Who is the Bucks Bandit? stumbles in this otherwise engaging series

As a family, we are knee-deep in the struggles of getting an elementary-aged student to learn to love reading. One series that he does enjoy is the Diary of a 5^th Grade Outlaw series by Gina Loveless with illustrations by Andrea Bell. The third book in the series is Who is the Bucks Bandit? and it feels very different than the first two. Elementary-aged students who are already enjoying the series will gamely follow along. However, those passive readers who were reading the book just to placate their parents will feel like they’ve been here before. The result will leave librarians and parents of those younger kids who are coming into the series hoping that the fourth book in the Diary of a 5^th Grade Outlaw series finds its mojo again.

It’s Halloween at Nottingham Elementary, a school that has lots in common with a certain folk hero with a bow and arrow that takes from the rich and gives to the poor. Robin Loxley is our main protagonist, she’s a typical 5^th grader who thinks that she knows it all, but also has a nice core group of friends to play with and bounce around the conspiracy of the day.

However, on this day the students are all chattering about a new student. Wilu seems OK, but is stand-offish and doesn’t seem too interested in making friends. At the same time, several classrooms are having their Bonus Bucks stolen.

If you read the first book in the Diary of a 5^th Grade Outlaw then the Bonus Bucks storyline might feel familiar. The concept of the fictional elementary grade currency to motivate behavior is lots of fun for those ages to think about and mine. It that book, it wasn’t the main plot point, but it played a large presence in the story. In this third book, the Bonus Buck idea again takes a large part of the ink and character’s thoughts up.

For us, it was a feeling of déjà vu. Granted, those younger ages might have the recollection that we do, but if they do, then they’ll sour on Who is the Bucks Bandit? quickly and yearn for something else to read.

As an older reader, we also found it disappointing that the subtle, wink-wink, similarities between this series and Robin Hood was never overtly stated. However, in the first three pages of this book, it gives up the ghost as Robin learns that she has lots in common with the costumed hero that one of her teachers told her about. Don’t ask your parents about Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker kids.

Again, younger readers won’t care much about either of those events, relative to their enjoyment of reading. But, the book doesn’t have the same zest, pep or enjoyment that the first two had. Kids will make mistakes and they need to read about kids making mistakes. But if Robin Loxley is the main character then shouldn’t she grow and alter some of the same mistakes that she’s making? Also, if this is really is an allegorical reference to Robin Hood, then why is Robin Loxley, the elementary school student, not the leader that is represented in the books?

Even if I’m reading too much into this series, which is entirely possible, this third book won’t hold the attention of young readers as well as the first two. When the surprise of who is behind the theft finally is revealed those readers might just shake their heads and say that it stretches the plausibility of elementary school.

I think there are still many more tales that can be told from this universe, but I hope that they’re focused more on the friendship happenings or elementary school challenges that are presented towards them. The ‘drama’ of elementary school isn’t as fun to read about and won’t win the series any new fans.

Diary of a 5^th Grade Outlaw: Who is the Bucks Bandit is by Gina Loveless with illustrations by Andrea Bell.

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