מאת Kevin John Scott
A delightfully strange and hilarious debut about an outcast boy and his quirky companion who must solve the puzzle of the mysterious earthquake that hit their town, forging a friendship and uncovering truths along the way.
At the age of eleven Frederik Sandwich awakens to an earthquake that couldn't possibly be. His town is nowhere near a fault line and no earthquake has ever been recorded there. But when he questions what could have caused the shaking, he realizes he may have uncovered more than he bargained for.
Desperately wanting to know what happened, but not the type of person to break rules or push adults for answers, Frederik is lucky (or not, depending on how you look at it) to meet a mysterious stranger, Pernille. She is the sort of person to break rules and demand answers, and is determined to partner with him to get to the bottom of the mystery. It's a mystery that will lead the two outsiders through abandoned train tunnels, into hidden library rooms, and to the shadowy corridors of City Hall in the dead of night as they try to figure out what could have caused inexplicable rumblings in their small town.
A delightfully strange and hilarious debut about an outcast boy and his quirky companion who must solve the puzzle of the mysterious earthquake that hit their town, forging a friendship and uncovering truths along the way.
At the age of eleven Frederik Sandwich awakens to an earthquake that couldn't possibly be. His town is nowhere near a fault line and no earthquake has ever been recorded there. But when he questions what could have caused the shaking, he realizes he may have uncovered more than he bargained for.
Desperately wanting to know what happened, but not the type of person to break rules or push adults for answers, Frederik is lucky (or not, depending on how you look at it) to meet a mysterious stranger, Pernille. She is the sort of person to break rules and demand answers, and is determined to partner with him to get to the bottom of the mystery. It's a mystery that will lead the two outsiders through abandoned train tunnels, into hidden library rooms, and to the shadowy corridors of City Hall in the dead of night as they try to figure out what could have caused inexplicable rumblings in their small town.
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November 1, 2017
Frederik knows the Earth shook; why won't anyone talk about it?On Frederik's Hill, many businesses and many more people are named after King Frederik. Frederik Sandwich's immigrant parents wanted to fit in, thus his name. Unfortunately, that didn't work; 11 years later, the xenophobic neighborhood kids ostracize him despite his native-born status and the white skin he shares with them. When the Earth shakes and no one will talk about it, Frederik's thrown together with dark-skinned, white-haired, adopted Pernille, who is similarly ostracized and who can't seem to call Frederik by his very common name. Can the two foil a plot to murder Her Ladyship the Mayor? Though Scott's frequent, clever wordplay shows his great promise, this series starter is a glacially paced mess. Outsider status does nothing to make either main character likable. Pernille's habit of calling Frederik different foodstuffs instead of his name will annoy more than just Frederik from the outset, and Frederik himself is panicky and shrill in a most unfunny way. The characters make wild, unfounded assumptions that do little but confuse. Though the characters learn to accept themselves, the message of inclusion never gets delivered. And finally, the world built for this yarn comes across as neither original nor interesting.Clunky title, clunkier tale. (Fiction. 8-12)COPYRIGHT(2017) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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January 15, 2018
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. Agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. - School Library Connection, Highly Recommended "This eerie book is reminiscent of Lemony Snicket in its characters and plot line and sure to be a popular title! This one is a must for elementary readers who want an engaging book that will take them on a wild ride and leave them on edge waiting for more."
- Publishers Weekly "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."
