The Odd Squad: King Karl by Michael Fry
| The Odd Squad: King Karl by Michael Fry | |
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| Category: Confident Readers | |
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Reviewer: Robert James
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| Summary: While it's not quite as good as the first two in the series, this is a pleasant enough read with gorgeous illustrations. | |
| Buy? Maybe | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 208 | Date: September 2014 |
| Publisher: Faber and Faber | |
| ISBN: 9780571314416 | |
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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 Sleuth on Skates by Clementine Beauvais and Sarah Horne.
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