Frederik knows the Earth shook; why won't anyone talk about it?On Frederik's Hill, many businesses and many more people are named after King Frederik. Frederik Sandwich's immigrant parents wanted to fit in, thus his name. Unfortunately, that didn't work; 11 years later, the xenophobic neighborhood kids ostracize him despite his native-born status and the white skin he shares with them. When the Earth shakes and no one will talk about it, Frederik's thrown together with dark-skinned, white-haired, adopted Pernille, who is similarly ostracized and who can't seem to call Frederik by his very common name. Can the two foil a plot to murder Her Ladyship the Mayor? Though Scott's frequent, clever wordplay shows his great promise, this series starter is a glacially paced mess. Outsider status does nothing to make either main character likable. Pernille's habit of calling Frederik different foodstuffs instead of his name will annoy more than just Frederik from the outset, and Frederik himself is panicky and shrill in a most unfunny way. The characters make wild, unfounded assumptions that do little but confuse. Though the characters learn to accept themselves, the message of inclusion never gets delivered. And finally, the world built for this yarn comes across as neither original nor interesting.Clunky title, clunkier tale. (Fiction. 8-12)

Eleven-year-old Frederik Sandwich has lived in Frederik-s Hill his entire life, but he and his parents are still thought of as newcomers. He does everything he can to fit in, masking any trace of his family-s peculiar accent, but his peers and the rest of the town believe that all foreigners are trouble. After being awakened by an earthquake one night, Frederik is shocked-how can there be an earthquake without a fault line? He reluctantly teams up with a fellow outsider, Pernille Yasemin Jensen, to investigate. And with the entire town refusing to acknowledge the earthquake, acting on the mayor-s orders, he can use all the help he can get. After discovering a vast cover-up that goes back decades, the duo must be brave enough to resist and think for themselves. Outrageous twists and timely truths abound in British author Scott-s debut novel, first in a planned series. Frederik confronts his own assumptions and finds the courage to challenge the status quo in this quirky and jokey mystery. Ages 8-12. Agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (Feb.)