  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 05/01/2018 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 - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 05/15/2018 *Starred Review* Frederick Frederickson knows he’s never been popular, but he’s convinced that he has the potential to be, despite his friend Joel’s philosophy of life, which places him at the literal bottom of a social hierarchy ruled by “lions”: Frederick is a flea on a meerkat’s butt. Plus, his precious family vacation aboard a cruise ship—his one moment in the year to escape life as a flea—has been canceled by a distant hurricane. His luck might be turning, though, when he is accidentally set adrift in Joel’s family’s motorboat, which eventually runs aground at a “transformational” (aka disciplinary) wilderness camp for boys, where he is mistaken for Dash Blackwood—a lion if there ever was one. Beasley follows her acclaimed debut, Gertie’s Leap to Greatness (2016), with a winning story that matches earnestness with humor. As Frederick basks in the glory of being cool, he grapples with the moral and practical challenges of living a lie. His friendship with his cabinmates—Specs, Nosebleed, Ant Bite, and the Professor—is particularly enlightening as he realizes he is no better than the “bad” kids there. Frederick is a highly relatable character, and as unlikely as his situation is, Beasley has her bases covered and renders it plausible. Though unavailable for review, Santat’s illustrations should further enhance this transformative read. - Copyright 2018 Booklist. Loading...
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