Bully Bait

Fry, co-creator of the comic strip Over the Hedge, makes his children’s book debut with an illustrated novel, first in the Odd Squad series, starring 12-year-old social outcast Nick. As the story opens, school counselor Dr. Daniels has decided that Nick and two other friendless kids, Karl and Molly, need to team up to avoid being singled out by bullies. Nick and Molly resist initially (Dr. Daniels wants them to join the ultra-dorky safety patrol, whose sole member is clingy Karl), but the three soon develop a plan to get back at school bully Roy, who has been tormenting them. Intermingled throughout is speculation about the ghost of Emily Dickinson, who supposedly haunts the middle school. Fry’s antic illustrations are a mix of charts, slapstick gags, and comics sequences, which provide welcome breaks from Nick’s long-winded narration. The circuitous story line and the book’s many over-the-top characters and pratfalls can get in the way of the points Fry tries to make about friendship, bullying, and outward appearances. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. Agent: Daniel Lazar, Writers House. (Feb.)