I am a sucker for books that teach me things while I'm having a good time. I just loved hanging out with these very dynamic characters while they tried to save the world from apocalypse with nothing more than what they could lay their hands on in any given moment. I loved the references to historical events and the personalization it offers when you are experiencing those events through the mind of one who was there, ostensibly. There was a well developed cast of characters here - not only the protagonist and his friends, but I also had a real sense of who the villains were, both child and adult. I could feel each person, except the parents, because what parents are really in focus in a child's experience? It felt very true to middle school life, with the values placed in accordance with what is important to tweens. This is a book I think any young person could enjoy reading.