Frederik Sandwich and the Mayor Who Lost Her Marbles is the second book in the Frederick Sandwich series by Kevin John Scott. This middle grade novel is currently schedule for release on February 1 2019. I would recommend reading this series in order, because so much happened in the first book that I think newcomers would miss out on much of the set up and character building.

The evil mayor of Frederik’s Hill is determined that no one will ruin her upcoming International Midsummer Festival. And town troublemakers Frederik and Pernille are trying to keep a low profile, but seem to have been the source of some pesky zombie rumors that are flooding the town and indeed threatening to do just that. Determined to turn the spotlight off them, Frederik plans to expose the mayor’s big secret—one she has kept hidden for years and involves a legion of valuable statues and an elephant stampede. But then the worst happens. Pernille goes missing and Frederik learns that her disappearance is a part of the mayor’s horrible plan to deport all foreigners from Frederik’s Hill. Now it’s up to him to stop the mayor before it’s too late.

Frederik Sandwich and the Mayor Who Lost Her Marbles is just as good as the first book in this series, which introduces our characters and the town they live in. I liked the continued growth of Frederik, and how he comes to better understand himself and those around him. The danger, mystery, and adventure is high throughout the story are Frederick and Pernille try to uncover the secrets of the town and how to stay safe while not endangering those that mean the most to them. I think the combination of Frederick trying to figure everything out, while deciding who he can trust and what the right thing to do is in a wide variety of situations was well balanced and had me reading well after I should have put the book aside. I think the characters were sympathetic and enjoyable to read about. I greatly enjoyed the twists and turns, and the conclusion. My only worry is that this felt rather like the end, with only a few bureaucratic loose ends to tie up at the end. I rather want more, but at the same time I worry that continuing would not stand up to the quality that the first two books have exhibited.

Frederik Sandwich and the Mayor Who Lost Her Marbles is a fun, exciting, and engaging read that I fully enjoyed. I loved the characters and the mystery and mayhem that is such an essential part of the story.

A couple of months have passed since the earthquake that couldn't possbily be, and Frederik is beginning to feel it is safe to reenter the society of Frederik's Hill. Pernille couldn't care less, though. She has her own things to attend to, and if Frederik isn't friend enough to come along, she'll take care of them on her own. Then word that there would soon be zombies shocks the community, and especially the controlling mayor. The mayor's midsummer festival must be protected at all costs!

Things spiral rapidly beyong Frederik's control, and the simmering tensions shooting through the community affect even the friendship at the heart of this book. Separations, old rivalries, new partnerships, and mysteries solved. This is a fantastically funny middle grade novel with a strong backbone about outsiders and others.

Especially A Treat for Fans of the First Book

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, ("Frederik Sandwich and the Earthquake That Couldn't Possibly Be"). With shy Frederik finding his inner hero and outsider manic pixie dream girl Pernille driving the action it was funny, insightful, and just the right level of middle grade edgy. This book is the sequel, and it is fine, but maybe mostly only if you've read the first book. I say that because this volume depends a lot on what you learned, (and liked), about Frederik and Pernille in book one.

From the first book we know that the mayor of Frederik's Hill is evil and a bit over-the-top psycho. We know that the town of Frederik's Hill is a parody of a dictatorship and that the people of Frederik's Hill are deeply suspicious of, and unwelcoming to, newcomers. We know that Frederik Sandwich is the native born son of immigrants who chafes at being considered an outsider. We know that Pernille is a whirlwind with a sad secret. And we know that the owner of the failing cut-rate grocery store, Mr. Venkatamahesh Ramasubramanian, is the nicest, most deadpan, and wisest man on the planet. We have to know those things because in this book two all of that is pretty much taken for granted. It's not really reestablished except in passing; and if you don't know those things then this book just becomes an odd and wacky book with some edgy parts that don't quite make sense. (You also need to know the plot of book one, (involving a mystery subway train, elephants, a debacle at the zoo, and zombies in the water pipes), in order to easily follow the plot of this book two.)

This time around the Mayor again has a grand scheme to become a big deal. There are secret black suited enforcers. A lot of Kafkaesque gloom and threat permeates the book, and characters are sometimes taken away for questioning. There is a strong message about deporting immigrants and undesirables. There is more sadness and less light-hearted quirkiness. But there is also the author's signature clever cross-talk, wry and clever throwaway lines, spiky little outbursts of character, and, of course, the wisdom and decency of the delightful Mr. Ramasubramanian.

I enjoyed this because I was so taken by book one and because I get a kick out of the odd, but oddly engaging and appealing, characters. And that's why I suspect this is more a treat for fans than newcomers. That said, I'd encourage everyone to turn first to book one and then come up to this volume.

(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

A cute and average middle grade story. A second book about Frederik, but can be read as a standalone. It was enjoyable.

#NetGalley #MustRead2019
Frederik Sandwich is back with a new mystery and a ton of excitement. The Mayor has secrets that she wants to keep hidden and once again Frederik is just in the way. Before you know it Fredrick is looking for his missing friend and trying to figure out what the Mayor is trying to hide.