Tito the Bonecrusher by Melissa Thomson (review)

Eleven-year-old Oliver Jones is outraged at what he assumes to be a gross miscarriage of justice when his father is sentenced to two years in federal prison for financial crimes. There’s only one thing to do: break Dad out of prison. There’s only one man who can help: retired luchador and film idol Tito the Bonecrusher, whose movie plots always feature busting people out of bad situations and places. Tito is rumored to be scheduled to appear at a local fundraiser; all Oliver has to do now is get into the formal dinner, approach Tito directly, and follow his advice. Oliver’s friend Brain (Brianna), fascinated by all things spy and espionage, will orchestrate the break-in, and Popcorn (Paul), who once benefitted from Tito’s largesse, will be his man on the inside. Oliver’s sister Louisa will sneak them all through the door in her Mr. Jiggly Fluff costume box (don’t ask). Nothing goes as planned, and Mr. Jones remains in prison. Tito turns out to be the good guy that readers hoped for but probably didn’t expect, however, and the Jones family takes strides toward repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Oliver’s state of denial will be familiar to regular readers of domestic serio-comedies, but for those who don’t hang out much in this genre, it’s a solid ground floor introduction to kids-will-fix-this adventures, with the lucha libre backdrop adding interest.