There aren't many humorous chapter books for the middle grades, but this one steps up to the plate and fills the void. Add a slightly snarky voice, asides to the reader, and illustrations make this addition to Stuart Gibbs's “Once Upon a Tim” series a winner. I highly recommend!
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for the ARC.

Stuart Gibbs gives us another fun filled book that will capture readers young and old. The second book in this new series, is just as great as his other books.

Tim, a young knight in training and his valiant friend Belinda (also known as Bull to the world in general, as she’s concealing her identity in order to become a knight), fall into misadventures in their efforts to rescue Princess Grace from the dastardly clutches of Prince Ruprecht, who (teed off that she has scorned his advances) has imprisoned her in … wait for it…. The Labyrinth of Doom! (dum dum, dum dum <– insert theme from Jaws).

Author Gibbs has a brightly cheerful and snarky tone that will go down well with the target age group (here I include adults as well). Amusing illustrations add to the fun as Tim and friends encounter many trials and tribulations in the titular labyrinth, but surmount them with pluck, luck, and well-placed quips. The asides to the reader about IQ boosting definitions of long words such as soporific (for those who have not yet read Peter Rabbit), or laborious, are contextualized with a sly suggestion of how to use it in a sentence with the parental units. These are hilarious even while a bit overly self-aware. [Fourth wall? We don’t need no stinkin’ fourth wall here!] Gibbs also cleverly works in some painless grammar instruction and self-promotion of the very book you are reading, in the guise of clever repartee between our heroes. Snap!

Stuart Gibbs never fails! His books and series are always in demand in my Media Center. His latest, the second in the "Once Upon a Tim" series, is hilarious. Prince Ruprecht and his cast of jokers return. This time kidnapped Princess Grace must be rescued from the most twisted and convoluted maze ever.
The writing is hysterical. My elementary school readers will delight in the humor and laugh their way from cover to cover. I especially enjoyed how Gibbs interwove vocabulary through the use of an IQ Booster making it fun to learn and define words.. The illustrations are wild and creative and the story content great.
I also enjoyed the messages woven throughout the book, that of friendship and honesty. What was even more amusing was coming to the realization that these words really matter. Can't wait until the next installment!