Agatha Parrot and the Odd Street School Ghost by Kjartan Poskitt (review)

The old clock tower on Odd Street won’t stop ringing during the night, which doesn’t particularly bother young Agatha Parrot (they live on Odd Street, after all). When Agatha’s pal Ellie wonders if it’s the work of a ghost and gets teased by school mean girl Gwendoline, however, Agatha gets riled up. After some spooky noises at the school and a few ghost sightings, Ellie’s far from the only one believing that the bells’ tolls might be a spirit’s doing, but some investigative work by Agatha and her pals reveal the culprits to be a bumbling janitor and some glow-in-the-dark breakfast food. Agatha’s narration vibrates with the incessant, energetic, out-of-breath tone of a kid just dying to tell a story, and though that tone certainly gives this British import enthusiasm and cheer, the pell-mell approach muddles the focus and makes for jarring plot transitions. The quirky cast of secondary characters adds humor, but there are so many players in motion that none of them stands out as truly comedic. Hargis’ black and white art lends the characters more distinction, giving frizzy verve to Agatha, sharp-eyed snark to Gwendoline, and bumbling goofiness to the janitor. Despite the story’s unevenness, Agatha’s pretty hard to resist as a protagonist, and readers will likely return for another jaunt down Odd Street.