The Unflushables

by Ron Bates, James Patterson (Foreword)

James Patterson presents: The Titans of the Toilet! The Wonders from Down Under! Nitro City's very own sewer superheroes: The Plumbers!

Thirteen-year-old Sully Stringfellow has always admired the great plumber heroes of Nitro City. These wrench-wielding warriors guarded the sewers--until they were discredited by the powerful Ironwater Corporation, which has a sinister scheme to take over the city. Without the plumbers, Nitro is being overrun by mutant creatures--and things are about to go totally nuclear thanks to the potentially explosive 50th Anniversary Burrito Festival!

It's up to Sully and a league of long-forgotten plumber heroes to save the day, making it safe for all to flush again. It's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it!

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Juvenile, Fiction, Humor

336 pages, Hardcover

Published April 10, 2018

About the author

Ron Bates began his career as a newspaper reporter in Texas, and later became an editor and columnist. His humorous features led him to a job as the resident humor columnist for three of Legacy Publishing’s regional magazines. As a freelance writer, Bates’ works include the children’s story, “Arnold Bought a Bug,” and “St. Mary’s and the Art of War,” the true story of how Italian POWs transformed a tiny Texas church. Bates also wrote the Cranium Comics series “Brawn,” the inspirational play, “Flight 1615,” and “Underground Ink,” a collection of funny poems. An award-winning copywriter, Bates lives in Frisco, Texas. howtomakefriendsandmonsters.com

Reviews

[S.M. Boren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from #kidlitexchange to read in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟The Unflushables by Ron Bates. This middle grade read will have you laughing at the potty jokes from page one. Sullivan lives in a world where his superheroes are plumbers. In a town that is being taken over by sewer monsters Sully needs to find help to keep Nitro City safe from the horrible creatures that lurk in the drainage. The Plumbers League of UnNaturally Gifted Exceptionals (P.L.U.N.G.E.) has to prepare for the biggest sewer event in fifty years with the annual burrito festival coming to Nitro City toilets. The plan must be flawless or Nitro City will be forever lost in sewage. This read will have middle grade boys laughing and middle grade girls screeching in disgust from the moment you pick it up. It is to be released April 10, 2018. Review also posted on Instagram @jasonnstacie, Library Thing, Go Read, Amazon, and my blog at readsbystacie.com

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from @kidlitexchange and all opinions are my own.

The Unflushables will be a great addition to my elementary library! Part of the "James Patterson Presents" line, Ron Bates's book The Unflushables doesn't disappoint. Sullivan is a kid who loves toilets and everything about them. He envies the plumber superheroes of the past and is looking to find a toilet-clogging culprit at school. The town's annual burrito festival is coming up and something strange is going on - involving monsters coming out of toilets and drains!

Potty humor will be sure to engage students as well as the fast moving plot and the thrill of a kid who lives basically on his own, as his uncle is MIA a lot and his parents are in Figi. As an adult, yes, I had to suspend disbelief but I don't see this being a problem for middle grade readers.

[Camille · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great fun. I read this to my 9 year old and he loved listening. It was gripping and funny we didn't want put it down. I'd recommend it for middle grade readers.

[Kimberly Sabatini · Rating 5 out of 5]

The character of Nixon cracked me up--I want a spin-off LOL!

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nitro City is falling into difficult times. It is a city plagued by mutated creatures that arise from the sewers. For a long time, there was a team of heroes who protected the city, and those heroes were plumbers. Unfortunately, their golden age has passed, and they have gone into hiding. In their place is the powerful Ironwater Corporation. While it seems to be doing everything it can to contain the problem of the mutants, but they do not seem to be able to keep up. The corporation also seems to be happy to blame the old heroes for the problem.

This is the world that Sully Stringfellow lives in. He is a middle schooler ... and he is obsessed with the hero plumbers of old. In fact, he has taken it upon himself to take up the mantel and try to do what they used to do. This had made for an interesting arrangement between himself and his school's principal. It is important to keep the school bathrooms running smoothly.

The bigger problem is that that Ironwater seems unable to maintain the safety of the city, and more and more mutants seem to be coming out of the sewers. There is a great fear that the city's annual Burrito Festival will strain the sewers to an extent that the city will be overwhelmed by the mutants. Sully will have to find a way to sort it all out with a group of allies if he is going to save the city.

This was actually not as bad as it could have been. Bates does go a bit overboard with the (literal) potty humor that is part of this story. It also takes way too long for the story to get going, but once it does, it is a fun superhero tale. I do wonder if kids will stick with it long enough for the story to take off, though. While it is part of the "jimmy" brand under James Patterson, this is the first of the kid books in that brand that really isn't illustrated. I am not sure if I would bother reading a sequel if it were to come out.

[Justine Ridder · Rating 4 out of 5]

*This was a Goodreads Giveaway book.

This book was hilarious. Most people know I am a sucker for underwear picture books. I can't not buy a book that's theme is underwear. This chapter book was right along those lines. Sully Stringfellow lives in Nitro City. There are mutant monsters that live in the sewer system that will come out of toilets. Plumbers in this city aren't just fixing leaks, they are fighting the bad guys. Plumbers are superheroes. Sully has always idolized these famous plumbers. He even has posters of plumbers on his wall! P.L.U.N.G.E stands for Plumbers' League of UnNaturally Gifted Exceptionals which are the guardians of the sewer. Ironwater Corporation came into play and banished all licensed plumbers to touching the sewers. Ironwater claims to have everything under control, but behind doors Ironwater has a secret plan. Sully along with the retired P.L.U.N.G.E league try to fight back with their own secret plan.

"I'm a leak freak.
Don't like that one? How about plunger jockey? Flush puppy? Pooper trooper? Take your pick, I've heard them all. The bottom line is I'm a born plumber, a freak of nature with a sump pump for a heart and copper pipes where my bones ought to be." (p. 48)

"You're what we call an Unflushable. And the thing about Unflushables is you can't keep 'em down. They always rise to the top." (p. 225)

The grandpa cracked me up during this book. He only likes the taste of ketchup so he would get a basket of fries every time they went out to eat and dip the fry in ketchup, suck off the ketchup and throw the fry away. I can think of many kiddos who would do the same thing.

[Julie Overpeck · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to KidLitExchange for a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This is a superhero story that tries to use plumbing as the vehicle. The problem is that it doesn’t work. The good guys, the plumbers, were outlawed and blacklisted so that the evil corporation Ironwater could come to power and rule Nitro City. The premise itself doesn’t work. Why would anyone outlaw plumbers? The good guys, PLUNGE, have trading cards. Who would collect trading cards for plumbers? Why does Sully’s family live in Fiji without him? It is mentioned but never explained. I read a lot; I can get past the potty jokes and am capable of allowing worlds to function with different rules, but this story has too many holes to make sense.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the #kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book – all opinions are my own.

This fun title, out April 10, 2018, is an adventurous tale that takes place in a society where plumbers are outlaws, the city has sewer problems, and one large corporation has a monopoly on the care and upkeep of all the plumbing. Our hero, Sully, is a secret plumber who is trying to solve his school’s toilet backup problems by day and works on house calls as a plumber's apprentice at night. With plenty of bathroom humor, this book will appeal to fans of Captain Underpants and anyone who loves to laugh over things adults might frown upon! I’ve got plenty of readers at my school who will love this book, so I’ll be buying a copy in April!

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This barely squeaked into a four-star review. Hard to tell who actually wrote it. Patterson's name is all over it, so it's hard to know sissy used a ghostwriter, an alias, or if it really was somebody else that wrote it and somehow has his name stuck all over it. There's a lot of good toilet jokes. So if you're not into those just want to avoid this. Good for especially young boys who are going to get a kick out of all the toilet jokes. It is a bit long, but for a good solid reader it should be a fun read for youth.

[Mompop · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read an ARC copy - Conspiracy proponents rejoice: hints of Independents being "squashed" by Big Business .

Sully, rhymes a bit with Stubby? Perhaps inspiration for this title came from Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers? (if you know who this band is - I won't tell....)

one of their famous jingles: "...Roto-rooter is quick first aid for clogs, sewers and stopped up drains..." (complete jingle w/lyrics is available on YouTube).

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read. I usually base who the target audience is by the main character, so 13 year old boys. But I would say as young as 10 would be able to read and enjoy.

Sully is in a city with a failing plumbing system with a Burrito festival on the way. The new burrito this year - prune. Complete with all sorts to toilet jokes and explosions to fill your kids hearts.

I received a copy of the book through GoodReads First Reads.

[Auburn Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this sci-fi book by Ron Bates, the main character Sully Stringfellow as he follows the path of the plumbers of the golden age, P.L.U.N.G.E. and comes face with his greatest dreams... and worst fears. I recommend this book for any adventure, sci-fi, or comedy fans as I enjoyed the new world that this book introduces, a world that is civilized as we know, but with sewers rampant with monsters bent on destruction. - Dale, age 12

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plumber super heros like king flush and midnight flusher work together with other super hero plumbers to save a town from disaster when a evil plumber wants to destroy the town by wrecking havoc with the towns plumbing system during Barritto Festival...

Taco Tuesdays and Barritto festivals are a plumbers nightmare,,, lol

very funny story, kept me laughing and shaking my head and rolling my eyes through out.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

The target audience will love the potty humor and premise of this book.
For me, it was just so-so. The plot is obvious and bizarre at the same time. Plumbers are the heroes but are outlawed by the huge corporation. Sully is an average misfit middle school student. He makes discoveries throughout the story that weave together to the dramatic conclusion.
Humor throughout but the overall book fell flat for me.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can see why this appeals to kids - it's full of toilet puns and superhero-type situations
... with a 13-year old as the main character. (A child recommended this to me!)

I admit to be sceptical when I saw James Patterson's name, but it was very enjoyable and best of all, clever enough for readers of varying ages to appreciate it.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

When his own life is in the crapper, 13 year-old Sully must stop his whole town from going down the drain. In a world where plumbers are heroes, there’s plenty of slimy villains, family drama, and a toilet bowl full of potty humor along the way. Seriously. So. Many. 💩 Jokes. Perfect for reluctant middle school readers.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was HILARIOUS! I pretty much laughed through the whole thing. The idea of superhero plumbers still gets me. The characters were memorable and fun. The plot was pretty much amazing, and I loved everything about it!

[Russell Howen · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Unflushables" by Ron Bates is a middle-school book with a middle-school hero and middle-school humor. It's a part of the 'James Patterson Presents' series.

[Abby Obert · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 2/3 stars

[Tyler Standish · Rating 4 out of 5]

You've got to be what you're meant to be...a bonded, certified, and licensed to kill plumber!?

A funny book, and really outside the box.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect MG read starring, believe it or not, plumbers. Lots of gross bathroom humor, adventure and overcoming Evil People.

ARC provided by publisher.

[Sophie Fultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Won this book on Goodreads giveaways.

[Andréa]

Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher at ALA Midwinter 2018.

[Jane]

Listened to this with my 12 y.o. When we finished he asked me to look for other books by this author.