Fake Mustache: Or, How Jody O'Rodeo and Her Wonder Horse (and Some Nerdy Kid) Save the U.S. Presidential Election from a Mad Genius Criminal Mastermind

Angleberger, T. (2012). Fake Mustache: Or, How Jodie O'Rodeo and Her Wonder Horse (and Some Nerdy Kid) Saved the U.S. Presidential Election From a Mad Genius Criminal Mastermind. Amulet Books. 208 pages. ISBN 9781419701948

Primary genre: Humor

Other elements: fantasy, friendship, adventure, romance

Intended reader age: 8 and up

Synopsis:

Lenny lends his friend Casper $10 for his birthday to buy the Heidelberg Handlebar Number Seven, a fake mustache so realistic it has adults believing Casper is someone else entirely. When Casper begins using that mustache to rob banks, start a business, and run for president it is only Lenny and Jodie O’Rodeo, the formerly famous teen cowgirl, who are not fooled. Everyone else in town believes Casper is the savvy businessman he is pretending to be. It is up to Lenny and Jodie to stop Casper before his bid for presidency is realized. 

Review:

I had originally planned to read The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Angleberger, but I saw this sitting beside it at the library and decided to try the newest novel instead. I am a fan of subtitles, especially when authors indicate that they are alternative titles. The subtitle for this book is: Or, How Jodie O’Rodeo and her Wonder Horse (and Some Nerdy Kid) Saved the U.S. Presidential Election From a Mad Genius Criminal Mastermind. Considering how the book ended it is funny that this would be the secondary title.

I did have some adult moments while reading this book; moments of, “That’s above and beyond.” But, I can see where the interest would lie for young readers. This book is definitely meant for tweens; the main characters are 13 and some of the jokes and circumstances appeal to their sense of humor. Like when Lenny is only able to find a costume of Jodie O’Rodeo to disguise himself as and and everyone falls for it. Or when they jumped into the vat of ‘boogers’ to get away from the guys chasing them. But then they have moments of growing up and becoming teens, like the blossoming romance between Lenny and Jodie. I did like that there was a portion of the story told from Jodie’s perspective. It was only about a third of the story, but it opens the story up to girl readers. The focus is still on Lenny and him trying to stop Casper but Jodie does play a role in making this happen.

One thing that is not really covered in the book is if the bid for presidency had been Casper’s idea from the beginning or if it was something that came after he bought the mustache. The origins of the mustache were discussed and this kind of led me to believe maybe the mustache had some influence. But, again, there was no resolution to this theory.