harold and George's comic correcting the spelling and grammar mistakes.; Ook and Gluk made an appearance in a wordless comic of Harold and George's. Add dialogue so we can see what they are saying. 

Topics Covered: Time Travel, Time Continuum, Cave Paintings, Post-Apocalyptic, History, Cavemen, Big Bang

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