Castellucci’s comics-style chapter book explores a misfit friendship with lots of help from Varon’s bubbly, lighthearted artwork. “Feathers not well-oiled!” shouts a caption balloon, reflecting Theodora Duck’s alarm about her hipstery new neighbor, Chad, as she stands over him, “welcome” cake in hand. Chad also makes strange sculptures, has multicolored feathers, and scratches himself with a fork. But after an invitation (“Would you like to look through my telescope?”) and a revelation (“She had never looked so closely at a star”), Theodora discovers that Chad makes a good companion. Varon (Robot Dreams) has fun contrasting Theodora’s prissy femininity with Chad’s slovenliness. When a chance remark from a bystander leads to a rift (which of them is the “odd duck”?), Castellucci (The Year of the Beasts) handles Theodora’s remorse and the friends’ reconciliation with humor and insight. It’s more of a rom-com than a story about juvenile friendship, but silly details like Theodora’s swimming posture exercises (“Teacup did not fall once! A new personal best!”), the ducks’ ridiculously stringy arms and legs, and the careful avoidance of mush will click with the book’s audience. Ages 6–up. Author’s agent: Kirby Kim, William Morris Endeavor. (May)
"This is a beautiful parable about eccentricity, friendship, self-awareness, the majesty of the night sky, and the benefits of balancing a cup of tea on your head (for posture!)." —Boing Boing
“This clever celebration of individuality delights.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Warm and with solid insight into the nature of quirk, this title will amuse most readers, and it may be a welcome balm for those who feel a bit different.” —School Library Journal, starred review
“Varon's gentle art and Castellucci's nuanced writing combine in a sweet, quiet tale that celebrates the joys of being unique.” —Booklist
“A lively friendship story that shows it's more fun to be different than "normal," and most fun of all to be different with a buddy.” —The Horn Book
“Middle-graders on the verge of dog-eat-dog adolescence may find the idea of oddball pals sticking together a bolstering and affirmative one; the quirky tale may also serve as a nice prompt for a class discussion of friendship or idiosyncratic behavior.” —BCCB
Gr 2–4—Theodora, a duck with a yen for lavender hats, stargazing, and staying north for the winter, prefers her solitary life slightly outside the duck community. She is dismayed by the grubby, flamboyant appearance of Chad when he moves in next door and populates his yard with art installations. But worst of all, he also chooses to remain at home throughout the snowy season. A story about first impressions, tolerance, and friendship, the narrative takes some time to fully click, but when it does there are many sweet touches to be found in the relationship between these odd ducks. Mostly eschewing panels and only occasionally using word balloons, this charming picture book cum early chapter book cum graphic novel has soft, clear pastel tones, strong lines, and lots of whimsical detail. Warm and with solid insight into the nature of quirk, this title will amuse most readers, and it may be a welcome balm for those who feel a bit different.—Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH
A sublime tale of two strange ducks who overcome the odds--pun completely intended--and become friends. Theodora is an odd duck indeed: She spends her days swimming with a teacup balanced on her head, flavoring her duck pellets with mango salsa and watching the stars. She is content, her days are full--but they're not quite fulfilling. One fateful day, a new duck named Chad moves next door. He's strange, unstructured, disorderly and loud--the opposite of quietly meticulous Theodora. Despite his eccentricities--and her initial judgment of him--the pair bond over a shared love of the stars. During an outing, another duck loudly points out that "odd duck" as the pair waddle past. Each thinks that the other must be the odd one, resulting in an argument. As Theodora ponders their fight, she realizes that though she's happy with her life, it doesn't mean much without someone to share it with. A moral that could have been nauseatingly saccharine in the hands of a lesser author is handled deftly here. Castellucci and Varon shine together, with Varon's trademark animal characters and Castellucci's careful prose. Readers expecting a typical graphic novel may be a bit put off; reading like a long picture book, this is reliant on illustrations that stretch across an entire page as opposed to many boxy, structured panels, resulting in a wonderfully odd and endearing little offering. This clever celebration of individuality delights. (Graphic fiction. 6-10)
