Lions & Liars

Not much is likely to go well for a boy whose own parents named him Frederick Frederickson: even Frederick's best friend, Joel, tells him, "You need to accept that life is going to be horrible for you." So when an impending hurricane cancels Frederick's favorite event of the year--a family cruise to the Caribbean--he is not overjoyed he'll be home to attend Joel's birthday party after all. Things go downhill quickly from there when, at the party, Joel's prank to send Frederick on another cruise results in the boy accidentally falling into a rudderless boat; Frederick is saved from the alligator-infested waters only when he washes up hours later on the shores of a camp for troubled boys. Mistaken for a notorious camp veteran, Frederick has a brief turn at being a fearsome leader (the lion of the title). Over the course of the weekend--and many comedic interludes highlighting his ineptitude at competition--Frederick realizes he does not want to be king of the playground, the cafeteria, or anywhere else. He just wants a friend, but in order to have one, he will have to learn how to be one. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8-12. Author's agent: Emily van Beek, Folio Literary Management. Illustrator's agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (June)

Gr 3-5--Frederick Frederickson has school social life figured out: kids are either lions, gazelles, meerkats, or, like him, fleas on meerkats' butts. Pals Joel and Raj enjoy teasing him but when one of their jokes goes too far, Frederick is hurt. Then, a quirky chain of events strands Frederick at a boys' camp. The 10 year old assumes the identity of another camper, reasoning "This was his chance to start over and become the person he was supposed to be." Unbeknownst to Frederick, he's landed in a disciplinary camp and the boy he's masquerading as is a notorious troublemaker. Could this be Frederick's path to lion status? Beasley (Gertie's Leap to Greatness) writes with ease, engaging readers quickly with hapless but hopeful Frederick's sincerity. His struggles with popularity and self-confidence make him a relatable, realistic protagonist readers would want for a friend. The plot moves quickly, building to a climax foreshadowed early in the novel, as Frederick and fellow camper Ant Bait survive a harrowing night in a hurricane. The novel's overall success is a bit undermined, however, by derivative elements. Several details skew a bit too close to the plot of Louis Sachar's Holes. Beasley's explanations for why some characters were sent to the camp are improbable, so an ability to suspend disbelief is required. VERDICT A light read--if not all that original--whose straightforward message about self-acceptance and true friendship will leave readers smiling.--Marybeth Kozikowski, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY

"Ms. Beasley does something admirable with her food-chain metaphor: A bit like Chekhov's gun, the metaphorical lion from the first act turns into a real one at the end, adding a moment of unexpected bite. Otherwise tender at heart and laugh-out-loud entertaining, the tale of Frederick's misadventures and Dan Santat's exuberant illustrations will charm readers ages 8-12." - The Wall Street Journal