[Janitors 04] Strike of the Sweepers (35 page)

The team at Shadow Mountain continue to amaze me with their support and attention. Thanks to Chris Schoebinger and Heidi Taylor for their direction and guidance, to Emily Watts for her editorial work, to Richard Erickson for his art direction, and to Karen Zelnick and Mary Beth Allen for organizing many of my events and tours.

Thanks to Brandon Dorman, whom I finally met face to face! There isn’t a nicer guy out there. Thanks for providing another eye-catching cover. Dez would be very pleased with his rippling muscles and black talons.

Thanks to Rubin Pfeffer for representing my work in the Janitors series. His advice and guidance have meant so much to me over the years.

I want to thank fellow author Chad Morris (Cragbridge Hall series) and the Jammin’ Janitors—Sam, Doug, and Mike—for spending lots of time and effort to help launch past books.

To my neighborhood friends growing up—Aubrey, Lance, Nate, Andrew, and Nick. Our countless hours of imaginative games helped shape me into the writer that I am today. Thanks for always coming along on another adventure.

Thanks to my parents and to my brother and sisters and their families. Thanks for always being interested in my many projects.

And the greatest thanks goes to Connie, for always being there. I could never do this without you!

Keep reading! Keep imagining! I can promise a lot of excitement in the final book!

Reading Guide

1. Glopified squeegees open portals to let people travel great distances quickly. If you could use a squeegee to instantly travel anywhere, where would you go?

2. If you were holding a Sweeper potion, would you choose to take it and transform? Or would you choose to stay human? Why?

3. Which kind of Sweeper do you think is most powerful: Rubbish, Filth, or Grime? Why? If you had to become a Sweeper, what kind would you want to be? Why do you think Dez made the choice he did?

4. Spencer learns that Mr. Clean is known by several names. If you had a fake name, what would it be? Who would you tell it to?

5. The BEM’s secret laboratory is hidden deep in the Atlantic Ocean. If you built a secret laboratory, where would you hide it? What would it be like?

6. When Spencer needs someone to take care of the
Manualis Custodem
he chooses Min. Who would you trust to take care of something that is valuable to you?

7. The Dustbin allows you to use your imagination to create familiar objects out of dust. What would you create?

8. The Rebels show mercy and try to save Garth Hadley from the TPs. Have you ever helped someone who was unkind to you? How did it make you feel?

9. What’s your favorite magical janitorial weapon used by the Rebels? If you had access to magical glop, what janitorial tool or item would you make magical, and what could it do?  

10. The arrival of the Founding Witches turned out not to have the effect the Rebels were hoping for. Have you ever been disappointed by something or someone? What did you do to deal with it?