Henry, Fly on the Wall, is a very funny character full of insecurities and other foibles. He doesn't really know how to read people, particularly his best friend. He is good at drawing and winds up using his skill to start an online blog posting comics. This helps him say things that he is too afraid and shy to say aloud but unfortunately his comments hurt many in his school culture. He is really a cyber bully in some ways but doesn't understand that he is. His decision to carry out a crazy plan to travel from his home in Australia to Singapore to visit his Dad is full of twists, turns, lies and misfortune. The telling of the story has great comic drawings and attempts at some poetry throughout but following Henry's lack of logic sometimes gets a bit annoying. Shouldn't he get a grasp of things earlier? How dare he plan a solo trip of that caliber? Readers will be shaking their heads and wanting to shout to Henry that the actions he is choosing to do to prove that he is not a baby are in some ways blaring his immaturity. There are a few convenient meetings (his seat mate being someone he bumped into previously, his school mate on the same plane0 that seem a bit contrived but in the end it all works out--and there's even a food recipe at the end of the book! The reader will be happy to see that Henry does learn to appreciate and accept those around him and, in that sense, is certainly not a baby anymore.

Through text and drawings, the reader is introduced to 12 year old Henry Khoo, who feels "babied" by his family and is struggling to become independent. He decides to fly to Singapore to see his dad to prove to his family that he is not a baby and also to escape punishment from being outed as "Fly in the Wall," the creator of a gossip cartoon. I really thought I would be annoyed by Henry, but Lai does a wonderful job of making Henry likable. This is a quick read and would appeal to tweens, especially those who are fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

This is a coming of age novel about 12 year old Henry Khoo. The novel is told through text and drawings. This format was successful in Lai's previous novel, Pie in the Sky and it works here too. In fact, there is a shout out to the main character from Pie in the Sky in this book that readers will enjoy seeing. I like the modern touches in this book such as texting and Internet posts. I also think the friendship and falling out between Henry and his bff Pheebs is very realistic. I think this will resonate with other tweens. The story bordered and even walked the line of almost making Henry Khoo a whiny unlikable character but lucky for readers, it walked that tightrope and then stayed the course and rounded out the character. I think this book, like it's sibling, Pie in the Sky, would be good to hand to readers of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries. Lai's books are a bit longer and present a non-white point of view (main characters are Asian) which is so needed in our schools!

I wonderful book that used quirky humor to help reader feel empathy. and identify with the powerful need to prove your independence. By brining in the hilarious and serious at the same time, Lai, makes us consider how dangerous gossip can be. I love books in which the character is flawed, and knows how to meet his or her flaws straight on.

I found this story a bit far fetched with the character traveling all the way to Singapore alone. I didn’t think the problem was fully explored leaving the reader Confused.

This is a fantastic read for middle grade readers. Henry is 12, and is babied by his family. He longs to have friends and to fit in, but it seems every time he tries his family swoops in and overprotects him. Henry plans an elaborate adventure, which involves the help of his former BFF, Pheeb. Told in a mixture of words and illustration, this book will appease both lovers of graphic novels and written word.

Henry's adventure takes him on a journey of self-discovery. He discovers new friends, and learns that his vision has not always been clear. It is a story of accidental-on-purpose cyber bullying and the ramifications of what it feels like to be caught at it. it is also the story of families who hover and overprotect...and those who do not.

Henry's mother is Australian, his father is from Singapore, and his Popo (grandmother) is Chinese. I love the Mandarin dialect introduced, but even more, I love the addition of Chinese writing on the page whenever Popo speaks (subtitled in English as well). Really great touch, especially for children who may know both languages or is just curious about Chinese characters.

This is a great story, presented in a great way. It will be a welcome addition to any middle grade school library!

I was so excited that I was chosen to read Fly on the Wall that I dropped everything else I was doing today and finished the book in one sitting. Henry is a great character who you will love! His journey of self discovery is a great one!

I have no problem with the ideas behind this book. It is hard for a kid to fit in sometimes, especially if his protective family never gives him space to explore his capabilities. And I do like the emotional complexity. We see the parents learning to give him space but also the character himself realizing that a lot of his trouble is his own making. My biggestt complaint is age. His behavior and ideas are very young, far below what we expect from a twelve year old. The vocabulary skews young as well.

12-year-old Henry Khoo has a helicopter family who is overprotective and won't let him go anywhere; which is why he decides to fly halfway around the world to visit his father anyway, even after the trip to Singapore is canceled. Will his masterplan be a success or a complete failure?

Fly on the Wall deals with some issues that many middle graders can understand -- the desire to be independent, friend issues, familial dissonance. Henry is a relatable character even when at times you wish you didn't relate. I'm sure many kids will enjoy reading about Henry's adventure while wishing they could do the same.

It's not the most realistic book, but Fly on the Wall sure is fun and innovative! Lai is great at dealing with sensitive or heavy topics while incorporating her creative illustrations and making it kid-friendly. I really appreciate how the "overprotective family" trope resolves itself in the end, and I also love how Henry finds his sense of self over the course of the novel.

Fans of Lai’s previous book, Pie in the Sky, will adore Fly on the Wall and it’s main character Henry Koo. The story tackles universal MG themes of finding your place in the world, growing up, and familial issues well. The mixed format of illustrations and text add to the story and will keep readers engaged. I highly recommend this wonderful book!

After falling out with his best and only friend, Henry Koo is on a journey to make big changes. He decides that the best way to get his family to stop treating him as a baby, the root of all his problems, is to take a trip halfway around the world secretly and all by himself… if only the hunt for the anonymous school gossip cartoonist didn’t keep haunting him all along the way. Full of hilarious pitfalls, this part prose and part comics is a fun but thoughtful story.

This was a really enjoyable read, even if sometimes I cringed with second-hand embarrassment. Even with the relationship strain, it is great to see such a supportive family, an interesting multicultural story, and to see ideas of differing perspectives explored. I love that this book will challenge children to reevaluate if, even if they are the hero of their own story, they are maybe the villain in someone else’s. Fans of ‘Wimpy Kid’, ‘Smile’ and ‘Stargazing’ will love ‘Fly on the Wall’!

Thank you to Netgalley for the e-Arc in exchange for my honest review.

My students have loved Pie in the Sky, so I was eager to read Fly on the Wall. Many students will be able to relate to Henry having overbearing parents. I enjoyed following Henry's journey to finding his own independence, but also realizing the motivations behind his family's actions. Ultimately this is a story of family and the love that binds family together.

Henry Khoo is tired of his family being overprotective. They think he is a baby and can't be trusted to do anything on his own. Well, Henry is sick of it. He's as invisible as a fly on the wall at school, and plans to do something about it. After his family cancels plans to see his father in Shanghai, Henry makes plans of his own to make the trip from Australia to his dad's on his own. Will he chicken out and cry like he always does? Or can he prove to himself and his family that he's trustworthy and independent?

This was an illustrated chapter book, which I know kids love! It did have some pretty good moments of humor and I like how it captured Henry's decision to be strong and independent. It had a good message about accepting yourself.

Henry lives with his grandmother, mother and sister in Perth, Australia. His dad lives in Signapore - and usually on all school breaks they go to visit him. This year, however it is cancelled and Henry is determined to go on his own. For a 12 year old with a family that stills treats him like a baby, it is going to be quite an adventure to get to a different country before they find out!

Remy Lai has done it again! After reading Pie in the Sky I swore I would read anything this author put out. Her mixed style of illustrations, epistolary and writing make this book such a fun read.

My students that fell in love with Remy Lai's previous book, Pie, are in for a treat with her newest book.

Fly on the Wall introduces readers to Henry Khoo. Tired of his overprotective family and feeling invisible at school, Henry starts the Fly on the Wall cartoon blog, which spreads rumors about his classmates. When his trip to visit his father is canceled, Henry take the opportunity to prove to his family that he isn't a baby. With the help of his friend Phoebe, he leaves Australia and flies to see his father in Singapore. However along the way he runs into all sorts of trouble, especially when a classmate appears on the same flight.

Told in illustrations and text, this book tackles the clash of cultural expectations and fitting in. It is an easier read and seems young for MG. I would recommend it for Elementary 4th-5th and maybe as a independent book for 6th graders.

Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for an E-ARC.

Oh Henry! What a cutie and a solid MC. He wants independence but his family shows their love by smothering and worrying about him.

This text has tons of great features that would be fun to work through/ introduce with students. Lots of writing in Mandarin Chinese (YAY I LOVED LOVED THIS!!) And references fo wuxias and text convos and Henry’s comics as well. So many pieces this is quite a feat to create and complete. Also there are relatable family dynamics and friend navigations for any kid(human). Remy Lai is really bringing it with authentic nuanced boy voices that have feelings and concerns and doubts (Pie in the Sky, too). I’m here for it! I will note this one is by far my favorite between the two that I’ve read though. It packs in more fun/ stronger overall.

I should note that there were spots that felt like they could’ve been edited a little more for clarity for me (because of the many moving pieces) especially when I consider what age group this is going to be for.. BUT. This is unlike other books out there.. the most similar I’ve read is Alvin Ho series and they aren’t the same.

I would love to have this in my classroom for the breadth of conversations I could have with it alone. 4+ stars for that.

For overall reading experience as me 3.5

But get it for your kiddos / classrooms.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Remy Lai did not disappoint with Fly on the Wall. For any child or adult who has ever felt "meh" and wasn't quite sure where they fit in, this book is for you. This book was perfect for kids who have helicopter parents and kids who don't. I love the variety of family structures represented in the book as well as the diversity of children.
Henry Khoo desperately wants to prove himself to his family, his friends and even his not anymore friends. He has been trying to figure out where he fits at school and how he can relate to his family in a more grown-up way. He comes up with the biggest adventure everrrrrr to show everyone what he's really made of. It is a wonderful coming of age, figuring out who you really are story.
Five stars from me!

I really went back and forth with this book. The whole helicopter family theme was taken to the extreme and you really felt annoyed by them as you read. So annoyed that I wanted to put the book down and not have to deal with them. But that makes the reader really understand how Henry must feel and why he makes the decision to go on his own wuxia drama-like journey to prove he is not a baby anymore and gain some independence.

Henry’s low self esteem really comes across and readers will feel bad for him at first, then root for him as he makes realizations that not everyone acts they way they do for one reason only.

Overall, the story felt a bit jumpy and certain themes were overdone. I don’t know that I would purchase this book for our collection, but I would recommend it to certain patrons if we could get it through consortial sharing.