Ottoline Goes to School

Ottoline Brown and her silent, hairy companion Mr. Munroe enroll in the Alice B. Smith School for the Differently Gifted. While Ottoline tries to identify her own special talent, she discovers the school is being haunted by a melancholy ghost. The duo must use their powers of observation and deduction to solve the mystery and help their new friends. SENSITIVE TOPICS: The book deals with parental absence in a matter-of-fact, secular way; Ottoline's parents are world travelers who send postcards. There is a ghost character, but the treatment is whimsical and atmospheric rather than terrifying. EMOTIONAL ARC: The story begins with a sense of curious anticipation, moves through the mild social anxiety of starting a new school, and concludes with a triumphant sense of belonging and community. IDEAL READER: An observant 8-year-old who loves puzzles and feels a bit like an outsider. This child likely enjoys 'I Spy' books or detailed art and appreciates a protagonist who is competent and independent. PARENT TRIGGER: A parent might choose this after hearing their child say, 'I'm not good at the things other kids are good at,' or after a move to a specialized school. PARENT PREP: The book is safe to read cold. Parents may want to look at the 'postcards' throughout the book together, as they provide backstory on Ottoline's eccentric family life. AGE EXPERIENCE: Younger children (7) will be mesmerized by the intricate line drawings and Mr. Munroe's antics. Older readers (9-10) will appreciate the dry wit, the wordplay, and the subtle themes of self-discovery. DIFFERENTIATOR: The integration of illustration and text is world-class. It is not just a decorated story; the pictures contain vital clues and subplots that reward the 'differently gifted' reader who pays close attention.