The King of Average by Gary Schwartz is a story filled with adventure, a talking goat and other intriguing characters, and locations with very interesting names. This book was also packed with lessons about growing up and figuring out your purpose.
I loved the plot of self-discovery. For a middle grade novel, this topic is certainly very important!

The characters were all so fun and different! For example, there was Mayor Culpa, a "scapegoat" that took the blame for everything. And there was Monsieur William Roget, the optimist, and Kiljoy, the pessimist, who were constantly trying to make the situation better or worse, depending. There were also the Nervous Nellies and the Ninnies, both tribes of very small people. How fun!

The overall location, the Realm of Possibility, was so interesting to me! I loved that the names of the regions were all titled in the same fashion. There was the Flatterlands, Eureka, Lake Superior, Epiphany, the Unattainables, and so on, each of which had it's own positive or negative connotation. Eureka was one of my favorites! I loved that in this region you could literally go into a mine and dig for what you were seeking.

Overall, the play on words was by far my favorite element! It was so much fun to learn about new people or locations. This book was certainly very well thought out, and it shows in the writing!


My favorite passages:
A real live goat! The neighborhood had its share of dogs and cats, but never any farm animals. Especially one in fancy clothes!

Somehow, in a flicker of an instant, everything had changed.

His shiny black mustache was well groomed and thin. It was tightly wound and waxed at the ends, so much so that it looked like checkmarks framing the man's long nose.

"Giddyap!" said James.
"What's 'giddyap'?" asked the mayor.
"It's how we tell animals to get a move on where I come from," explained James.
"Oh," said the mayor. "We just say 'let's go.'"
"Well, let's go, then," said James, urging the goat forward.

The butterflies in his stomach were zooming around like jet planes.

Did giving voice to you innermost desires make things happen? If so, he'd consider saying a lot more things.

"Wwrawwk! How should I know? I'm no fortune-teller!" said the bird. "I'm instinctual."
"You can say that again!" said Kiljoy, pinching his nose. "Phewww-wee!"

James watched him pull back into his shell like a stubborn turtle, refusing to hear another word n the subject.

James took a sip of juice and sighed. He just was. And, for the moment, that was enough.


My final thoughts:
Overall, I did enjoy this read. I really loved the names of the groups of characters as well as the locations. I appreciated all of the lessons and such, but unfortunately I think I was just too far outside of the target audience to really love this one. Of course, that being said, if I had picked this up when I was younger, I think I would have enjoyed it more.

If you're looking for a great book for a middle-grade reader, I would definitely recommend this one! I know it will definitely be one that I recommend from time to time when someone is looking for a book at this level!