Strangeville School Is Totally Normal (Strangeville School #1)

From games of dodgeball that employ bowling balls to cafeteria meatloaf that sports a black hole and ominous mentions of a third-floor supply closet, Strangeville is indeed the most bizarre school that new student Harvey Hill has attended. And the fifth grader, who reads as white, has attended his share--four in the past four years due to a secret that makes new friendships a challenge. Harvey's guide, budding reporter and prickly classmate Stella Cho, cued as of Korean descent, sees nothing odd about their school and wants desperately to find a big story. But when the supply closet begins to speak to Harvey, and Stella discovers the secret, which certainly qualifies as a scoop, Harvey must face his fears and learn to speak up. Miller (Margot and Mateo Save the World) employs an aside-heavy third-person narrative that ups the laughs, while Harvey and Stella's relatable struggles and growth ground the absurdity. Final illustrations by Helquist (Cezanne's Parrot) not seen by PW. Ages 8-12. Author's agent: Carrie Hannigan, HG Literary. Illustrator's agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Dec.)

Gr 4-7--Fifth grader and budding photographer Harvey Hill is the new kid at Strangeville School. With freckles and average elbows, Harvey seems perfectly normal--except he is guarding a mysterious secret. Strangeville, on the other hand, is the opposite of normal, with crocodiles roaming the hallways, a rat named Cuddles who is growing at an alarming rate due to a science fair mishap, and an evil lizard named Mr. Pickles with his own sinister plans, among other oddities. Harvey befriends Stella Cho, lead reporter of the school paper, and together they become wrapped up in the mystery of the dangerous Supply Closet on the third floor, which is responsible for the disappearances of several students and teachers over the years. In the same vein as Louis Sachar's "Wayside School," this tale offers a blend of dark humor, quirky characters, and strange happenings. Although the unusual encounters and odd bits of trivia seem random, there is continuity within the narrative and with the characterizations. Harvey, despite seeming average (especially when compared to his classmates and teachers at Strangeville), is an endearing character who's easy to root for. He plays well off his cohort, Stella, who remains calm and matter-of-fact, even when faced with giant, mutated rats and meatloaf made from black holes. The mystery surrounding the Supply Closet concludes in an appropriately extravagant and bizarre manner, as does the reveal of Harvey's big secret. Harvey is cued as white, while Stella is cued as Asian American. VERDICT Give this offbeat and irreverent book to young readers who like dark comedy, eccentric characters, and off-the-wall storytelling.--Laura J. Giunta, Garden City P.L., NY

"Strangeville School is totally hysterical! It's like a lopsided, upside down, triple somersault Sideways Stories from Wayside School for a whole new generation. Darcy Miller is my kind of writer: Funny!" — Chris Grabenstein, New York Times bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library and I Funny

"Strangeville School is Totally Normal is the funniest kids' book I've read in years. It's also the weirdest, in the best possible way: if demonically possessed supply closets, mysteriously oversized rats, and even more mysterious main characters are your kind of thing, you'll love this story." - Geoff Rodkey, New York Times bestselling author of The Tapper Twins