Frequently (and Sometimes)
Asked Questions
Winnie Pyle: Weird War One
Frequently Asked Questions
(For Parents, Teachers, Librarians, and Other Concerned Adults)
THE "WILL MY KID ACTUALLY READ THIS?" QUESTIONS
Q: What books are similar to Winnie Pyle?
A: Glad you asked! If your kid loved The Last Kids on Earth series or if they're fans of the Gravity Falls cartoon, they'll devour this. Think Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets Percy Jackson, but with Bigfoot and Vikings. It's got the middle school vibes of Big Nate, the bathroom humor of Captain Underpants, and the fantasy adventure of Fablehaven, all rolled into one highly sarcastic middle-grade package.
Q: Is this book appropriate for my grade-schooler? My middle-schooler? My husband?
A: Yes! The sweet spot is ages 8-12. Your 8-year-old will laugh at Tim's jokes. Your 12-year-old will appreciate Winnie's sarcasm. Your husband will get all fired up about the government cover up. And for everyone else there's fluffy bunnies, a giant toilet, a paranoid bus driver, and military surplus. Winnie Pyle: Weird War One is a literary buffet – something for everyone.
THE HUMOR AUDIT
(Because You're Definitely Wondering)
Q: Exactly how much bathroom humor are we talking about here?
A: We've done a comprehensive analysis. Here's the official Blackwell Toilet Humor Census™:
Fart/Gas References: 11 (All character-appropriate and genuinely funny, we promise)
Butt/Rear-end Mentions: 22 (Mostly involving pranks and one very unfortunate rear-sniffing incident)
Stool (toilet): 76 (Yes, really. The secret portal in our story is basically a highly trafficked, giant toilet)
Other Toilets/Porta-Potties: 13 (The non-portal kind)
Stool (the poop kind): 12 (Look, Tim's a Bigfoot. He lives in the woods. Nature calls.)
Moist Brown Paper Bag References: 27 (Context: it's a running gag involving a wet lunch bag full of...something)
Flush/Clog Incidents: 18 (The big toilet causes big problems from time to time)
Total Bathroom-Adjacent Content: Approximately 179 references across 26 chapters, which averages to 6.88 bathroom jokes per chapter. For comparison, this is significantly less than Captain Underpants but notably more than Chronicles of Narnia. We'd call it a healthy pile of bathroom humor.
Q: Is it just bathroom humor?
A: Not at all! There's also wordplay ("urinalism" instead of "journalism"), physical comedy (high velocity rabbits), situational irony (a secret agent posing as a substitute teacher), and the timeless humor of pre-teens trying to survive middle school. The bathroom stuff is just the garnish on a well-balanced comedy sundae (gross!).
THE BIGFOOT QUESTION
(Yes, THAT Question)
Q: Does the author actually believe in Bigfoot?
A: Joseph Blackwell remains officially uncertain about the existence of Sasquatch, though he admits Tim's character is very convincing. There have been several sightings in Blackwell’s home state of Michigan, which reports conclude are "probably just bears" but also "definitely not bears.”
Official Author Statement: "I neither confirm nor deny the existence of Bigfoot. I simply report what I've observed: lots of blurry photos taken by trustworthy hillbillies and the undeniable existence of so many Sasquatch jokes."
Q: Does the author actually believe in Vikings?
A: Were you paying attention in middle school? Vikings are very real. Or were. Or are. The question is, how did a Viking ship full of warriors float out of a giant sewage lagoon in Tim's backyard?
Official Author Statement: "No comment."
THE "WHAT'S THIS BOOK ACTUALLY ABOUT?" QUESTIONS
Q: What's the moral of the story?
The Funny Answer: Don't judge people (or legendary creatures) by their appearance, always bring extra toilet paper when camping, and if a giant hairy creature offers you ranch dressing, just take it. It's rude to refuse.
The Slightly Serious Answer: Winnie Pyle:Weird War One explores themes of friendship, courage, problem-solving, and when adventure can be worth the risk. Winnie learns that being brave doesn't mean never being scared—it means doing the right thing even when you ARE scared. Calvin discovers that his naturally cautious spirit brings valuable strategic thinking. And Tim reminds us that family (chosen or biological) is worth fighting for. Also, journalism matters and writing can change the world.
Q: Is there any educational value, or is it just fun?
A: Sneaky educational content includes: investigative reporting, military diplomacy, Norse mythology, scientific method (Calvin's methodical approach), media literacy, critical thinking, and the importance of questioning authority (in an age-appropriate way). We could easily imagine some stimulating discussion around the value of school journalism or how to create a memorable pen name. You could even ruin enhance your child’s reading experience by assigning the following book report questions:
BOOK REPORT QUESTIONS
(For Teachers, Homeschoolers, and Overly-Ambitious Parents)
Congratulations! Your student or child actually read the book! Here are some discussion questions that will prove it:
Character & Theme Questions:
How does Winnie's fearlessness both help and hurt her throughout the story? Give specific examples.
Calvin starts the story very anxious about breaking rules. How does his character change by the end? What causes this change?
Tim is scary-looking but kind-hearted. Can you think of other characters (in books or movies) who are also judged incorrectly by their appearance?
Agent Jennings pretends to be a substitute teacher. Why does he do this? Is lying ever okay if it's for a good reason?
The Vikings want to exploit Tim's family. How is this similar to events you recall from history?
Plot & Structure Questions:
What is Winnie's inciting incident—the moment that kicks off her adventure? (Hint: It involves trespassing.)
How do Winnie and Calvin's different personalities complement each other? Give examples of times when each person's strengths helped solve a problem.
Why is the newspaper important to Winnie? How does journalism become important to the plot?
What's the significance of The Outpost (shipping container 74A)?
If you were going to write the next book in the series, on what adventure would you send Winnie, Calvin, and Tim?
Creative Thinking Questions:
Design your own legendary creature or cryptid that could appear in the next Winnie Pyle book. What's their name? Where do they live? What do they eat?
Winnie is starting a newspaper. What would YOU investigate or write about at your school?
If you had to choose: Would you rather have Winnie's fearlessness or Calvin's caution? Why?
Joseph Blackwell is an amazing pen name for the author. Why would an author choose to use a pen name? Create your own amazing author pen name.
Cast the movie version: Who would play Winnie, Calvin, Tim, and Agent Jennings?
THE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS
Q: How long is it?
A: 26 chapters of adventure, mystery, and strategic bathroom humor. About 35,000 words, which translates to roughly 3-5 hours of reading time for the average middle-grader. Perfect for a long weekend, a road trip, or strategic reading-instead-of-gaming sessions.
Q: Are there illustrations?
A: Not currently, but we'd love to see your kid draw Tim the Bigfoot eating ranch dressing. (Seriously, send them to us. We'll make a gallery.)
Q: Is this part of a series?
A: Yes! This is Book One: Weird War One. We're already planning Books 2-47, featuring adventures with Loch Ness Monster, Gnomes, Aliens, Chupacabra, and possibly a very confused Leprechaun. Winnie's not done investigating, and neither are we.
Q: Will my child learn bad habits from this book?
A: Define "bad habits." Will they trespass on abandoned government property? Probably not (it's federal property—there are CAMERAS). Will they question authority and think critically? Maybe. Will they share hilarious fart jokes? Depends on the house rules. Will they develop an inexplicable craving for ranch dressing? Almost certainly.
Q: My kid hates reading. Will this help?
A: We can't promise miracles, but this book has convinced several "I hate books" kids to ask for the sequel. Turns out, Bigfoot + fart jokes + mystery + friendship is a powerful combination. Worth a shot, right?
HONEST QUESTIONS WE ACTUALLY GET
Q: Is this scary like Goosebumps?
A: Nope! This is "exciting adventure" scary, not "nightmare fuel" scary. Tim is a friendly Bigfoot, not a monster. The Vikings are more annoying than terrifying. The scariest thing in this book is probably the middle school cafeteria food. (Which is, admittedly, pretty scary.)
Q: Can my son/daughter read this even though the main character is a girl?
A: ...Yes? Girls read books. Boys read books. Everyone reads books. Winnie is awesome, Calvin is awesome, and Tim is VERY awesome. Your kid seems awesome. We bet they can handle reading about a gutsy girl reporter.
Q: Are there any [insert concerning content here]?
A: No swearing (except age-appropriate "shoot" and "dang"). No romance (they're 11—ew). No graphic violence (the "war" is more of a "strong disagreement resulting in comical property damage"). No religious agenda. No political agenda. Yes, toilets.
Q: Why should I buy this instead of [insert bestselling series]?
A: You shouldn't choose! Buy both! Support authors! But if you're on a budget: Winnie Pyle offers something fresh—school realism + portal fantasy + journalism + mythology + cryptids + humor, all in one package. It's like a smoothie of all the best middle-grade flavors. Blended with ranch dressing. (Bad analogy)
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
Q: Where can I learn more? A: Visit www.winniepyle.com for more! We're planning a QPF field agent training program, maybe some coloring pages, and definitely announcements about Winnie Pyle: Weird War Two.
Q: Can the author visit our school/library/book club? A: Possibly! Joseph Blackwell loves talking about story-telling, writing, journalism, , and why ranch dressing is the superior condiment. Contact joseph@winniepyle.com for availability.
Q: Is there a movie deal yet? A: Not yet, but that would be something, wouldn't it! Someone call Hollywood and tell them Tim needs his moment.
FINAL WORD FROM THE AUTHOR:
"If you've made it this far in the FAQ, congratulations—you're officially overthinking a children's book about a Viking army hijacking a secret portal and crashing a fictional Bigfoot wedding. Just give it to your kid. If they don't like it, they'll tell you. (Kids are honest like that.) But I think they will. Because who doesn't love a hilarious story about friendship and adventure?"
— Joseph Blackwell Author, Bigfoot Believer (Maybe), Ranch Dressing Enthusiast (Definitely)