Elrod McBugle on the Loose

by Jeff Strand

A comedy for kids...and adults who were warped as kids! The students at Greenwater Junior High have said they'll never forget this year, and Elrod McBugle is the reason. He's not a bad person. He doesn't TRY to get in trouble, cause mayhem, and occasionally blow things up...it just happens. And it's going to happen again and again! Share Elrod's hilarious adventures as he faces the wrath of the Slurpy Gulp Beverage Company, tries to become a millionaire selling homemade bubble gum, survives a wild squirrel attack, tries to find out if his math teacher is an axe murderer, and much, much more! Watch out, everyone...Elrod McBugle is on the loose!

Genres: Humor, Comedy

136 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Bram Stoker Award-winning author of a bunch of demented books, including PRESSURE, DWELLER, CLOWNS VS. SPIDERS, AUTUMN BLEEDS INTO WINTER, MY PRETTIES, the official novelization of ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES, and lots of others!

Reviews

[Mort · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elrod McBugle could be a younger and more innocent version of FERRIS BUELLER.

Everything about this story told me I should be too old to enjoy it, yet I laughed all the way through. Man, this is one of those books that my son will HAVE to read before he goes to High School some day.

Recommend to all young teenagers and those who can remember how awkward we all were at that age - have to admit that it made me wish I had a little more courage when I was that age.
No curse words, no death and gore, just plain old fun, fun, fun.

I can fault nothing on this story.
Read it to your kids (or at least use that excuse...)!

[Mike Kazmierczak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being an adult male with no children, this is not usually the type of book that I would pick up to read. However, having both an obsessive and addictive personality results in me getting most books by certain authors. Jeff Strand is one of those authors. While different from some of his other books like SINGLE WHITE PSYCHOPATH SEEKS SAME, there are also degrees where they aren't that different. Both have characters that are well meaning but who also find themselves in difficult positions. These characters have funny events occur which I would not want happening to me. And these characters have a good set of friends and family to help see them through the situation. The difference is the degree of danger involved. Elrod McBugle is a junior high student dealing with the trials and tribulations that normally involves. You can think Dennis the Menace mixed with Ferris Bueller. Obviously this mean much less death, dismemberment and violence found in Strand's more adult books. McBugle is still a very likable character experiencing interesting events. If you are already a fan of Strand, read this because you will like it. And if this is your introduction to Strand, wait a few years until you can buy GRAVEROBBERS WANTED (NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY) from your local bookstore without the clerk giving you a hard time.

After several years and some life changes, I've now reread the book but this time while reading it to my 8-year-old at bedtime. I still found it enjoyable and fun but more importantly, so did she. She wasn't too sure about it at first and the quiz at the end of each chapter had her thinking about schoolwork. But after a couple of chapters she was laughing at the crazy happenings and was looking forward to what was going to happen next. While there are no more Elrod McBugle books, I will be reading some of Strand's other YA books to her.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elrod McBugle on the Loose is one of Jeff Strand's young adult books and it is a good one. The main character is always getting into trouble or causing chaos for anyone in his path. One adventure leads to another and there are many funny and memorable moments. Anyone familiar with Jeff Strand knows that he is very witty and a great writer. I have read several of his books and I have yet to find one that I didn't like. So... If you want a decent read, especially for middle school aged reader and want to give Jeff Strand a try, this book is right up there with "I Have a Bad Feeling about This". I think it’s better than his more well-known book "A Bad Day for Voodoo" and much better than "The Greatest Zombie Movie Ever". If you are grown and want to check out his other stuff, The Sinister Mr. Corpse is a goodie, Cyclops Road is practically a masterpiece and Dweller will make you curl up like a baby yeti and weep. 4/5

[Shadow Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

He's a normal kid, with a normal family, and normal friends. Things just have a tendency to get weird when Elrod McBugle is involved.
It’s not his fault – it’s just harmless shenanigans gone awry. Like when he does his own science project on a science project, (along with that one friend who will lick just about anything), and it becomes a delicious, money-making [mis]adventure. Or when he interviews a teacher to investigate rumours about her being an axe murderer, and gets way more information than he ever wanted.
There’s also friendship, first-love, a bully, and insane squirrels!

Full review posted on BBB. Stop by & join the discussion!

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is no one who can touch Jeff Strand as far as comedic writing. Whether using it in a horror setting or in this, a light hearted young adult novel, he is one of the few authors who can make me laugh out loud. Though this book is aimed at young teens anyone who is a fan of Jeff Strand will love it as well.

[Jim Morey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third time through what is basically a kid's book, and it hasn't lost its spark or its humor.

[Angelica Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope there's a sequel

This is a perfect book for kids to read to get them to love reading. It was funny and silly. I'd give it universe of stars.

[Robert Fontenot · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really fun, middle grade book. Strand’s absurdist humor is perfectly suited to the travails of junior high. This episodic tale is full of zany adventures that never succumb to cliche.