Locker 37: The magic eraser by Aaron Starmer

Everyone knows fourth grade is the best at Hopewell Elementary, especially if you get the good teachers. After all, fourth graders are the top grade and the only ones to get access to... Locker 37. It's a magical locker that can solve all your problems - and Carson has just found the combination. 

Which is lucky for him, because he has a LOT of problems, ranging from not being able to multiply fractions to the worst problem of all - a stain on his pants. In a VERY embarrassing location. Hoping to find a spare pair of pants, he opens Locker 37 and starts on a wild ride. Before it's over, he and his friend Riley will have the first day of their lives. He'll run across the gym in his underwear, get stuck in a rain of cockroaches, sort of accidentally-on-purpose erase the school bully, and even learn how to multiply fractions.

This is just over 200 pages, which is a little long for a younger middle grade book, but it's a small, compact size and broken up with green and black illustrations, not to mention a few chapters explaining math (feel free to skip those if you've already figured out how to multiply fractions) and the myth behind Locker 37.

This is a school with a cafetorium (it's used as an auditorium at night) and such gems as, "I can promise you I'm not an evil wizard," Carson said. "Or else why would I need to borrow your jeans?" It was a good point. Conjuring a pair of jeans would be well within an evil wizard's capabilities."

The magic of Locker 37 isn't done - there's a sneak peek at the next book, featuring perfectionist Keisha James and her own experiences with the unpredictable locker.

Verdict: Funny and oh-so-relatable for fourth graders everywhere, this is sure to be a hit. Recommend to fans of Dav Pilkey, Dragonbreath, and anyone who's ever dealt with fractions and cockroaches all on the same day.

ISBN: 9780593094280; Published July 2020 by Penguin Workshop; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Purchased for the library