The main character Billy is living with his mom for the summer while she writes her dissertation. He's not thrilled about a summer in a cottage with no TV! His parents are also clearly having martial problems & Billy is not sure how to help them reconnect. Through imagination, magic & some pie he's able to make his summer more bearable. 
 This book has so many great references to some extraordinary characters from Robin Hood to Tom Sawyer! Billy & his friend Walter name drop book titles & characters throughout the entire book. However, as much as I wanted to love this book - I felt as though it dragged on. I never felt connected to Billy or any beloved characters from the other books. They were very flat & cartoonish. I think several of my students would love Billy antics and allusions to Holes & sword fighting Musketeers but it just wasn't for me.