Aurora and the Orc

Gr 6 Up–There is a new kid in Aurora’s class, and he’s violent, smelly, rude, and carries a club. He’s an orc, but somehow, nobody else seems to notice. Readers follow Aurora and the Orc as they try to understand each other, and things get complicated when Aurora gets teleported to the Orc’s world of danger and magic. Will they be able to find common ground when one wants to rescue small animals and the other wants to eat them? ­Trondheim’s art style is reminiscent of Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes comic strips. In fact, the whole book reads like a Sunday Funnies serial. Because of that, the pacing can feel a little strange; it starts and stops as if it’s meant to be read one section at a time rather than straight through. That said, the story is full of heart and humor and may even carry some nostalgia for caretakers who read alongside their charges. Aurora is white with blue hair.