BookBunnies

Marshmallow reviews Undercover Angel by Dyan Sheldon

The book bunnies are back! Today in her first review after summer break, Marshmallow is writing about Undercover Angel by Dyan Sheldon, a book published originally in 2000. The book bunnies first discovered a translation of the book and had to dig up the English original, but it was worth it!

Marshmallow’s Quick Take: If you like reading books about the environment or kids with a surprisingly good sense of humor, then this is the book for you!

Marshmallow’s Summary (with Spoilers): Elmo Blue is not very pleased with his family – and for reasons that go beyond his unfortunate name (his words, not mine). His mother specifically is the main issue; Grace Blue is one of the leading members of the Keep Our Planet Green group in Campton, a small town in England. She and the other Greeners (as Elmo calls them) do horrifically embarrassing things, at least in his perspective. For example, she drives a milk float instead of a car.

Meanwhile, the Blues’ fancy neighbors Mr. and Ms. Bamber drive around in a Porsche all day. Mr. Bamber is a wealthy landowner and developer who is essentially his mother’s arch nemesis. He plans on converting a large swathe of beautiful land in the neighborhood into a resort / golf course. As an environmentalist who had handcuffed herself to stop bulldozers from destroying nature, Grace views her neighbors as disgusting devils; in Elmo’s eyes, they are admirable. At least their house is clean, tidy, and orderly in his eyes. Naively, he believes that Mr. Bamber is an honorable businessman who is far more respectable than his own messy family.

So, in summary, Elmo couldn’t really care less about his mother’s petition problems and her struggle to get the city council to stop Mr. Bamber’s development plans. After all, she barely registers that he wants attention after falling off the roof. For context, he fell off while trying to spy on the Bambers’ new adopted son (who Elmo views as a perfect candidate for a new best friend). Miraculously, he isn’t a teensy bit hurt. Grace is too busy to pay attention though.

After returning to his room, Elmo finds the new adopted child sitting at his desk. The child turns out to be a very tall, intimidating girl named Kuba who claims to be an angel. She does have a faint blue halo but Elmo refuses to buy unscientifically-backed claims. But the evidence piles up eventually. Kuba is an undercover angel in Campton, come to help Grace and the Greeners stop Mr. Bamber. The only catch is that she is not allowed to be involved in anything, meaning Elmo has to do something. He doesn’t want to, but there’s not much you can do when an undercover angel tells you to save the environment.

Marshmallow is reading Undercover Angel by Dyan Sheldon. — Marshmallow is reading *Undercover Angel* by Dyan Sheldon.

Marshmallow’s Review: Undercover Angel is a very niche-like book but it is also extremely funny. I was very surprised by how witty this book is. Elmo is a twelve year old but the story is still amusing if you are older. His journey from aspiring Warren Buffet to cautious environmental activist is fascinating to watch, even if his transformation is not complete at the end of the book. It does end with hints that the story continues (and apparently there is a second book with Elmo and Kuba in it), but it is still a satisfying ending.

Undercover Angel is very quick to read – only around 137 pages with large font – and very entertaining so it’s a great choice for kids or teenagers who are interested in the environment but still looking for something lighthearted. Most books about environmental issues are a lot heavier so this is a great option to introduce those larger concepts to younger audiences. I think this would be particularly perfect for elementary school students in a classroom or bedtime setting.

Undercover Angel is written in British English so some of the words may require a quick search; context also matters (for example, mentions to the IRA and SAS may be unfamiliar for bunnies of different nationalities). But these side references are not at all substantial. They are occasional and raise brief questions you may or may not investigate into (reading books that make you have to look something up is a bit more work but is more rewarding because you receive more than just a narrative; you also learn little pieces of information you wouldn’t have otherwise).

The message overall is clearly globally relevant. While Undercover Angel is set in a small town surrounded by woods and lakes, the message of environmental protection applies to all people – whether nature looks the same or strikingly different in your community. I really liked how this book also focused on environmental action within a local circle. I truly enjoy books that look at larger scale action, but it is refreshing to see what environmentalism can look like in a sense you can directly, easily imagine.

While there are some references to a God, it is not really specified which God it is and the topic of religion is not really mentioned. Yet, one of the main characters being an angel adds a different dimension to the narrative that was interesting to me. Generally, books about environmental protection are more focused on nature itself, scientific fact, and tangible action. Much of this book is focused on the people wreaking havoc, the families trying to stop it, and the strange and mystical ways their undercover angel directs action.

I was a bit surprised that very little of the book focused on time spent in nature itself. This is a result, I suppose, of the main character’s resistance to environmentalism as a whole. It is interesting to see how even reluctant Elmo begins to recognize the importance of environmental protection at the end. As such, Undercover Angel can be a great story for parents or teachers looking to introduce or explore environmentalism with their children. It definitely has some examples of the stereotypical environmentalist (the mom is basically a walking stereotype), but, with thought, care, and an open mind, this book is the perfect book to make classroom and bedtime reading more eco-friendly!

Marshmallow’s Rating: 100%.

Marshmallow rates Undercover Angel by Dyan Sheldon 100%. — Marshmallow rates *Undercover Angel* by Dyan Sheldon 100%.

Marshmallow reviews Fiske Guide To Colleges 2026 (42nd Edition) by Edward B. Fiske

For her last review before the book bunnies take off for the month of July, Marshmallow picked a book she has spent a lot of time with these past few weeks: The Fiske Guide To Colleges 2026 (42nd Edition) by Edward B. Fiske.

Marshmallow’s Quick Take: If you are a high school student approaching the college application season, or if you are related to one, then this is the book for you!

Marshmallow’s Summary (with Spoilers): The Fiske Guide To Colleges 2026 is organized very well! It has a comprehensive table of contents at the start to lay out every opportunity for exploration it will give you in the pages to come. There is an Index by State and Country, an Index by Price, an Index by Average Debt, and The Best Buys of 2026. Those first couple pages contain enough valuable information alone to justify obtaining a copy of this book. But what really makes this more valuable than just lists alone is what lies below those lists.

The Introduction and the “Sizing Yourself Up” section remind you of what the college search is supposed to be about. Instead of hunting for the lowest sticker price or the greatest name recognition, the reader is encouraged to remember that there are infinitely more factors to take into account in what should be a search for the educational nursery that will hopefully prepare you for a successful future later on in life.

There is a handy-dandy survey you can take which helps you evaluate what it is you want in a college; this is very useful, and I am not just saying that because I love taking Buzzfeed quizzes! While taking that test, I realized that there are many more aspects to the admissions process to consider while making your list. If half of the schools on your list are not places you would actually like to be in, then you are likely making a mistake.

For those who are certain in their choices and the path they want, there is a section titled “A Guide for Preprofessionals.” There is also a page listing the schools with the strongest support for students with disabilities; this could be life changing for many. The next part is also similarly crucial. Each school has two to three pages describing what life is like for students on campus, from architectural style to weather to culture to food to average political affiliations.

Personally, I have found that finding a good fit has been very difficult for me. When most colleges are in different states and you can’t really visit most of the places on your list, getting a feel for the “vibe” of a place is pretty hard. But with this book, you can get a much better sense of what life could look like for you in different places. There is no doubt that the college applications process is a truly stressful time, but with this book you will definitely feel much more comfortable and informed as you look ahead into an uncertain future.

Marshmallow is reading Fiske Guide To Colleges 2026 (42nd Edition) by Edward B. Fiske. — Marshmallow is reading *Fiske Guide To Colleges 2026* (42nd Edition) by Edward B. Fiske.

Marshmallow’s Review: I really, really appreciate Mr. Fiske and his team. I am very glad they took the time to write beautifully detailed entries for each school, not to mention the little information bars that go with each. Each entry has a box with the school’s website, location type, private / public designation, total enrollment, undergraduate count, male to female ratio, financial aid stats, Pell Grant stats, expense, student loan stats, average debt, applicant pool size, acceptance rate, enrollment rate, graduation rate, returning freshman rate, academics assessment, social life assessment, quality of life assessment, admissions info, and strong programs. I think this is the best way to learn more about schools besides visiting a place physically. Helpful indexes also help you break down how the book analyzes and ranks different parts to consider. I specifically, especially liked how the book emphasizes the social life and quality of life of different schools. Personally, I do not want to go to a school with too much of a Greek life focus and this has been one of the clearest ways for me to get a sense of different opportunities at different schools. There is also a box at the end of each entry for each school that tells you the details of how to apply to each individual school (such as their testing policy with the SAT and ACT).

Overall, The Fiske Guide To Colleges 2026 has been a really, really helpful resource for me. It has actually opened my eyes substantially to all the different opportunities and futures there are. I used to be a lot more narrow-minded in where I was going to apply, but I’ve definitely crossed off certain places and added new ones because I realized that I simply had not known enough about each school. Every place is uniquely perfect for someone and, with this book, you can feel much safer and much more confident while you search for your place in college.

A quick note for those looking into earlier editions of the book: I also had the chance to peruse the 2024 edition, and I did not see too many differences in coverage and content. So I was happy to get my paws on the latest edition, but other recent editions can also do the job if they are easier to access.

Marshmallow’s Rating: 100%.

Marshmallow rates Fiske Guide To Colleges 2026 (42nd Edition) by Edward B. Fiske 100%. — Marshmallow rates *Fiske Guide To Colleges 2026* (42nd Edition) by Edward B. Fiske 100%.

Caramel reviews Confessions of a Trash Droid: Fatal Error by Michael Cheney

For his last post before our summer break, Caramel decided to review the first book in the Confessions of a Trash Droid series of Michael Cheney: Fatal Error first published in 2025. As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, tell us a bit about this book.

Caramel: This is a book about a robot. This robot is sentient and he does not really like humans.

S: How come?

C: He does think they are very useful or intelligent.

S: Hmm, one does not have to be useful or intelligent to be worthy of care and kindness, but okay. So why is he a trash droid? Does he collect trash? Or is he old and people want to discard him like trash?

C: The first more or less: he is a waste disposal robot.

S: Okay, so what happens to him?

C: So he is on a plane that crashes and he does nothing to save anyone. So the company that built him or is using him is mad because he is supposed to help humans.

S: So is that what the confessions part of the title is about?

C: Sort of. But also he has a strange error that causes him to black out and go violent and so on.

Caramel is reading Confessions of a Trash Droid: Fatal Error by Michael Cheney. — Caramel is reading *Confessions of a Trash Droid: Fatal Error* by Michael Cheney.

S: This reminds me a lot of Murderbot, at least in the TV series version, where he was having flashbacks or memory clips of himself going violent and being involved in a chaotic event.

C: Yeah, there are some parallels for sure.

S: Honestly when I first read the description of the book, I immediately thought of All Systems Red and Artificial Condition. So I thought you might enjoy it.

C: Yeah, I did enjoy it; it is pretty good. And yes, there are some similarities perhaps but this one is a little more of a misanthrope, you’d say, he is much more negative towards humans. And he is more robotic. Murderbot is a lot more human, his body is a lot more organic, and he looks like and can pass as a human. The trash droid looks very robotic. Also this one has a much much dirtier vocabulary. There is a bad word every few sentences. I mean it works, but maybe if a bunny’s parents don’t want them to read a book with bad words, this might not be right for them.

S: And I think this one has much shorter chapters.

C: Yeah, it is also a shorter book. So quite easy to read.

S: Okay, Caramel, I think this is a good time to wrap up our review.

C: Sure.

S: And this is your last review till August.

C: I love summer time!!!

S: Yes, summer is really nice. And we will take July off as usual. So what would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews! There is one more post from Marshmallow and then there will be many more in August!

Caramel enjoyed reading Confessions of a Trash Droid: Fatal Error by Michael Cheney and is curious about the future books in the series. — Caramel enjoyed reading *Confessions of a Trash Droid: Fatal Error* by Michael Cheney and is curious about the future books in the series.

Marshmallow reviews The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

Marshmallow has always enjoyed the books of Kate DiCamillo. She has also reviewed a handful of them for the book bunnies blog. (See her posts about Flora and Ulysses, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, and The Magician’s Elephant.) Today she reviews The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread by DiCamillo. Originally published in 2003, The Tale of Despereaux won the 2004 Newbery Medal and it was the first book by DiCamillo that the book bunny household read–or more accurately listened to as an audio book.

Marshmallow’s Quick Take: If you like cute books that are akin to fairy tales in their rich, classical storytelling, then this is the book for you!

Marshmallow’s Summary (with Spoilers): Despereaux was born to a French mouse whose favorite word was “disappointment.” Along with his family, he lives in the king’s castle in the land of Dor. Unfortunately, he is quite the disappointment both to his mother and the rest of his family. He is extraordinarily, peculiarly small but his ears are extremely large in proportion. On the first day of his life, his family was also shocked by how curious he was; they say he was born with his eyes open. This was just the start of his bizarre behavior–at least in the opinion of the other mice.

Despereaux also lacks the instinctual fear other mice believe is integral to the very essence of being a mouse. He doesn’t scurry, much to their dismay, and doesn’t realize the importance of scavenging for crumbs. Not only that, he does not eat books; he actually reads them. So Despereaux overall is a very big disappointment to his mother, father, and the general mouse community in the castle. They still love him, but they are simultaneously in a state of shock. They are even more shocked when they see him interacting with a human. Specifically, Princess Pea who is the only daughter of the king.

Drawn to her first by music, Despereaux eventually falls in love with the princess (which is definitely a little unusual given their vastly differing sizes). However, his love is true. The rest of the mice community doesn’t appreciate her understanding nature and believe human-mice interactions are a threat to all. They banish Despereaux to the dungeons which are infested with rats. Rats, unlike their more timid mouse counterparts, are violent and dangerous. Suffice it to say, Despereaux finds himself in some hot water.

At the same time, a rat named Roscuro is plotting revenge on Princess Pea. He convinces one of the castle maids–an abused young girl named Miggery Sow or “Mig”–to help him kidnap Princess Pea and promises her Pea’s crown. With Princess Pea in danger, Despereaux takes up the mantle of those he read about in fairy tales and becomes her knight in shining armor. He might be a mouse but his lionhearted fearlessness and unwavering love make him an unstoppable force!

Marshmallow is reading The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo. — Marshmallow is reading *The Tale of Despereaux* by Kate DiCamillo.

Marshmallow’s Review: The Tale of Despereaux is a beautiful, adorable book! I love reading DiCamillo’s writing. It is unbelievably comforting and descriptive. Her books, particularly this one, feel like a rich, home-cooked meal. They remind you of the fairy tales we’ve all grown up with but an even more heartwarming version.

I love how adventurous and suspenseful this book is while it maintains its child-friendly style. DiCamillo is a master of prose that balances action with heart and character building. The plot is nicely, neatly wrapped up.

As a whole, The Tale of Despereaux is a very entertaining and moving book that is excellent in a touching yet understated way. I would highly recommend reading it to everyone! The message of strength, love, understanding, forgiveness, and openmindedness is something everyone can appreciate and learn from, regardless of age!

Marshmallow’s Rating: 100%.

Marshmallow rates The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo 100%. — Marshmallow rates *The Tale of Despereaux* by Kate DiCamillo 100%.