MG Review: The Odd Squad: Bully Bait by Michael Fry (reviewed by tween reviewer Kicky)

Nick is the shortest seventh-grader in the history of the world (he’s pretty sure), doesn’t fit in with any groups or clubs (who needs ’em?), and spends more time inside than outside his locker (they’re roomier than you’d think). 

Things only get worse when a well-intentioned guidance counselor forces Nick to join the school’s lamest club–along with fellow misfits Molly and Karl–in her quest to cure all three of their “peer allergies.” What starts off as a reluctant band of hopeless oddballs morphs into an effective and empowered team ready to face whatever middle school throws at them, including bullies, awkward romance, zany adults, and a brave new world of surprising friendships. 

Renowned cartoonist Michael Fry brings an unforgettable cast of characters to life in an illustrated novel brimming with honesty, humor, and heart.  (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 The Odd Squad: Bully Bait by Michael Fry. Published 2/12/2013 by Disney Hyperion. ISBN: 9781423169246

What Kicky has to say:

Karl, Molly and Nick join the safety patrol at school to stop a bully named Roy from picking on them.  But Roy has a secret that he doesn’t want anyone to know, which makes the safety patrol even more curious.

Describe the book in 3 words:
Funny.  Teaches life lessons. Teaches friendship.

What stood out to you in this book?
Some people aren’t what they seem because once you get to know them, they become nicer to you.

What did you think of the characters?
I thought that they had interesting personalities that were different. They were different because Molly was sort of a tall, crazy person who didn’t like to be called names.  Karl is a bit of a chubby, scared guy who just goes along with whatever anybody else says.  Nick is short and he likes to be different by not doing what other people say but doing what he wants to do.  And Roy, he is a mean person but in the end he turns out to be really sweet.


Do you recommend it?
This is a book I recommend because it had many interesting facts about bullying. Also, because it was full of very funny things like stealing stuffed pigs .Plus, it included very helpful life lessons. I loved it and everyone should read it.

Who Would Like this Book?
People who liked the Diary of a Wimpy Kid and people who have an active imagination.

It was interesting not only as a librarian, but as a mom to watch my daughter read this book.  She starts a lot of books but finishes very few of them.  She is supposed to read 10 pages a night for school, her dad and I make her read at least 20, after which she often stops. The first night she sat down to read The Odd Squad she read the first 47 pages.  The next night she invited a friend to spend the night and then proceeded to ignore said friend while she finished reading the book.  Fear not, that friend was none other than Christie, my co-blogger, so we were happy to let her read.  At one point when I looked over at her reading she had the biggest smile on her face.  Twee readers who like comedy and comic drawings with their books will love this one.  your Diary of a Wimpy Kid readers will also love this book. Highly recommended.

Michael Fry is a cartoonist and there are fun drawings throughout the book, which is a popular feature in today’s MG lit.

Filed under: Bullying, Comic Books, MG Reviews, Michael Fry, The Odd Squad