Freddie Mole Lion Tamer by Alexander McCall Smith

Freddie Mole Lion Tamer by Alexander McCall Smith, illustrated by Kate Hindley, 119 pages. CHAPTER BOOK. Delacorte Press (Random House), 2016. $16. 

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: G.

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Freddie’s parents are hard workers, but there never seems to be enough money. When his dad goes to the circus to fix their washing machine, Freddie offers his services helping around the circus. Freddie becomes an important helper, working with the acrobats and even the lion tamer. One night the lion tamer doesn’t show up and Freddie takes over his role and earns a permanent spot in the circus. 

This book fell pretty flat for me. None of the characters achieved any depth and I never felt like I was rooting for Freddie to do well. There also wasn’t really a point of conflict that kept the plot engaging. Its simplicity might be a good fit for a younger reader whose comprehension skills are lower than their reading skills.  

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher