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

New fifth grade student Harvey Hill discovers Strangeville School more than lives up to its name. After attending four different schools in the space of four years, Harvey is familiar with the role of new kid. However, he's not prepared for the bizarre and peculiar happenings that Strangeville students and staff find routine, like dangerous animals on the loose, a black hole in the cafeteria meatloaf, and mysterious disappearances orchestrated by a sinister force. Thankfully, he has classmate Stella Cho to help him navigate these increasingly surreal situations. Stella and Harvey can both relate to feeling like outsiders. Stella hides her loneliness behind defensive armor, while Harvey's barrier in making friends is due to a closely guarded secret. The two initially stumble through their friendship but soon learn the value of camaraderie and support. Harvey's self-acceptance is empowering and allows him to reach new heights to save the school. While the plot is solidly sci-fi, real-world issues like insecurity, friendship, and embracing what makes you different ground the story. The deadpan third-person omniscient narration, which includes frequent asides to readers, is infused with quirky and irreverent humor. Short, action-packed chapters and abundant illustrations add to the appeal. Harvey reads as White; Stella's surname cues her as Korean American. Final illustrations not seen. Wonderfully weird and extremely entertaining. (Science fiction. 7-11) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

In many respects, Strangeville School resembles Wayside School--gone a bit to the dark side. So it is that on his very first day, fifth-grader Harvey Hill encounters a hulking class rat that has ingested a growth serum: a toe-eating crocodile brought in to take care of a "piranha problem" in the plumbing; an unusually bloody-minded school nurse; and, climatically, a sinister, people--swallowing supply closet. Harvey starts out as the sort for whom belief in himself "wasn't one of his strong points," but by the time he's survived all this and plunged into the evil closet's interdimensional wormhole to rescue budding journalist and classmate Stella (and a large number of other victims), he has not only gained a fresh charge of confidence but revealed a surprising talent of his own. Helquist tucks in frequent vignettes and full-page illustrations (finished versions not seen), while Miller enhances the surreal atmosphere by getting into mini disquisitions on toffee hammers, the (real!) sport of Klootschieten, and other irrelevancies. A hoot--though readers may want to think twice before filling out transfer requests.

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.)