The Unlucky Kid

“That is one unlucky kid,” remarks more than one observer on the travails of protagonist Quin in this three-chapter graphic novel by Holt (The Red Jacket). A beach outing with a large box of French fries makes Quin a magnet for a horde of ravenous gulls (“Fries! Fries! Fries!”). He then finds himself on the receiving end of a 50-foot wave that hurtles him back to his front porch. His “brilliant” two-phase plan (elaborately detailed on graph paper) for extracting a loose tooth results in his inadvertent attachment to a high-flying kite, and a fishing expedition goes awry when the escaping fish drags Quin into the sky—and the path of angry hornets—until the line snaps and he’s deposited in a hollow tree trunk filled with small, miffed animals. Holt choreographs the outlandish mishaps with plenty of physical verve and bright color; the characters, including Quin’s mother, younger sister, good friend, and pet kitty, all have big googly eyes and exclamation point–studded dialogue that amplify the antics. Yet, no matter how unbenevolent the world, Quin is neither a sad sack nor a Candide, remaining as durable and resilient as his propensity to become airborne. Human characters have brown skin. Ages 6–9. Agent: Rachel Orr, Prospect Agency. (May)