The Unlucky Kid

Quin is “one unlucky kid”. A trip to the beach is interrupted by a flock of fry-crazy seagulls and a rogue wave. An attempt to pull out a tooth with a piece of string ends in a crazy kite flying adventure. A quiet afternoon fishing at the lake includes an angry swarm of hornets. Wherever Quin goes, chaos follows. His family is used to it, but Quin still manages to make his mom scream when he pulls a can of live worms from the refrigerator. Holt depicts Quin as perennially optimistic and positive. He never lets a disaster get him down and uses his wits and imagination to get himself out of trouble. The book is broken up into short vignettes, making it a quick and easy read for reluctant readers who can finish a story in one sitting. All characters are rendered with brown skin, and the visuals benefit from expertly drawn physical comedy. Human characters’ facial expressions are delightful along with the hooded eyes of Quin’s cat that addresses the reader with dry, witty commentary.

The Unlucky Kid is a mile-a-minute graphic novel collection that will excite young readers of the genre.