The Trouble with Weasels

August 4, 2014
Harrell, who toyed with fantasy conventions in his graphic novel Monster on the Hill, plays around in the world of fairy tales in his entertainingly goofy middle-grade debut. Zarf the troll, whose grandfather was famously fooled by the three “billy goats gruff,” narrates his hapless middle-school existence in the medieval-meets-modern town of Cotswin. Trolls are already at the bottom of the social ladder, and Zarf’s temper isn’t doing him any favors. After the king is captured by dreaded Snuffweasels and the useless Prince Roquefort (Zarf’s nemesis at school) is put in charge of the kingdom, Zarf quickly winds up in the dungeon. He follows his grandfather’s advice to use his inherent trollish anger to do good, breaking out of prison and then heading off with his friends, worrywart Kevin Littlepig and unfunny jester-in-training Chester, to try to save the king. Harrell mixes references to Nerf, Red Bull, and cell phones into his fairy tale setting, which is brought to life in b&w spot illustrations throughout. A promising series kickoff full of off-kilter action and humor. Ages 8–12. Agent: Daniel Lazar, Writers House.

July 1, 2014
A Web cartoonist and graphic novelist (Monster on the Hill, 2013) climbs aboard the crowded Wimpy Kid bandwagon with this tale of a middle schooler who belongs to a despised minority: He's a troll.With lots of telling and rather less showing (at least in the prose), Zarf ("rhymes with 'barf' ") introduces his bridge-dwelling family, nerdy buddies Kevin (porcine scion of the famed Littlepig clan) and Chester, and troll-hating archnemesis Prince Roquefort-pint-sized tyrant of Cotswin Middle School. Zarf wryly recounts his various misadventures in a mix of prose and, on every page, one to two cartoon line illustrations with added dialogue or punch lines. These occur on the way to rescuing Roquefort's much more lovable royal father from a tasty marinade bath prepared by a colony of 7-foot-tall Snuffweasels and then facing a huge if, as it turns out, somewhat wimpy dragon. These and other challenges help Zarf get a handle on the berserker rage issues that haunt him and afflict his kind. Depicted with droopy pointed ears, a wild shock of hair and, often, a disgruntled expression, he makes an adequate stand-in for outsiders of any stripe.Standard-issue knockoff, with personal and racial issues presented in mildly provocative ways, some gross bits and a few amusingly tweaked folk-tale tropes. (Graphic/fantasy hybrid. 10-12)

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September 1, 2014
Grades 3-6 A Wimpy Kid format with a fairy-tale twist? Yes, this is bound to be a hit. Middle school is tough, but it's even tougher when you're a trollthe absolute bottom of the social heap. Zarf can't control his troll blood, and that causes him trouble when it comes to the annoying Prince Roquefort. After King Cheznott goes missing, Snuffweasels start attacking the kingdom, and Prince Roquefort throws Zarf in the dungeon, a wild adventure begins. This is a witty twist on ordinary school-day troubles, and Harrell's turning of familiar fairy-tale tropes on their heads adds to the charm (and a lot to the amusement factor): Goldie Locks is the lunch lady, Zarf's best friends are a worrisome pig and a not-so-funny aspiring jester, ogres play football, etc. Interspersed with bratty illustrations, this ought to find a sweet spot at the nexus between fans of humor and fans of fractured fantasies.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)