SOLVED. humorous children's chapter book--boarding school for delinquent boys [s]

[Jen]

I am trying to remember a book I think I read in the late 90s. It was a funny and humorous chapter book for children--not quite young adult but suitable for 10-12 year olds, I think. It had a blue cover with a drawn caricature of a boy's face. It was about a boarding school for male juvenile delinquents; some of the characters had nicknames. It was written by a male. It was quirky, kind of like how Lemony Snicket's books would be quirky and humorous a few years later.

[LauraW]

Not the right covers, but:

Hidden Talents?


Charlie Bone?


Holes?

[Jen]

No it was similar in humor to Holes but it was definitely at a school building. And it was definitely published in the 90s (or perhaps 2000, not later than that), so the others do not fit.

[Jen]

I think that the boys were sent to this school as a last resort; the school was very dysfunctional (in a humorous way) the teachers in it were pretty awful except maybe one or so. It was by an American author.

[Stephanie ((Strazzybooks))]

Was it "Spud"?

[Stephanie ((Strazzybooks))]

Nevermind that's not by an American author..

[Jen]

wait! I just went through old covers of books and it WAS hidden talents by David Lubar--Good reads listed it as 2007 or so but that was the rerelease, a blue cover version came out in 1999. Thank you so much!!!!