Making new friends can be challenging for young children, so they can relate to the book’s plot. It can be scary trying to figure out the best way to find common interests with strangers. Greta decides to give her new neighbor a test by starting with a tour of the castle. Agnes isn’t troubled when meeting Greta’s dragon parents or petting the pet alligators out front. Greta thinks she can learn more about Agnes by spying, but she’s surprised when Agnes directly asks her what she likes to do! The story's amusement stems from their starkly different home lives, as they slowly discover common interests and forge a friendship.
Another conflict results from Greta’s perfect housewarming gift for Agnes. She decides a pet will help undo the cuteness of Agnes’s cozy cottage, but her plans don’t work out as planned. Greta follows instructions to trap a monster pet, but she fails to read the small print. Of course, this is a mistake and could have a catastrophic effect. Greta and Agnes must work together to find a solution to their new problem, but they learn that there isn’t a clear way to do it. Young readers will enjoy the zaniness of the problem and the wacky attempts to resolve it, but the two main characters will use them to solidify their budding friendship.
What didn’t work as well:
Agnes doesn’t have any problems accepting Greta’s family and home, which is fine. However, it’s harder to understand why Agnes’s father doesn’t bat an eye about his daughter’s monster pet. The problem, in Greta’s eyes, comes from the family differences, but the effect is muted when other characters don’t seem to notice.
The final verdict:
This book is perfect for low- to mid-range middle-grade readers. They’ll enjoy the story’s strangeness and Greta’s unusual feelings about “normal” and friendship. I recommend you give it a shot.
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