View source for The Odd Squad: King Karl by Michael Fry

{{infobox1
|title=The Odd Squad: King Karl
|sort=Odd Squad: King Karl, The
|author=Michael Fry
|reviewer=Robert James
|genre=Confident Readers
|rating=3.5
|buy=Maybe
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=9780571314416
|pages=208
|publisher=Faber and Faber
|date=September 2014
|summary=While it's not quite as good as the first two in the series, this is a pleasant enough read with gorgeous illustrations.
|cover=0571314414
|aznuk=0571314414
|aznus=0571314414
}}
Nick, Molly and Karl have come through a lot of things together since forming Safety Patrol - often with the help of Shakespeare-quoting janitor Mr Dupree. But when the mysterious MLEZ, who run the school, want Karl to join them, Nick and Molly have to start thinking about ways to stop him - because Karl in charge is a frankly terrifying prospect. 

I'm a big fan of Michael Fry's Odd Squad series but was a little let down by this one in some ways. I’ve been trying to think why I wasn’t as keen on it as the previous two and it’s taken me a while to put my finger on it, but I think it’s mainly that there’s more of a focus on Karl here. I’d enjoyed reading about the trio in the previous two books but Karl’s zany character – talking to his sea monkeys, wearing his Beret–Cam, singing Frere Jacques for an hour on end – grated on me a bit here as he played more of a role than in ''Bully Bait'' or ''Zero Tolerance''.

That said, there’s still a lot to like about it. Nick is an engaging narrator who muddles through in a believable way, often doing silly things but always having the right intentions. Molly is a good character and despite Karl getting on my nerves at times, the friendship between the trio has developed well over the course of the three books. I also appreciate that the adults get a better portrayal here than they often do in books for this age range - Memaw is hilarious and Mr Dupree really funny, while Nick constantly underestimates all of the older characters' ability to relate to children. And, of course, the illustrations are wonderful - I love Fry's cartoons! 

All in all, it's a decent enough read, if not up to the first two in the series, and I'll be on board if there are future books. Series is a definite recommendation overall!

I think fans of the humour here, and the mixture of writing and illustrations, would love the Sesame Seade trilogy starting with [[Sesame Seade Mysteries 1: Sleuth on Skates by Clementine Beauvais and Sarah Horne|Sleuth on Skates by Clementine Beauvais and Sarah Horne]].

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