Reviewer: Liz Geist
Series: Matt Sprouts, Book 1
Published: 2024
Author & Illustrator: Matthew Eicheldinger
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction / Humorous Contemporary
Audience: Grades 4–6
Number of Stars: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Goodreads Link: Matt Sprouts and the Curse of the Ten Broken Toes
Content Warnings: Mild sibling fighting and slapstick injuries (broken bones).
Publisher’s Summary
After accidentally injuring his neighbor, Matt Sprouts thinks he has “the Curse,” a hometown myth that ruins middle schoolers’ lives. To defeat the Curse, Matt decides he needs to solve the mystery—and FAST!—but that’s not easy to do when you’re entering middle school, keeping track of your little brother, trying to defeat the best soccer team, and oh yeah, not breaking any more toes.
Twelve-year-old Matt Sprouts is in big trouble. He didn’t mean to hurt his neighbor Jenna with that awesome martial arts move—it just happened! Blame it on morning cartoons or Jenna’s lack of coordination. Anyways, getting grounded is the worst thing that could happen, right?
Wrong.
After the incident spirals into a series of downright unfortunate events, it’s decided that Matt has contracted “the Curse,” a hometown myth that has ruined the lives of middle schoolers before him. And as if the Curse weren’t enough, entering sixth grade proves to be just as mysterious—there’s a strange girlfriend, wacky teachers, and . . . c’mon, can Matt’s toes stop breaking PLEASE ?!
Matt decides to take matters into his own hands. Now he just has to break the Curse . . . before all his bones break.
Review
Matt Sprouts and the Curse of the Ten Broken Toes is a fun middle-grade read about a soccer-loving, karate-movie enthusiast navigating the ups and downs of middle school life. The story begins during the first few days of summer as Matt is focused on making the soccer team. However, an unfortunate accident occurs when Matt accidentally injures his neighbor using karate moves he saw in a movie, breaking her collarbone.
Soon after, Matt breaks a toe and begins to believe he is victim to a local legend known as “the Curse.” Throughout the summer and into the school year, Matt continues breaking more toes and becomes determined to stop the cycle before it causes even more damage. Along the way, he navigates a first girlfriend, a grumpy substitute teacher, and the changing dynamics of his friendships.
I read this with my 10-year-old son, and we found it to be fun, relatable, and entertaining. Matt is a typical 6th-grade boy whose immaturity is hilarious to young readers. The book explores themes of overcoming “curveballs,” the shifting nature of friendship, and the importance of a genuine apology. I’d highly recommend this to pre-teens, especially those who love soccer!
🎒 Classroom & Curricular Connections
- Health & Physical Education (Sportsmanship & Safety):
- Activity Idea: Discuss the “Karate Move” incident. Why is it dangerous to mimic movie stunts without training? Use this to talk about personal safety and the difference between “stunt” fighting and real-life consequences.
- ELA (Humorous Narrative Devices):
- Activity Idea: Matthew Eicheldinger is both the author and illustrator. Have students look at how the illustrations add to the humor. Then, have students write a “How-To” guide for an imaginary “Middle School Curse” (e.g., The Curse of the Lost Homework), including a funny illustration.
- Social-Emotional Learning (The Art of the Apology):
- Activity Idea: Analyze Matt’s apology to Jenna. What makes an apology “genuine” versus “fake”? Have students practice writing “The Perfect Apology” for a minor classroom mishap, focusing on empathy rather than excuses.
- Math (Probability & Patterns):
- Activity Idea: There are ten broken toes in the title. Create a “Curse Tracker” chart. If Matt breaks one toe every two weeks, how long will it take for the “Curse” to complete? This introduces simple linear patterns in a fun way.
