Frederik Sandwich and the Earthquake That Couldn’t Possibly Be

Eleven-year-old Frederik Sandwich has lived in Frederik’s Hill his entire life, but he and his parents are still thought of as newcomers. He does everything he can to fit in, masking any trace of his family’s peculiar accent, but his peers and the rest of the town believe that all foreigners are trouble. After being awakened by an earthquake one night, Frederik is shocked—how can there be an earthquake without a fault line? He reluctantly teams up with a fellow outsider, Pernille Yasemin Jensen, to investigate. And with the entire town refusing to acknowledge the earthquake, acting on the mayor’s orders, he can use all the help he can get. After discovering a vast cover-up that goes back decades, the duo must be brave enough to resist and think for themselves. Outrageous twists and timely truths abound in British author Scott’s debut novel, first in a planned series. Frederik confronts his own assumptions and finds the courage to challenge the status quo in this quirky and jokey mystery. Ages 8–12. [em]Agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (Feb.) [/em]