Strangeville School Is Totally Normal

Strangeville School #1

by Darcy Miller, Brett Helquist (Illustrations)

This highly-illustrated series features Strangeville School, the wackiest, most dangerous school you will ever attend...

Harvey Hill just wants other kids to think he's normal. So he's happy to start fresh as the newest kid at Strangeville Middle School. Except Strangeville is anything but normal. Something sinister swims in the drinking fountain, the cafeteria could swallow you whole, and a giant rat named Cuddles is on the loose. And don't even get the vice principal started on the third-floor supply closet. In fact, don't even think about it. What supply closet?

At least Harvey has his guide and sort-of new friend Stella Cho to show him the ropes. School newspaper reporter, first chair flugelhorn, and hiding a secret of her own, Stella shows Harvey that maybe normal is overrated. But when Stella goes missing while trying to solve the secret of the supply closet (oh that supply closet!), Harvey must embrace what makes him unique to save his new friend and his new school.

Genres: Middle Grade, Humor, Fantasy, Juvenile, Fiction, Horror, Childrens

256 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2021

About the author

Darcy Miller is the author of ROLL (Winner of the 2018 Burr/Worzalla Award * A CCBC Choices 2018 Pick * A Bank Street Best Children's Book of 2017) and MARGOT AND MATEO SAVE THE WORLD (Booklist Starred Review). She lives with her librarian husband and two small children in Wisconsin.

Reviews

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Middle Grade. I have to say I really enjoy this book. I love the storyline and the plot kept you wanting to keep reading. The characters where fun, and they made the book everything it was. This book was weird and so funny. I read part of this book to my daughter to see if she would want me to get it for her when it comes out, and she loved it. This is a fun and funny read, and I feel it will pull kids into it with no problem. There are pictures through out this book, and I felt the pictures helped the kid get the whole story. Great book for kids just getting used to chapter books because the chapters are short, book is fast pace, and the pictures pulls the kids into the story. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Random House Books for Young Readers) or author (Darcy Miller) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hilarious-over-the-top-silly-weird-strange book about a school that is very strange. Pythons. Big rats. Supply closets with a mind of their own. And more!


😍 Learning more about the school and all the subjects, the teachers, the rooms, the subjects, and more. It was just perfect and I kind of would like to go back to the past and see if it was always this strange or that something weird just happened. Given that people have been disappearing for many years, I would think so, but I am still curious!
😍 The food and the cafeteria. That was just A-plus! I laughed so hard at the menu-options, which included something with a black hole (why, no clue, but welcome to Strangeville).
😍 That this one takes place in one day. Yep, that is it. One whole day at school. Given everything that happens you would think maybe a week? But no, everything is one day. And that is just wonderful. It made it even more madcap adventurous.
😍 Harvey was a pretty interesting character and it was fun to follow him, as a normal person in a weird school, and see his reactions (which were also pretty much my reactions).
😍 The illustrations. Brett Helquist is just amazing and I am so excited to see him still make illustrations! The style fitted so well with this story. Just how it worked perfectly for the weirdness of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket.
😍 The creatures that walked through the school. I mean, a big rat… but also other creatures because apparently the janitor isn’t the smartest cookie in the cookie box. Oh, hey, x plan didn’t work out then let’s just add y. Dude…
😍 The school was just so weird and while it was at times maybe a bit too much, it was still plenty of fun. I mean, there is just not one normal moment. Even maths is weird.
😍 The mysterious supply closet and what it wanted. That one was so good, it made things a bit more scarier and spookier. Because what is up with it? Why do people disappear? Does the supply closet have a thing for human flesh? Is something else up? I loved that Harvey went on a search for it and then later went to it. What actually was up with the supply closet? I felt sorry for it. Though maybe it should just have asked for help instead of being creepy?
😍 The announcements between the chapters (not all chapters, but several of them had it). These made me laugh so much. If I got those kind of announcements in school it would have made things more fun. Well, OK, maybe not if they are real, because nope to the python or a big rat. XD
😍 Harvey’s secret. BOY, I had not expected THAT. I had a few theories running in my head, but none of them came close to what it actually was. I love it though. And now I also have more questions. XD

🙄🤔Stella. I am just not sure about this girl. It took me to the end to maybe get a bit of a like for her. It would have helped if she had helped Harvey a bit more, explained some things, didn’t assume things, didn’t act like the school was all normal and Harvey was the weird one, and maybe.. if someone shows you a secret you SHUT THE FUCK up. You don’t betray their trust by immediately writing an article about said secret and then act huffy when someone is angry and feels betrayed.

All in all, this was a fantastic read and I just flew through it. It made me laugh, gasp, giggle, worry, wonder if it could get any stranger (yes), and now I just want one thing. More Strangeville! Sadly, the paperback for the second book isn’t out yet, so I will have to wait! Hopefully soon though! I want to go back~! Maybe this time see something from outside the school as well (is it as strange as the school or even weirder?). I would HIGHLY recommend this book if you are in for something weird and hilarious.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Jenny Stark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strangeville School is the current generation's Wayside School, and it is full of fun and humor for younger middle grades readers. The story is told through the perspective of Harvey Hill, a new student at the school who is hoping for a better experience at Strangeville than he's had at his last four schools. Harvey and the rest of the students begin the day with an announcement from their vice principal, who provides important, albeit odd, updates including details about a piranha incident, a suspicious lunch menu item, and the ominous third-floor supply closet. Harvey is guided through the day by Stella Cho, a budding newspaper reporter for the Strangeville Gazette. He certainly needs her guidance as he grapples with an enlarged rat, a black hole of meatloaf, and many other devious and strange characters, places, and things. Through it all, Harvey hopes to hide his own secret that he brings to Strangeville. This is a humorous story about friendship and self acceptance.

Thank you Random House Children's publishers for the ARC!

[Stormi (StormReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really silly and a lot of things happened in the span of one day! I do think kids will enjoy the silliness probably more than some adults but I still had fun with it.

Harvey Hill's first day at Strangeville School is an interesting one. First he is mistaken as the pest control person by Stella, who was actually suppose to be showing him around the school, and he ends up having to up into the vents to get the rat that might have ate some growth serum, yep, that is right.

His day only gets better as he tries to survive the day against the Aligators let in by the Janitor to get rid of the pirahnas, then the large python that is there to take care of other problems. Not to mention the storage closet that seems to have an evil plot against the school and everyone is terrified of it.  It's just a day in the life at Strangeville School and poor Harvey just doesn't think he belongs there.

Everyone is weird, kids and teachers alike keep disappearing and everyone acts as if it's normal. Stella says everyone has a secret and Harvey is afraid to let anyone know his because he isn't weird, at least that is what he keeps saying. Then he keeps getting a weird voice in his head that he is sure is the storage closet and he has to try and figure out what is going on.

That is just a few things that is going on while reading this book. Like I said it's a bit silly but I do think that kids will have a lot of fun with it!

[Union County Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminiscent of the Sachar's Wayside School series, when new student, Harvey Hill, arrives at Strangeville School, he confronts crocodiles and mutant rats, and disappearing students and staff. It all seems controlled by a maleficent supply closet whose location is a mystery to all. Even the morning announcements are strange, "I've been assured by Janitor Gary that all carnivorous fish have now been removed from the first-floor drinking fountains." Everything sets Harvey up for serious feelings of trepidation, alleviated (only slightly) when he is befriended by Stella Cho.

Give to fans of Wayside School and those who have aged out of the Eerie Elementary books.

- Reviewed by Shelley F.

[Nathan Bartos · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and comedic story of a whacky middle school a la Sideways Stories from Wayside School. It's hilarious and magical while also offering insights into friendship and embracing what makes you unique.

[Zoë G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. I feel like some of the things that was done in this book has been done in others. Also, I did not enjoy the ending. Although it did make me laugh a couple times, I forced myself to finish this book. Overall, I was bored and unamused. You may like this book, but it is not for me.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

J and R enjoy me reading it. The laughed a lot of the parts.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this was fun!

[Tim O'neill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t want to like this book: I didn’t choose it myself (despite a more-than-a-decade-old to-be-read list) or know anything about it, it’s the start of a new series when I’m already in the middle of several, and the title is just super on-the-nose. I never did get over the title, actually. Even Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children has “peculiar” in the title because it’s acknowledged in the world of the book, but in this case, it seemed like a shortcut to a certain kind of kids’ lit—an unneeded one, as it turned out because the title (and accompanyïng recurring name of the setting) was pretty much my only problem with this book, which I immensely enjoyed in the end.

When reviewing the fabulous Summerland, I noted that it successfully took the big ideas from American Gods and The Dark Tower and boïled them all down to one cohesive, satisfyïng narrative that was also appropriäte for the whole family (which the earlier two are decidedly not!). I think Strangeville accomplishes the same feat for other works of Gaiman Neil and, especially, Steven King. Like the main character, I enjoyed the “jokes’ about the supply closet in the morning announcements (first chapter), but as it went on, that entity took on a characterization that’ll be familiär to fans of those two authors, even though it was mostly resolved in a family-friendly way.

At the beginning, too, still put off by the name, the book seemed to be tryïng a little hard to be goofy, and I merely tolerated listening with the family. But perhaps at the beginning the book was tryïng to instead present itself as overwhelming to the main character on his first day at a strange (!) new school. By the mid-point, I was laughing along with everybody else, as well as appreciäting how well it was all put together for the ending.

Except for the big reveal? From the beginning, the main character is said to have a dark secret, but there was absolutely no foreshadowing (that I noticed!) about what it would be. The author attempted to fit it in with a different leitmotif, but it didn’t work for me and seemed to come unnecessarily out of nowhere.

But that’s just two changes to make for perfection: call the town anything else (Seltsamburg? Egenburg?) and rely on the desperation of “...is Totally Normal” to make the point, and either change the big reveal or say more about it. Perhaps when I read the sequel, the latter point will be fixed, but we’ll just have to get used to the former.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellently silly and absurd. The protagonist, a new kid in his first day at the school, plays straight man for all of the outrageousness that occurs at Strangeville School. The adults lead the way, with all the other students following, accepting that things like crocodiles crawling around school and a haunted, multidimensional supply closet are entirely normal. Entering the story from the viewpoint of someone who is not in on the "joke" not only allows readers to feel accompanied in their reactions, it also allows a character who can grow and bring a few more serious, realistic issues into the fray. It's constantly funny and quality fun.

Good morning again, Strangeville School! Vice Principal Capozzi here, with a quick third-period update regarding the first-floor drinking fountains.

I've just learned that in order to take care of our pesky piranha problem, Janitor Gary may or may not have released a small number of baby crocodiles into the water pipes.

Bonus points for creative problem solving, Janitor Gary!

I'm assured these crocodiles pose absolutely no risk to humans. Unless, of course, you happen to come into contact with one of them, in which case Janitor Gary informs me you'll "definitely suffer a variety of horrifying injuries, each more gruesome than the last."

Well.

Janitor Gary certainly has a way with words, doesn't he, folks?

On another, more serious note, I'm afraid there have been certain rumblings from the third floor. Rumors that the supply closet is . . . displeased have been circulating.

And we all know what happens when the supply closet is displeased. . . .

[throat clearing noises]

Several more substitute teachers have disappeared, leaving behind the scent of burning pencil erasers in their wake, and quiet screams have been heard echoing through the water pipes.

An emergency basket of office supplies, including Post-it notes, sharpened number-two pencils, and dry-erase markers, has been left in the hallway as a sign of goodwill.

Our only option now is to wait, hoping against hope that our efforts to appease the closet have been successful.

In the meantime, I ask you all to remember our Strangeville School motto: "Be kind. Be safe. Be curious. But most of all, be afraid."

[Pop Bop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even Better Than the Blurbs

The blurb for this book describes it as "Wayside School" meets "Welcome to Nightvale". That sounded intriguing. I'm not a fan of the "Wayside School" books, which strike me as forced and too self-consciously silly. On the other hand, "Welcome to Nightvale", which is aimed at adults, is weird, deadpan, and vaguely threatening in a clever, sardonic, and creepy/edgy fashion. What would come of an elementary/young middle school melding of those two?

It turns out, for me, that we end up with a Wayside frame, but lots of clever and engaging Nightvale touches. We even get a coherent story arc that wraps up in a surprisingly satisfying fashion. Along the way the "wacky" stuff isn't silly, it's more nuanced and clever than that. We get a class pet who harbors deep grievances and plots the destruction of his school captors. We get cafeteria meatloaf that has been crossed with a black hole as its secret ingredient. We get a psychotic school nurse who makes Nurse Ratched look like Florence Nightingale. There is a surprisingly edgy riff on how every kid is allergic to something, including a kid who's allergic to kids who are allergic. And so on. Some of the bits work and some don't, (is a flugelhorn always funny?), but the fast pace keeps the funny stuff coming, and the winners are worth it.

All of this is wrapped around a standard, but perfectly engaging, reluctant new kid hero and an equally standard, but also engaging, street smart gal pal. They follow the well-worn trail from zeroes to heroes, but there are no false steps, and you root for them all the way, which strikes me as what you want and expect from this sort of book.

So, good kids, decent plot, amusing silliness, and some sly and deadpan treats - that worked for me.

(Please note that I received a free 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.)

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harvey Hill is a 5th grader and is the newest kid at Strangeville School. Stella, a reporter for the school paper has been assigned to show Harvey around, and they quickly become friends, along with a girl named Nevaeh. She warns him about the Supply Closet - which seems to be out to get everyone, and Harvey spends his first day dodging escaped crocodiles and a mutant rat which gets bigger every time he sees it - the victim of someone's science experiment. Students and staff are disappearing, and Harvey and Stella get caught up in an adventure trying to save the day.

Strangeville School is delightful; a mix of Wayside School and Welcome to Nightvale which would make a fantastic read-aloud. The Vice Principal's announcements throughout the day are to die for, and the story's twists and turns will keep everyone's attention. Helquist's illustrations and fun as well. Harvey is white, Stella is Asian and Nevaeh is black.

cross posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com

[Hannah Girodat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun, wildly imaginative middle grade read!

This book is fast paced, captivating, and packed with humor. From sinister drinking fountains to mysterious supply closets (what supply closet?), Strangeville Middle School is the perfect kind of chaotic. The story sprinkles in fun, educational tidbits, which I loved, and the illustrations are absolutely fabulous. Brett Helquist’s art adds so much personality and charm to the story.

Harvey and Stella make a great duo, and I really enjoyed the message that “normal” is overrated. It is a great reminder for young readers to embrace what makes them unique.

Also, as someone from Saskatchewan (and apparently “Lower Saskatchewan,” according to this book), that little regional mention made me smile so much. Such a fun surprise!

Highly recommend this to middle grade readers who love humor, light fantasy, and a school setting that is anything but ordinary.

[Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

This first in a series children book focuses on Harvey Hill's first day at Strangeville Middle School. He chases down an ever increasing in size rat named Cuddles. He is nearly sucked in a black hole by his lunchtime meatloaf, and the third-floor supply closet is talking to him inside his head. His classmate Stella Cho attempts to help him navigate around these surreal obstacles and try to solve the mystery of the vengeful supply closet. Harvey must put aside his meekness and try to save Stella and others by the novels end which reveals a secret Harvey has been keeping from everyone. Recommended for 8 to 12 year-old, who like supernatural humorous stories like the "My Weird School" series. I listened to this as an audiobook and have no idea how the illustrations help or distract from the storyline.

[Shelley Fearn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminiscent of the Sachar's Wayside School series, when new student, Harvey Hill, arrives at Strangeville School he confronts crocodiles and mutant rats, and disappearing students and staff. It all seems controlled by a maleficent supply closet whose location is a mystery to all. Even the morning announcements are strange, "I've been assured by Janitor Gary that all carnivorous fish have now been removed from the first-floor drinking fountains." Everything sets Harvey up for serious feelings of trepidation alleviated (only slightly) when he is befriended by Stella Cho.

Give to fans of Wayside School and those who have aged out of the Eerie Elementary books.

[Cathy Hodge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strangeville School is aptly named. Bizaar, weird, silly, and quite over the top. Harvey Hill starts his first day at the school and meets a new friend Stella. The book takes us through the first day of school. From beginning to end the events and illustrations get more (middle grade level) disturbing. In the midst of all this craziness: Giant rat, bowling ball dodgeball, meatloaf of darkness, and a supply closet with an attitude, we learn the formula to find the volume of an aardvark. Will Harvey Hill be able to keep his secret in this new school? Maybe Stella the school news reporter will get to the bottom of all the disappearances. Enjoy

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.

Strangeville School will bring the same laughs as the Wayside School books. Harvey is once again the new kid as he is starting at his fourth new school in four years. He quickly realizes this school is not normal, and after barely surviving a game of dodge ball during PE (bowling balls were used!), he sets about trying to figure out what makes Strangeville School so strange and unique...all while keeping his own secret! A funny read for young middle grade readers...perfect for 2nd-5th grade!

[Kelly Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delightful read! As an elementary school librarian, I already know reading the first page is the only Book Talk I need to do to get students to pick this one up! The first page is hysterical and completely gripping, two things the story manages to do throughout all its pages. This nonsensical story is exactly what I think students need to destress. There really is no *point* to the story, and yet it is one I think every student should read. Definitely left me with the warm fuzzies and I most definitely will be purchasing it for my library!

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this crazy story with all of the characters. The main character was Harvey Hill.

Harvey Hill is the newest kid at Strangeville Middle School.  He meets a girl name Stella Cho that shows him around that school. While going through the day quite a few things are strange at the school.  From a giant rat to a supply closet that is talking to him in his head.

This story was fun to read. It had action, adventure, and secrets throughout. It had quite a few laughs within.

I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This is my honest unbiased opinions.

[Sandy Garza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ridiculously Fun Book!

Strangeville is a fun book to read. Silly, ridiculous, off-the-wall, etc.

As a mom, I appreciate the character growth and the life lessons woven into the story. Harvey learns to let his guard down a little and make new friends. The story also shows examples of embracing our differences.

Overall, a really good middle-grade book!

[Bexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was delightful and entertaining. When it says that it is a combination of Wayside School and Nightvale, it is very accurate. While the characters are a little bland in the need to make them over the top, I do like that they were all strange. This was silly and fun, the climax wasn't that great, but I'd really like a whole series of this school.

Copy provided by NetGalley and publisher.

[Heidi A · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up reading Wayside School. This book has the same over the top nonsensical humor that had me finish the book in one reading. Harvey is incredibly lovable, plus I like how the two so called outcast find a friend at school. I don’t think there are any more books but I’d love to read about other happenings at Strangeville School.

[Nadina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun and funny. I listened to the audiobook and it was well narrated. There were definitely parts where as an adult you feel like it is repetitive or slow or ask why is this joke here again, but for a kid the repetition, the jokes they felt perfect and appropriate. It was quirky and funny and I would absolutely recommend it to kids.

[Sarah Creeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book for children and families. It would be a good read aloud for the family. It discusses being different, which is a great conversation to have with your children. It's funny, and it's not too long. It's clean as well. It's sometimes a little over the top, but that would be good for the intended age.

[Rebe · Rating 3 out of 5]

My kids loved this one. We all laughed through it. So many silly situations and words, completely random happenings. We especially loved the janitor and the announcements from the vice principal. The ended surprise was a bit weird, even in the context of the story, but other than that, we loved it. Great for a quick listen on a road trip!

[Samantha Christner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strangevillle School could be any kids dream with piranhas in drinking fountains, black holes in the cafeteria, and the mysterious supply closet. This is a corky, over the top book that any young middle schooler would love.

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going to a new school can be very hard. But going to a school where everything is not quite normal is even harder! This was a fun read! Oh, yes! Be afraid!!!!

[Debi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very reminiscent of the Sideways School stories...totally silly, but with a fun twist at the end!

[Brandi Rae Fong]

Sort of a Wayside School meets the dark dry humor of A Series of Unfortunate Events....sort of? I'm not sure I liked it, but kids may like the zany randomness of it all.