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The Fourth Stall #2
The Fourth Stall Part II
The life of crime is good. Mac has taken down legendary high school crime boss Staples, business has been booming, and Mac and Vince are getting ready for middle school baseball tryouts. But this can’t last. Mac has always tried to keep his friends close and his enemies closer. But what happens when you can’t tell the difference?
This dilemma walks into the fourth stall in the form of Trixie Von Parkway—an eighth grader with a mean look and an even meaner predicament. The new science teacher is terrorizing her, and she needs Mac to get him off her back. Seems simple enough, but as Mac starts to dig deeper, he finds even more trouble brewing at his school, including a new administrator bent on destroying his business, and indications that Trixie isn’t who she claims to be. In the past, the worst thing that could have happened to Mac was that he might lose a little money, maybe catch a beating. In The Fourth Stall Part II, though, there’s going to be much more on the line than that.
This dilemma walks into the fourth stall in the form of Trixie Von Parkway—an eighth grader with a mean look and an even meaner predicament. The new science teacher is terrorizing her, and she needs Mac to get him off her back. Seems simple enough, but as Mac starts to dig deeper, he finds even more trouble brewing at his school, including a new administrator bent on destroying his business, and indications that Trixie isn’t who she claims to be. In the past, the worst thing that could have happened to Mac was that he might lose a little money, maybe catch a beating. In The Fourth Stall Part II, though, there’s going to be much more on the line than that.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published February 7, 2012
184 people are currently reading
967 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
September 25, 2020
The second installment of the middle school age book about a kid who runs a "solve your problems" business from the 4th stall of a bathroom.
"I sometimes wondered if gym teachers became gym teachers because a school gym was really
the only place where they could just be themselves without being thought of as complete
weirdos."
Lines like this make me laugh out loud and remember what it was like to be a kid. Rylander does a great job of getting into a kid's psyche and helping the reader relate to his characters. Having read so many books myself, even a very subtle hint of foreshadowing makes me guess the whole ending and so sometimes I get bored because I can easily see what's coming. However, the characters antics are enough to keep me interested and any child reading this won't have my background in reading and will have a harder time guessing the ending. Overall a great series for a middle schooler.
"I sometimes wondered if gym teachers became gym teachers because a school gym was really
the only place where they could just be themselves without being thought of as complete
weirdos."
Lines like this make me laugh out loud and remember what it was like to be a kid. Rylander does a great job of getting into a kid's psyche and helping the reader relate to his characters. Having read so many books myself, even a very subtle hint of foreshadowing makes me guess the whole ending and so sometimes I get bored because I can easily see what's coming. However, the characters antics are enough to keep me interested and any child reading this won't have my background in reading and will have a harder time guessing the ending. Overall a great series for a middle schooler.
March 9, 2025
La verdad es que el principio es bastante lento, no aburrido, pero sí lento y no tan entretenido, pero nomás agarra ritmo por la mitad del libro y es como ir de bajada.
Genuinamente me tuvo intrigado una gran parte del libro, ya para el final el misterio se quiso alargar, pero era bastante obvio quién fue el culpable.
Mac enfrenta un gran desafío al ver su negocio atacado, principalmente porque él es solo un chaval que está intentando enfrentar a adultos.
Los planes que tuvieron en esta segunda entrega estuvieron incluso más alocados, y mucho más peligrosos a mi parecer.
Fue una buena segunda entrega, y no sé qué quieran lograr con la tercera, ya que no veo de dónde más podrían agarrar, ya que pareciera que en este segundo volumen queda todo concluido.
Genuinamente me tuvo intrigado una gran parte del libro, ya para el final el misterio se quiso alargar, pero era bastante obvio quién fue el culpable.
Mac enfrenta un gran desafío al ver su negocio atacado, principalmente porque él es solo un chaval que está intentando enfrentar a adultos.
Los planes que tuvieron en esta segunda entrega estuvieron incluso más alocados, y mucho más peligrosos a mi parecer.
Fue una buena segunda entrega, y no sé qué quieran lograr con la tercera, ya que no veo de dónde más podrían agarrar, ya que pareciera que en este segundo volumen queda todo concluido.
December 19, 2016
The only criticism I included in my review of the first Fourth Stall book was that I wondered why we didn’t get to see Mac, the main character, in his life as a student - attending classes, dealing with teachers, and fitting his business life in around his life as a real kid. To my great surprise and delight, The Fourth Stall Part II focuses on exactly those things. At the start of Part II, Mac is approached by a seventh grade girl who claims a teacher named Mr Kjelson keeps giving her detention for no good reason. She asks Mac and his assistants to investigate the teacher and get him to leave her alone. In the meantime, the school is having its own issues. Animal feces are turning up in kids’ lockers, the lunchroom is serving unhealthy fried food, and a new vice principal is forcing the entire school to take a standardized test called the SMART. Naturally, everyone turns to Mac for help, which is great for business at first, until the vice principal catches on to what’s happening in the fourth stall. Can Mac and his buddies save the school from ruin and also keep their business from going under?
Like the first book, The Fourth Stall Part II is filled with a lot of great boy-friendly humor. Vince’s quotes from his grandmother are as ridiculous as ever, and Mac has a lot of great lines about middle school culture that will resonate well with kids currently living in that culture. The Cubs references are still interesting, and will thrill baseball fans, and the supporting characters, such as the creepy bully named Kitten, and Mr. Kjelson, the possibly evil but seemingly friendly teacher / baseball coach add a lot to the story, fleshing it out beyond just a boy solving problems from a bathroom stall. Kids who know the stress of standardized testing will eagerly anticipate finding out how Mac will try to take on the SMART, and the concept of teachers trying to take down a school from the inside will appeal to middle school conspiracy theorists.
I really enjoyed this second book, even more than the first, and I’m pleased to see that the ending of Part II hints pretty strongly at yet another sequel. The setting of this book is an appealing world to visit, and Mac, even at his worst, is the kind of character for whom you just want to see things work out, even when he doesn’t always do the right thing. Kudos to Chris Rylander for continuing to work with his unique tween mafia concept - this series is definitely one-of-a-kind!
Like the first book, The Fourth Stall Part II is filled with a lot of great boy-friendly humor. Vince’s quotes from his grandmother are as ridiculous as ever, and Mac has a lot of great lines about middle school culture that will resonate well with kids currently living in that culture. The Cubs references are still interesting, and will thrill baseball fans, and the supporting characters, such as the creepy bully named Kitten, and Mr. Kjelson, the possibly evil but seemingly friendly teacher / baseball coach add a lot to the story, fleshing it out beyond just a boy solving problems from a bathroom stall. Kids who know the stress of standardized testing will eagerly anticipate finding out how Mac will try to take on the SMART, and the concept of teachers trying to take down a school from the inside will appeal to middle school conspiracy theorists.
I really enjoyed this second book, even more than the first, and I’m pleased to see that the ending of Part II hints pretty strongly at yet another sequel. The setting of this book is an appealing world to visit, and Mac, even at his worst, is the kind of character for whom you just want to see things work out, even when he doesn’t always do the right thing. Kudos to Chris Rylander for continuing to work with his unique tween mafia concept - this series is definitely one-of-a-kind!
August 29, 2017
Best Book
Hi I am in 5th grade and I am usually very picky on books. I will start one but never finish it. This book is DIFFERENT 😄😄😄!!!!This series is a rollercoaster (though I don't mind for those either) and takes you on a hair raising journey Most Likely y'all find me reading a comedy book. But this is a nice change! I highly recommend this book to anyone who has trouble getting into a book👌 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hi I am in 5th grade and I am usually very picky on books. I will start one but never finish it. This book is DIFFERENT 😄😄😄!!!!This series is a rollercoaster (though I don't mind for those either) and takes you on a hair raising journey Most Likely y'all find me reading a comedy book. But this is a nice change! I highly recommend this book to anyone who has trouble getting into a book👌 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 16, 2015
This book was amazing. I loved it so much! The message in the story is to always confess your mistakes and don't be scared or embarrassed to do it. Also, don't always think about yourself and what would happen to you-think about other people too. Anyway, I've just started The Fourth Stall Part 3 and I think it's going to be good.
February 5, 2015
I loved the ending. Such a twist ending. Can't wait to read the third one.
October 20, 2022
The Fourth Stall Part 2 is the sequal to the beloved Forth Stall by Chris Rylander. This book continues to follow the charecters of Mac and Vince as they run their business in the Fourth Stall from the entrance of the East Wing boy bathroom. Mac and Vince run a buisness where they fix people problems at school, for a little bit of cash of course, but lately there has been some odd problems. The school food has been oddly unhealthy, there has been animal droppings in people lockers and teachers acting weird. When a girl name Trixie comes to Mac and Vince asking them to get Mr. Kjelson, the new science teacher fired because he is getting her in trouble for no reason, Mac and Vince get a little confused about the current condition of the school. Finally when a new vice principal Dr. George arrives and stuff gets even weirder, Mac and Vince are finally curious enough to get to the bottom of their corrupted school.
May 27, 2018
Something about this book really confuses me sometimes, this book really takes on another aspect of what I expected of it. I guess you would like this book if you enjoy mafia style books although it is a bit different from what I'm used to. A theme in this book is that lies cause avoidable messes.
Read
May 1, 2017mac is panning a way get rid of the new principle because he has ideas that mac is runing a buisness in the school and put him to detention
October 24, 2013
Book titled: The fourth stall
Author: Chris Rylander
Lexile: 890
Rating: two stars
I don't like or don't like this book. I think it's okay, The reason why is because it doesn't keep me interested like the first did, The author explained things way too much about things I didn't even relate to the story like talking about this kid that I like in the one time the story, another reason why the book is just okay is because the author didn't carry on with the story until the end, what I mean by that Is that the detective work wasn't happening very much in the story, like when the author dedicated to the chapters just on one client that wasn't even in the book. I almost skipped some chapters it was so boring
My favorite part of the store is Winemack found out who rigged the S.M.A.R.T. Test. The reason why is because it was the only fun time in the book where I actually cared about the story' And I guess another usually because it's pretty mind blowing that a teacher and dean of students Would rig school test. Am I right!
My worst part of the book is mostly half of the book that just fill it in pages with nonsense, I mean a book and get quite boring when it's filled with stuff that doesn't even matter about the story like why the auditorium's name is called the Olsen Olsen theater, Like when he talks about his parents background Witch he already did in his first book.
I would not recommend this book to anybody unless they like of boring mystery book that has a lot of nonsense in it I mean you can tell how much nonsense it's filled with What I said about it already asked me it has nothing to do with a person trying to find out who read the test
I hope this review help you in deciding whether you can read this book or not.
Author: Chris Rylander
Lexile: 890
Rating: two stars
I don't like or don't like this book. I think it's okay, The reason why is because it doesn't keep me interested like the first did, The author explained things way too much about things I didn't even relate to the story like talking about this kid that I like in the one time the story, another reason why the book is just okay is because the author didn't carry on with the story until the end, what I mean by that Is that the detective work wasn't happening very much in the story, like when the author dedicated to the chapters just on one client that wasn't even in the book. I almost skipped some chapters it was so boring
My favorite part of the store is Winemack found out who rigged the S.M.A.R.T. Test. The reason why is because it was the only fun time in the book where I actually cared about the story' And I guess another usually because it's pretty mind blowing that a teacher and dean of students Would rig school test. Am I right!
My worst part of the book is mostly half of the book that just fill it in pages with nonsense, I mean a book and get quite boring when it's filled with stuff that doesn't even matter about the story like why the auditorium's name is called the Olsen Olsen theater, Like when he talks about his parents background Witch he already did in his first book.
I would not recommend this book to anybody unless they like of boring mystery book that has a lot of nonsense in it I mean you can tell how much nonsense it's filled with What I said about it already asked me it has nothing to do with a person trying to find out who read the test
I hope this review help you in deciding whether you can read this book or not.
April 9, 2020
The Fourth Stall (Part II) is a Fictional book by Chris Rylander. This book was kinda like the last one, it has the same main characters but different non-important characters. Mac is a 6th grader and he had a business in the East Wing boy's bathroom in the fourth stall. There was this one problem that he had to fix where this girl named Trixie had a problem with a teacher. Then another problem was how unhealthy the lunches were. The third problem was that this kid was finding poop in his locker. The last problem was that a lot of kids wanted to get answers to the SMARTS test (which is a big state test). So Mac was dealing with all those problems but he got the poop problem and the lunch problem done pretty quickly. Then a new vice-principal came to the school, his name was Dr. George. He also fixed problems and Mac didn't like it. So along the way, Mac tries to fix the teacher problem but then he finds out the Trixie has been lying. Then the SMARTS comes around and the kids take it and then Mac changed the answers. Did the kids fail or succeed? I thought this book was also really good like the first book. The book was hard to put down sometimes because some of the chapters left you on a cliff hanger. I gave this book a 5 out of 5 stars because this book still had mysteries that were really good. Also because all of the new characters made it more exciting and kinda mysterious. I think the theme of the book is there is always hope even if the situation is horrible because Mac kept on trying to fix things or get things back in the book.
January 2, 2018
I've read a good number of mafia themed books, including the original Godfather by Puzo and all the prequels and sequels. When you are from the Bronx, this stuff runs in your blood. I've read some other mafia themed books. Two that were particularly bad were Quitting the Mob and Bound By Honor. Neither were quite as painful as this foul tome I am reviewing. This is the worst book I've ever had the misfortune to read.
Christian, known by his sobriquet "Mac", (as in MacGyver) is a 6th grade "fixer" who solves his classmates problems for a fee. He boasts a clean operation, and it would be, if a clean operation were to involve theft, breaking and entering, intimidation and bodily harm.
Christian is as dull as Bruno Tattaglia and his instincts are just as keen. (Fun fact: Tony Giorgia hails from - yes - Herkimer, NY!) His trusty consigliere Vince is no Tom Hagen, much less Genco. These two half wits couldn't run Immobiliare, much less a quasi-criminal ring of grade school favors. The personality-free Joe is a kinder, dumber, more ineffectual Luca Brasi. Christian doesn't do any of the dirty work (obligatory Norm MacDonald reference here) of his "business" himself, he has a cadre of psycho bullies for that. Every one of them has a nickname and this is just one of the author's sad attempts at humor.
The world in which Christian lives seems to be the backwards bizarro world: up is down, down is up, you say "hello" when you leave, "goodbye" when you arrive. (Or you can say "badbye", it is entirely up to you.)
In this bizarro world, janitors who are dependent upon their jobs to feed their children make deals with 6th graders. They give them keys to the school and let them run their "business" from an unused bathroom, to which they also give them keys. They lie to their boss to protect aforementioned 6th grader.
The story begins with a request from one Trixie Von Parkway (yes, that is the stupid fake name she gives, no, the queasiness will not go away, I apologize). She wants new teacher and awesome coach Mr. Kjelson taken down. Why? They don't know. (He's her FATHER. And she wants to go back to her old school. But, then she wants to stay.) What might have been a palatable story went nowhere. I think the only point of Trixie was to show that Christian and Vince are uncomfortable around screwy dames.
After Trixie departs, we learn the school lunches have become unhealthy and someone is hiding poo in lockers. Something is going on. Something….
Enter Dr. George, the new VP. Dr. George has a PhD, which makes him a "fake doctor." Was this jealousy, or was it said tongue-in-cheek? I'm sure I'll never know. Anyhow, Dr. George is here to clean up the school and Christian bemoans that now the school will be run by "two jerks."
I was a little disturbed at Christian's frequent descriptions of Dr. George's physical features. I'm not sure I can describe my spouse with a similar level of detail.
Christian says the word "suit" often and by it he means a person in authority, more specifically, a school administrator. Every time I encountered this word, I threw up in my mouth a little bit. I mean, we all want it to be 1983 again, but I don't hear many 12 year old dudes using that term today.
It becomes apparent that Dr. George is onto Christian's "business". Then Dr. George begins giving detention to bullies. Hyman Roth sees this as a threat to his "business". Free-roaming bullies from which kids would need protection (which he would provide, for which he would be paid) would be his preference.
Everyone is worried about the upcoming standardized tests. The school has to pass, or it will be shut down immediately! Frankie Five Angels has his lackey snatch the tests and the answer key. His merry band of bullies alter the tests with the supposed correct answers. It is common knowledge that bullies are unmatched in their sharp abilities to follow the precise instructions that this would involve. School is saved!
Well, no. The school failed miserably. Christian's parents weep when they are notified (with lightning speed for a state test) that Christian hasn't "met the standards." How can this be?
Cue Lex Luthor music. It's Dr. George up to his old tricks. How do we find this out? He tells Kjelson, Christian and Vince in true Scooby-Doo villain style. He planted a fake answer key!
When Don Corleone asks the Turk what the Tattaglia family's take will be from the Turk's drug selling proposal, the Turk compliments Tom Hagen because he knows the ginger consigliere had found out that the Tattaglias sponsored him. Similarly, Christian should have given Dr. George respect. Christian views most adults as dimwitted as his parents, but George was onto him from the beginning. He knew enough to bait him with false test answers. That was brilliant. (Why didn't Christian suspect they were fake? Even Fredo would have been on the lookout for that.) He knew about Christian's operation. He had gotten into the bathroom way before Christian knew about it.
Dr. George is obviously the hero of this book. He wants the school to shut down so a charter school can be opened in its place. He wants to reward the hard working students with a good education. He is concerned that kids like Christian and Vince don't show respect for the teachers. He envisions a school that emphasizes hard work, discipline and respect. So, he doctors the state tests….wait, no he didn't do that at all. Christian did that for him. Sure, Dr. George changed menus and dispersed poop, but the state tests are what matter. This is all expressed in Dr. George's soliloquy, titled "Things Not To Tell Your Enemies."
Christian confesses his sins at the school board meeting and the school is saved. Dr. George, who would have gotten away with it if it weren't for those meddling kids, would actually have been fine if he hadn't taken Tony and Carmine Rosato to the fourth stall for a little talking-to, also known as "Things Not To Do During A Crowded School Board Meeting". We all know how poorly union appointed lawyers defend their clients in court, so it is not hard to imaging that Dr. George does jail time for his attempts to educate America's youth.
A few concerns I still have:
If Tyrell was such a great spy, how come he couldn't figure out that Trixie and Kjelson were related?
How severely was Tyrell punished for breaking into the school?
If the school was so wonderful, why was Dickerson a, well, a jerk? Why did many of the other teachers besides Kjelson not care that something might be going on? Why were there bullies running rampant?
No mention of the fate of the kind janitor. He surely would be out of a job and probably in jail since the lawyers appointed to a janitor - oh right, he would have had to pay for his own lawyer.
Did this book result from some middle-school trauma in the author's life? Does he see Dr. George in his nightmares? Is fantasizing he is Mac the only remedy?
Reading this book was like being hit in the face repeatedly with a ball-peen hammer by a woman who is singing the national anthem off key and then being forced to watch a Cubs game and the only snack food is rice. (I hate rice.)
(If you actually found that analogy funny, you might like this book. It is chock full of lame analogies.)
The Godfather and the Godfather Part II movies were both written from one book. However, if we liken these Fourth Stall books to the Godfather movies, then the quality of the third book would drop as the quality of the movie the Godfather Part III dropped significantly when compared to the first two. I know - how is that even possible? Oh no! Will Bridget Fonda be in the book or - no, please no - Sofia Coppola? I can't bear it.
Christian, known by his sobriquet "Mac", (as in MacGyver) is a 6th grade "fixer" who solves his classmates problems for a fee. He boasts a clean operation, and it would be, if a clean operation were to involve theft, breaking and entering, intimidation and bodily harm.
Christian is as dull as Bruno Tattaglia and his instincts are just as keen. (Fun fact: Tony Giorgia hails from - yes - Herkimer, NY!) His trusty consigliere Vince is no Tom Hagen, much less Genco. These two half wits couldn't run Immobiliare, much less a quasi-criminal ring of grade school favors. The personality-free Joe is a kinder, dumber, more ineffectual Luca Brasi. Christian doesn't do any of the dirty work (obligatory Norm MacDonald reference here) of his "business" himself, he has a cadre of psycho bullies for that. Every one of them has a nickname and this is just one of the author's sad attempts at humor.
The world in which Christian lives seems to be the backwards bizarro world: up is down, down is up, you say "hello" when you leave, "goodbye" when you arrive. (Or you can say "badbye", it is entirely up to you.)
In this bizarro world, janitors who are dependent upon their jobs to feed their children make deals with 6th graders. They give them keys to the school and let them run their "business" from an unused bathroom, to which they also give them keys. They lie to their boss to protect aforementioned 6th grader.
The story begins with a request from one Trixie Von Parkway (yes, that is the stupid fake name she gives, no, the queasiness will not go away, I apologize). She wants new teacher and awesome coach Mr. Kjelson taken down. Why? They don't know. (He's her FATHER. And she wants to go back to her old school. But, then she wants to stay.) What might have been a palatable story went nowhere. I think the only point of Trixie was to show that Christian and Vince are uncomfortable around screwy dames.
After Trixie departs, we learn the school lunches have become unhealthy and someone is hiding poo in lockers. Something is going on. Something….
Enter Dr. George, the new VP. Dr. George has a PhD, which makes him a "fake doctor." Was this jealousy, or was it said tongue-in-cheek? I'm sure I'll never know. Anyhow, Dr. George is here to clean up the school and Christian bemoans that now the school will be run by "two jerks."
I was a little disturbed at Christian's frequent descriptions of Dr. George's physical features. I'm not sure I can describe my spouse with a similar level of detail.
Christian says the word "suit" often and by it he means a person in authority, more specifically, a school administrator. Every time I encountered this word, I threw up in my mouth a little bit. I mean, we all want it to be 1983 again, but I don't hear many 12 year old dudes using that term today.
It becomes apparent that Dr. George is onto Christian's "business". Then Dr. George begins giving detention to bullies. Hyman Roth sees this as a threat to his "business". Free-roaming bullies from which kids would need protection (which he would provide, for which he would be paid) would be his preference.
Everyone is worried about the upcoming standardized tests. The school has to pass, or it will be shut down immediately! Frankie Five Angels has his lackey snatch the tests and the answer key. His merry band of bullies alter the tests with the supposed correct answers. It is common knowledge that bullies are unmatched in their sharp abilities to follow the precise instructions that this would involve. School is saved!
Well, no. The school failed miserably. Christian's parents weep when they are notified (with lightning speed for a state test) that Christian hasn't "met the standards." How can this be?
Cue Lex Luthor music. It's Dr. George up to his old tricks. How do we find this out? He tells Kjelson, Christian and Vince in true Scooby-Doo villain style. He planted a fake answer key!
When Don Corleone asks the Turk what the Tattaglia family's take will be from the Turk's drug selling proposal, the Turk compliments Tom Hagen because he knows the ginger consigliere had found out that the Tattaglias sponsored him. Similarly, Christian should have given Dr. George respect. Christian views most adults as dimwitted as his parents, but George was onto him from the beginning. He knew enough to bait him with false test answers. That was brilliant. (Why didn't Christian suspect they were fake? Even Fredo would have been on the lookout for that.) He knew about Christian's operation. He had gotten into the bathroom way before Christian knew about it.
Dr. George is obviously the hero of this book. He wants the school to shut down so a charter school can be opened in its place. He wants to reward the hard working students with a good education. He is concerned that kids like Christian and Vince don't show respect for the teachers. He envisions a school that emphasizes hard work, discipline and respect. So, he doctors the state tests….wait, no he didn't do that at all. Christian did that for him. Sure, Dr. George changed menus and dispersed poop, but the state tests are what matter. This is all expressed in Dr. George's soliloquy, titled "Things Not To Tell Your Enemies."
Christian confesses his sins at the school board meeting and the school is saved. Dr. George, who would have gotten away with it if it weren't for those meddling kids, would actually have been fine if he hadn't taken Tony and Carmine Rosato to the fourth stall for a little talking-to, also known as "Things Not To Do During A Crowded School Board Meeting". We all know how poorly union appointed lawyers defend their clients in court, so it is not hard to imaging that Dr. George does jail time for his attempts to educate America's youth.
A few concerns I still have:
If Tyrell was such a great spy, how come he couldn't figure out that Trixie and Kjelson were related?
How severely was Tyrell punished for breaking into the school?
If the school was so wonderful, why was Dickerson a, well, a jerk? Why did many of the other teachers besides Kjelson not care that something might be going on? Why were there bullies running rampant?
No mention of the fate of the kind janitor. He surely would be out of a job and probably in jail since the lawyers appointed to a janitor - oh right, he would have had to pay for his own lawyer.
Did this book result from some middle-school trauma in the author's life? Does he see Dr. George in his nightmares? Is fantasizing he is Mac the only remedy?
Reading this book was like being hit in the face repeatedly with a ball-peen hammer by a woman who is singing the national anthem off key and then being forced to watch a Cubs game and the only snack food is rice. (I hate rice.)
(If you actually found that analogy funny, you might like this book. It is chock full of lame analogies.)
The Godfather and the Godfather Part II movies were both written from one book. However, if we liken these Fourth Stall books to the Godfather movies, then the quality of the third book would drop as the quality of the movie the Godfather Part III dropped significantly when compared to the first two. I know - how is that even possible? Oh no! Will Bridget Fonda be in the book or - no, please no - Sofia Coppola? I can't bear it.
May 10, 2017
The Fourth Stall Part II is the second book of the series The Fourth Stall. The second book starts with the end of the first book where Mac settles down the hard fight against Staples, the legendary high school crime boss. Staples is no longer in the picture and the high school baseball tryouts are out. Students really think Mac and his partner, Vince is useful after this big fight against Staples which draw more students to enter the fourth stall. They come in during recess and lunch breaks to have their own personal issues solved. Of course, more kids brings them more money and guess what? Good for Mac and Vince, they finally have enough money to buy the tickets for the new Chicago Cubs season. Well, these are all the fine parts that happened to the business that Mac and Vince are running, because sometimes there are really unexpected problems that cause them trouble. In the beginning of the book, where the first "big" issue occurs, this girl in eighth grade come visits the fourth stall. Mac finds out her name is Trixie Von Parkway, and she needs help to get someone off her back. No one but the new science teacher, Mr. Kjelson. For Mac it was an easy task to get Mr. Kjelson off her back, however, Mac figures out that Trixie was not her real name. But a job is a job, Mac just decides to focus on the problem, not on the mysterious girl, Trixie. The first problem wasn’t a big deal right? If that's what your thinking, you’re right. Now here’s the “bigger” issue. This problem begins with the school hiring a new assistant principal to school, Dr. George. Dr. George was strict on the school rules, he started cracking down every bullying and inappropriate behaviors from students. He also has the Standardised Minimum Aptitude Reviewer Tests with him. Well, now Mac has to hide his little business from Dr. George and also make up a plan to help students pass the SMART test. For Mac, this task is a piece of cake until he realizes that Dr. George was watching every plan and move Mac was creating. Unexpected problems come up and nearly destroys Mac’s business and people begin complaining about the Cafeteria’s food, poops in the locker, and about the SMART tests. This is when Dr. George decides to come visit the fourth stall of the East Wing Middle School’s bathroom.
May 12, 2017
Chris Rylander's "The Fourth Stall Part II" was an alright installment to the series, but it's underwhelming compared to the first book. As the book progresses, Mac and Vince's personality gets questionable, and why they are fighting to impress a girl that is a grade above them. The book gets a little confusing at some point, and a weird ending.
The good about this book, it gets exciting, making you want to read more of it, sadly it dies down, and it gets kind of stale. The characters are boring as well, the principal, the cliche bad guy, and the coach, the guy you thought it was then turns about to be the client´s father? It gets weird, and their whole adventure could´ve been really simple. Instead, we get a prolonged story of a daughter who wanted to avoid her father, and distracted the duo to put down the principal. Also, the kids cheated on a test that determined whether the school was going close, yet they only get 2 weeks suspension? That´s actually so far-fetched to keep the series going.
This book was alright, but some of the things that were presented in the story was unbelievable. And ruined the story for me.
The good about this book, it gets exciting, making you want to read more of it, sadly it dies down, and it gets kind of stale. The characters are boring as well, the principal, the cliche bad guy, and the coach, the guy you thought it was then turns about to be the client´s father? It gets weird, and their whole adventure could´ve been really simple. Instead, we get a prolonged story of a daughter who wanted to avoid her father, and distracted the duo to put down the principal. Also, the kids cheated on a test that determined whether the school was going close, yet they only get 2 weeks suspension? That´s actually so far-fetched to keep the series going.
This book was alright, but some of the things that were presented in the story was unbelievable. And ruined the story for me.
June 19, 2023
The Fourth Stall Pt. 2 is a book written by Chris Rylander. Mac and Vince get a mission from someone named Trixie Von Parkway. Trixie wants to get one of the new teachers: Mr. Kjelson fired and Dr. George wants the school to fail.
This book was Interesting. It was about a new principal named Dr. George and a new teacher named Mr. Kjelson.
The Main characters are: Mac and Vince. The Antagonist is Dr. George. Dr. George tries to get Mac do something that could get him in Juvie!
Mac fights Dr. George in the end but one of the kids in the school somehow sets up a camera on top of Dr. George so the entire fight scene shows up in the theater, everyone in the theater sees the fight scene and the teachers enter the East Wing Boys Bathroom. Taking Dr. George away. The end wraps up with a happy ending!
My favorite part was when in the end Dr. George fights Mac and the camera just watches all of it and puts it on the theater screen.
My favorite character is Mr. Kjelson because he is a nice guy and is really cool in the Baseball Tryouts.
I would recommend this to other kids Around my age because the book is cool, has a problem solver in it and it is really exciting to read about!
This book was Interesting. It was about a new principal named Dr. George and a new teacher named Mr. Kjelson.
The Main characters are: Mac and Vince. The Antagonist is Dr. George. Dr. George tries to get Mac do something that could get him in Juvie!
Mac fights Dr. George in the end but one of the kids in the school somehow sets up a camera on top of Dr. George so the entire fight scene shows up in the theater, everyone in the theater sees the fight scene and the teachers enter the East Wing Boys Bathroom. Taking Dr. George away. The end wraps up with a happy ending!
My favorite part was when in the end Dr. George fights Mac and the camera just watches all of it and puts it on the theater screen.
My favorite character is Mr. Kjelson because he is a nice guy and is really cool in the Baseball Tryouts.
I would recommend this to other kids Around my age because the book is cool, has a problem solver in it and it is really exciting to read about!
November 14, 2022
This book was pretty interesting and had a decent plot, that's why I give it a 3 out of 5 star review. The dialogue wasn't very enhanced or at my level which was a down side of the book. I think that it is a great to sequel it's first book which I think is a little better but not by much. There was many scenes that were very intense and kept me reading the book. Overall I think this was a decent sequel but not as good as the original so I give it a 3 out 5 star review.
Read
October 12, 2015Originally posted at Small Review.
This is a review for a sequel, but there are NO spoilers for the first book!
Still worried? Check out my review of the first book instead!
Mac had me at hello
Mac's "voice" is a combination of The Godfather, film noir, and contemporary middle school boy that blends perfectly. Mac is such a likable kid. He makes me laugh and even when he's doing less-than-moral things, I'm still rooting for him to win (plus, his heart is in the right place, so that has to count for something, right?).
If I were in middle school, I would be crushing on Mac so hard. I'm talking notebooks filled with "Mac <3's Small" and I-can't-form-words-in-his-presence-because-he's-so-cool kind of crush. And if I were a middle school guy? I would totally want to BE Mac.
I love male narrators, but it's hard to find a good male narrator who actually sounds like a guy (sorry women authors, lots of your guys sound like girls!). Chris Rylander scores major points by writing a book that feels authentically boyish.
Not only that, but he also sounds like a genuine middle school kid. He thinks and acts the way a normal kid would act, and sometimes that means he bungles in ways that are just so classically tweenish. This totally endeared him to me, and I imagine Mac's thoughts and actions will resonate strongly with the target audience (tweens, primarily tween boys).
These are the kinds of issues I like
I really don't like reading about Heavy Issues like people dying or struggling with abusive relationships or depression and stuff like that. But I love contemporary books that deal with the normal "lite issues" kids face like zits and crushes and school stress.
Chris Rylander integrated these subjects well in the first book, and he proved his skill again in the sequel. Mac's first crush on a girl is equal parts funny and sincere, with a few laugh out loud lines as he expresses his total bafflement with the opposite sex. The pressure of standardized testing provides a more serious topic, and offers an opening for candid discussion without coming across as preachy or dull.
I didn't see it coming!
I didn't see the culprit until their identity was finally revealed. The evidence was stacked up against each possible bad guy in such a way that I believed any of them were capable. But, the doubts were equally convincing, so I was totally twisted up.
Chris Rylander gets the Genius Award for Epic Characters
Mac is great, but so are all of the secondary characters. The prim and proper but totally crazy little bully named Kitten cracks me up every single time. He didn't even have a big role, but I mentally cheered whenever he was mentioned. Reading these books is worth it for the mental picture of that character alone (don't believe me? Check out Heather's review of the first book where she said almost the exact same thing!).
Really, almost all of Chris Rylander's characters are memorable and awesome for some reason or another. Extra points for Mac's trusty right hand man Vince; Tyrell, Mac's surveillance man (SO cool!); and Trixie, Mac's crush and possible femme fatale. Even the opportunity to meet super minor characters like the weird rodent droppings expert make the book worth reading.
Where did the star go?
The wandering plot. I didn't think the mystery was built as cohesively as it was in the first book. The first book had great momentum, but it was very easy for me to put the sequel down for days at a time. I did want to see who was behind the problems plaguing Mac and his classmates, but clues came too few and far between to really grab hold of my interest.
There was also a LOT of baseball filler, and after years of associating baseball with boring weekends when my dad wouldn't let me watch my cartoons because there was a game on, I automatically revert into "this is boring" mode whenever baseball is brought up. I imagine the target audience will appreciate Mac's baseball nods more than I did. I did like the futile camaraderie Mac felt with other Cubs fans though--that I can understand.
Bottom line
I adore this series and I can't recommend it highly enough. If you have a middle grade boy in your life, do him a favor and buy him this series ASAP. The first book is a hot seller in my library and I already have a waiting list for the sequel.
What's also great about this series is that each book can be read as a standalone. Even though knowing the events of the first book helps when reading the second, that familiarity isn't necessary. There are also zero spoilers in the sequel, so you don't have to worry about ruining the first book if you read the sequel first.
The second book ends by alluding to a possible third book, and I SO HOPE THERE IS A THIRD BOOK! I'll auto-buy it.
Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key
Originally posted at Small Review.
This is a review for a sequel, but there are NO spoilers for the first book!
Still worried? Check out my review of the first book instead!
Mac had me at hello
Mac's "voice" is a combination of The Godfather, film noir, and contemporary middle school boy that blends perfectly. Mac is such a likable kid. He makes me laugh and even when he's doing less-than-moral things, I'm still rooting for him to win (plus, his heart is in the right place, so that has to count for something, right?).
If I were in middle school, I would be crushing on Mac so hard. I'm talking notebooks filled with "Mac <3's Small" and I-can't-form-words-in-his-presence-because-he's-so-cool kind of crush. And if I were a middle school guy? I would totally want to BE Mac.
I love male narrators, but it's hard to find a good male narrator who actually sounds like a guy (sorry women authors, lots of your guys sound like girls!). Chris Rylander scores major points by writing a book that feels authentically boyish.
Not only that, but he also sounds like a genuine middle school kid. He thinks and acts the way a normal kid would act, and sometimes that means he bungles in ways that are just so classically tweenish. This totally endeared him to me, and I imagine Mac's thoughts and actions will resonate strongly with the target audience (tweens, primarily tween boys).
These are the kinds of issues I like
I really don't like reading about Heavy Issues like people dying or struggling with abusive relationships or depression and stuff like that. But I love contemporary books that deal with the normal "lite issues" kids face like zits and crushes and school stress.
Chris Rylander integrated these subjects well in the first book, and he proved his skill again in the sequel. Mac's first crush on a girl is equal parts funny and sincere, with a few laugh out loud lines as he expresses his total bafflement with the opposite sex. The pressure of standardized testing provides a more serious topic, and offers an opening for candid discussion without coming across as preachy or dull.
I didn't see it coming!
I didn't see the culprit until their identity was finally revealed. The evidence was stacked up against each possible bad guy in such a way that I believed any of them were capable. But, the doubts were equally convincing, so I was totally twisted up.
Chris Rylander gets the Genius Award for Epic Characters
Mac is great, but so are all of the secondary characters. The prim and proper but totally crazy little bully named Kitten cracks me up every single time. He didn't even have a big role, but I mentally cheered whenever he was mentioned. Reading these books is worth it for the mental picture of that character alone (don't believe me? Check out Heather's review of the first book where she said almost the exact same thing!).
Really, almost all of Chris Rylander's characters are memorable and awesome for some reason or another. Extra points for Mac's trusty right hand man Vince; Tyrell, Mac's surveillance man (SO cool!); and Trixie, Mac's crush and possible femme fatale. Even the opportunity to meet super minor characters like the weird rodent droppings expert make the book worth reading.
Where did the star go?
The wandering plot. I didn't think the mystery was built as cohesively as it was in the first book. The first book had great momentum, but it was very easy for me to put the sequel down for days at a time. I did want to see who was behind the problems plaguing Mac and his classmates, but clues came too few and far between to really grab hold of my interest.
There was also a LOT of baseball filler, and after years of associating baseball with boring weekends when my dad wouldn't let me watch my cartoons because there was a game on, I automatically revert into "this is boring" mode whenever baseball is brought up. I imagine the target audience will appreciate Mac's baseball nods more than I did. I did like the futile camaraderie Mac felt with other Cubs fans though--that I can understand.
Bottom line
I adore this series and I can't recommend it highly enough. If you have a middle grade boy in your life, do him a favor and buy him this series ASAP. The first book is a hot seller in my library and I already have a waiting list for the sequel.
What's also great about this series is that each book can be read as a standalone. Even though knowing the events of the first book helps when reading the second, that familiarity isn't necessary. There are also zero spoilers in the sequel, so you don't have to worry about ruining the first book if you read the sequel first.
The second book ends by alluding to a possible third book, and I SO HOPE THERE IS A THIRD BOOK! I'll auto-buy it.
Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key
Originally posted at Small Review.
March 20, 2017
The Fourth Stall Part 2 is a fantastic sequel to the original. All of the mystery and conflict in this book draws you and captures your full attention causing you to foam at the mouth from the need of wanting to read farther. Believe me, the hardest part of my day was having to close this book at the end of SSR. Not knowing who is behind all of the bad things happening at the school, and not knowing who Mac and Vince could really trust was amazing. And when they finally had suspects and then them being immediately proving innocent out of the blue made it so intriguing. When they find out that it was all their faults and that there was nothing they could do about it was such a good twist. But then Mac sacrificing himself for the good of his beloved school that he cares about oh so much was so endearing. They way that the author at the end tied it all back to the bad guy was amazing. Chris Rylander did an incredible job, and I can't wait to read The Fourth Stall Part 3.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2021
It was pretty good. But, why did Hannah make s fake name? The only sad part was that they never found out who was putting the animal poop in the lockers and that they confessed their business and that they cheated on the tests for everyone even through the answers where not right. But, I am glad that the vice president got sent away. It all ended well til Staples asked for help at the end.
January 27, 2022
I love the fourth stall series and the 2nd one added to it. The story continues with Mac and the group. I think there is a meaning behind this book and I interpreted it as never fully trusting the people around you. The fact they're in school during most of this makes it so much better and little comedic. I recommend this book if you liked the 1st one then definitely read this one.
October 11, 2016
The title of the book is The Fourth Stall Part 2 by : Chris Rylander. This book falls into the realistic fiction genre because it is not based on a true story but it could completely happen. This book makes me feel like this could happen to my school. This book is about a kid named Mac and his best friend Vince. They run a business in the fourth stall at school. They solves kids problems like getting the new video game, getting test answers e.t.c. One day a girl by the name Trixie Von Parkway came in with a problem that a teacher is making her fail and giving her detentions and just overall harassing her. Then other problems start coming in about poop in lockers and bad school lunches. This all happens just as a new vice principal arrives to the school. Mac and Vince have to solve all of these problems just as baseball tryouts are starting. The internal conflict is Mac vs himself, he dosent know who to believe so he has to fight with himself. The external conflict is Mac vs school because all of these problems have popped up and he is trying to solve them. I liked this book because it always left me in suspense and I didn't know what would happen next. I also liked this book because it feels like it could happen at a school. I think 9-13 year old boys would enjoy this book because it talks a lot about sports and business and funny problems, it is just a overall good read.
January 9, 2017
This was one of the best books I have ever read, it is so suprising when you get to the end and find out Hannah was actually Mr. (CANT SPELL NAME)'s daughter and she helped save them with the audio of The VP talking to Mac
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2017
It was a good second book in The Fourth Stall series. More problems for Mac and Vince, more twists, and finally more humor. Chris Rylander does a great job of using metaphors and similes to make his reading funny and entertaining. The ending made me excited to read the next and final book.
September 29, 2017
A very good book series. These kinds of books are my favorite. Mac defeated Staples but did he really? Read this book to find out. This book is good for 4th/5th grade. And if you like this book you would like the next!
October 13, 2017
Great book. Interesting book and really mysterious.
April 17, 2018
I thought the second book was a lot funnier than the first. I loved how random it was and it was just hilarious in my opinion. Good book.
January 3, 2019
Extremely funny, clear, and entertaining.
February 22, 2019
Gud buk.
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October 8, 2019This book was excellent. Everything was described so well. I was always on the edge of my seat to find out what would happen next.
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February 27, 2020BERRY fgodo
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