The Rizzlerunk Club: The Big Bad Lies by Leslie Patricelli
Series: The Rizzlerunk Club
Published by Candlewick Press on January 25, 2022
ISBN: 0763651052
Pages: 256
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
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“The Big Bad Lies” by Leslie Patricelli is the second book in the Rizzlerunk Club series. The two club members, Darby and Lily, find themselves in a bunch of trouble regarding two BIG lies. WARNING: There is animal death involved in this book.

The story starts with the class doing an experiment on two rats, which seems ethically wrong to me, but it’s part of the plot. Darby gets to take one of the rats home and Lily accidentally steps on it, killing it. Instead of fessing up to Darby, Lily insists that she didn’t do anything and the rat just died. In turn, Darby draws Michelangelo’s David nude, but when confronted by the teacher, she blames it on Lily. There’s a subplot about bullying, but mostly the book is about learning to face the consequences rather than lying.

The book is very funny, but I was affected by the death of the pet rat. Sensitive readers may find this plot point disturbing and not want to read further. I would recommend this book only if you already have the first one.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook.