Review and giveaway time! Courtesy of the very kind folks at Candlewick Press/Penguin Random House Canada, I have book seven in Stephan Pastis‘s Timmy Failure series, It’s the End When I Say It’s the End. Read on for my thoughts on the book and information on how Canadian residents can enter to win a copy!

…”Sometimes you made me want to pull my hair out and cry.”

I nod. “I can have that effect on people.”

The final entry in one of most bonkers and bittersweet middle grade series I’ve had the pleasure of reading and pondering on, It’s the End When I Say It’s the End says a very big and very fond and lovely goodbye to Timmy, his polar bear Total, tangerine-scented Molly Moskins, rival Corinna Corinna, best friend Rollo Tookus and other characters in the Failure universe. In the series finale, Timmy faces mammoth challenges: writing the story of his life (and adapting it for screen) and helping Total locate his long lost brother.

As Timmy takes on writing the story of his life (the story of Greatness Personified), a big school project tasks Timmy and a number of of classmates (as well as a transfer student named Tom John John) with making a film. When the responsibility of writing the screenplay is thrown in Timmy’s lap, it is decided and approved- by Timmy only- that the film will be about his own life of Greatness. Talk about great timing! For those familiar with Timmy Failure, you can only begin to imagine the special kind of exhaustive lunacy that Timmy will insist on…and how he deeply he miscalculates the kind of budget that a team of nine year old students will be given by a teacher.

Hollywood shenanigans aside, Timmy also finds himself at a crossroads with Total. As a former business partner in their detective work, Total hasn’t been a great partner- even for a polar bear- but he’s been with Timmy since the very beginning, supporting Timmy through school trauma, crime fighting, espionage, and big family changes. But now Total wants desperately to go off on his own adventures and be with his brother who he misses dearly. So what is Timmy to do if he successfully tracks down Total’s brother? As one might expect for a series finale, conclusions are brought to the table, as are the brief returns of some wonderful and standout characters from previous series entries (hello Aunt Colander!). If you’ve read and enjoyed the series, I can’t recommend this finale enough. It’s the End When I Say It’s the End feels terrifically complete, earned, and sincere at its heart- with some very touching moments that may cause a tear or two.

Giveaway Information:

Giveaway is open to Canadian residents ages 18 and above. One winner will receive one hardcopy of It’s the End When I Say It’s the End. The giveaway will be open from February 21, 2019 to March 5, 2019 and the winning entry will be randomly drawn via Rafflecopter. The winner will have 48 hours to get in touch with me via email, Twitter, or Facebook confirming their Canadian mailing address, or another entry will be drawn.

Click here to enter the giveaway!

Good luck!

A copy of this title was received courtesy of Candlewick Press/Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and comments are my own. The title has been published and is currently available.