Author: Darcy Miller
Genre: humor
Similar books: Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
The Kids of Cattywampus Street by Lisa Jahn-Clough
Rating:
Summary (provided by publisher): Harvey Hill just wants other kids to think he’s normal. So he’s happy to start fresh as the newest kid at Strangeville Middle School. Except Strangeville is anything but normal. Something sinister swims in the drinking fountain, the cafeteria could swallow you whole, and a giant rat named Cuddles is on the loose. And don't even get the vice principal started on the third-floor supply closet. In fact, don't even think about it. What supply closet?
At least Harvey has his guide and sort-of new friend Stella Cho to show him the ropes. School newspaper reporter, first chair flugelhorn, and hiding a secret of her own, Stella shows Harvey that maybe "normal" is overrated. But when Stella goes missing while trying to solve the secret of the supply closet (oh that supply closet!), Harvey must embrace what makes him unique to save his new friend and his new school.
My opinion: "Strangeville" is certainly an accurate name for this book. We are presented with a wide variety of events, mostly unexplained. We simply accept them as the reality of this world. There is some heavy handed hinting at secrets that got annoying as the book progressed but a kid will likely ignore that. You can see the influence of Wayside School on this book though Miller has included a stronger central plot driving all of the weirdness. While I found it perhaps a bit too strange I can certainly imagine that a young audience will enjoy it.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
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