Meet the Gecko (Shredderman Series #3) by Wendelin Van Draanen, John Feinstein, Brian Biggs (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

Nolan Byrd single-handedly saved his school from the bullydom of Alvin “Bubba” Bixby. He posted proof of Bubba’s exploits on the Web at Shredderman.com. Now Shredderman is the school hero! But since Shredderman’s identity is a secret, everyone still treats Nolan like . . . a nerd.

But inside this nerd beats a superhero’s heart—one dedicated to truth and justice. So when a vandal spray-paints graffiti around town—and even on his teacher’s van!—Nolan decides that tracking down the tagger is a job for Shredderman.

But while he’s trying to trap the tagger, the tagger is trying to pin the blame on Shredderman! Can Nolan turn the tables back around before his secret identity is revealed?


From the Hardcover edition.

Publishers Weekly

Long-awaited sequels and favorite characters return in a slew of novels this winter. Continuing the action-packed series begun with Shredderman: Secret Identity, which PW hailed as "a one-man Revenge of the Nerds for the elementary crowd," Wendelin Van Draanen returns with Shredderman: Meet the Gecko, illus. by Brian Biggs. Here Nolan (aka Shredderman) meets his hero-or should one say, superhero-Chase Morton, who plays The Gecko on TV. But Chase is being chased, and Nolan is determined to expose the stalker on Shredderman.com. Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6- Nolan Byrd is Shredderman, a 12-year-old super cyber-hero whose secret identity is known only to his parents, his teacher, and himself. When his favorite TV star, Chase Morton, aka The Gecko, comes to town to shoot back-to-back episodes, Nolan gets the chance to meet him. The boys quickly bond over PlayStation, and Nolan soon becomes involved in helping Chase expose a sleazy paparazzo, The Mole, who uses the photos he takes to slander celebrities in the tabloids. Nolan uses his techno savvy to publicize The Mole's slimy antics, and ultimately bring him to justice. Read by Daniel Young, this third installment (Knopf, 2005) of Wendelin Van Draanen's popular series gets simple treatment in its translation to audiobook. Music and sound effects are at a minimum, used only during the introduction and at the end of each disc. Young's voice matches the age of the main character appropriately, though he tends to shout through the narration rather than use vocal nuance. Nevertheless, fans of Shredderman will enjoy tuning in to hear the exploits of everyone's favorite preteen Internet superhero.-Jennifer Verbrugge, Dakota County Library, Galaxie Branch, Apple Valley, MN

Kirkus Reviews

Fifth-grade math prodigy Nolan Byrd and his secret identity-Internet Superhero Shredderman-returns for a third adventure. Nolan's reporter father lands the sweet assignment of interviewing pre-teen TV sensation Chase Morton a.k.a. The Gecko. "The Gecko and Sticky" is Nolan's favorite show, and he gets to tag along because it's his birthday. The boys hit it off, and Nolan decides to have Shredderman help Chase get rid of a particularly nasty paparazzi called "The Mole." Digital photos, sneaky camera work and Shredderman's Web site put an end to the Mole's slimy career. Nolan is also able to extend the hand of friendship to his former adversary, Bubba Bixby who is also a fan by taking "Alvin" with him to meet their idol. Reluctant readers, be they old fans or new, will enjoy the humor, swift pacing, and Biggs's heavy-line cartoon illustrations. Cyber-hero fun for everyone, and, of course, future installments are on the way. (Fiction. 7-11)

Product Details

• Read an Excerpt

Read an Excerpt

Bubba Bixby was born big and mean, full of teeth and ready to bite.

That's what my mom thinks anyway.

My dad says a boy isn't born bad--he grows into being bad.

I don't know who's right. What I do know is that Bubba Bixby's got rocky knuckles.

And killer breath.

Teachers are always telling him to use words instead of fists--they have no idea what they're saying! Bubba-breath can knock you out cold.

Ask Ian McCoy. It actually happened to him in the third grade. When Bubba shouted at him, Ian's eyes rolled up in his head.

His knees buckled.

Then he blacked out and bit the dirt.

We had to slap his cheeks like crazy to get him to wake up, and when he did, he sat up, then threw up.

My father thinks I shouldn't call Bubba "Bubba" like everyone else does. He thinks I should call him Alvin, which is his real name. I've told him that calling him Alvin will get me pounded. Mike McDermish got dared to do it once and was nothing but Mike-mush when it was over. Now it's "Sure, Bubba" and "You betcha, Bubba" whenever he talks to him.

My mom and dad used to try to get the school to do something about Bubba. They talked to teachers. They even talked to the principal, Dr. Voss, a bunch of times. Nothing changed.

Dad thinks Dr. Voss isn't assertive enough. Dr. Voss thinks I'm not assertive enough. She says that kids like Bubba help us get ready for life.

Now that I'm a fifth grader, my dad tells me not to worry about Bubba. He says that I've got a lot more on the ball than Bubba does, and that one day Alvin Bixby will be working for me.

But he's wrong on two counts. First, that's forever away. And second, I wouldn't hire Bubbain a million years.

I'd fire him.

Say . . . what if I could fire Bubba from school? Wouldn't that be cool? Just kick him out and tell him to never come back. I could eat lunch without him flipping over my tray. Play four-square without him hogging the ball. Line up for class without him taking cuts and shoving the rest of us back. Oh, yeah. School without Bubba would be a whole new place.

I have to admit that our teacher, Mr. Green, tries to keep Bubba in line, but Mr. Green's already got one full-time job teaching fifth grade, and my mom says it's hard for him to take on another in the middle of it.

Plus, Bubba's sly. So no matter how hard Mr. Green tries, Bubba gets away with stuff.

Like lying.

And cheating.

And stealing.

My magic-rub eraser is in Bubba's desk right now with the initials B.B. gouged into it. So are some of my colored pencils. And probably my favorite The Gecko and Sticky magazine and the Dinosaurs library book I keep getting a reminder on.

It's not just my stuff that gets stolen. Bubba takes things from everybody. Even his friends, Kevin and Max. Actually, I think he steals from them the most.

The only thing Bubba's ever given anyone is names. I used to be Nolan Byrd. Now I'm Byrd-the-Nerd.

Or just plain Nerd.

Jake is Bucktooth. Trey is Butthead. Marvin is Moron. Todd is Toad, Ian is Fizz, Jenni is Worm-lips, Trinity is Pony-girl, Kayla is Freckle, Sarah is Kiss-up . . . everyone's got two names: one from their parents and one from Bubba.

His names stick, too. If Bubba calls you something a few times, you'll hear it over and over again from everyone. Some people like their names. Like Brian Washington. Even the teachers call him Gap because he wants them to. He doesn't have a gap between his front teeth anymore, but Bubba called him that in second grade, and he hasn't been Brian since.

So that's Bubba. He calls you names. He steals your stuff. He breathes putrid fumes in your face.

And even though I've always wanted to do something about it, I could never figure out what. I'm half Bubba's size and don't exactly want to die in elementary school.

So I just eat lunch far away from him, make room when he's cutting in line, and let him call me Nerd.

It's not fair, but at least I'm still alive.