If you've ever had the pleasure of being read Dr. Seuss to, then you know the intense auditory pleasure of words strung together in whimsical rhythm, the cadence of consonants and vowels following an intrinsic pattern that's there to be discovered and re-discovered. But the good ol' Dr. Seuss wrote in verse. Justine Hail accomplishes the same aural delights in prose, through her celebrated Shy Shelly series.
At the centre of it all is our main character, Shelly Trudy, on whom author Justine Hail shines a delicate spotlight and follows around in her school adventures. Not that our main character goes out actively looking for them. It's just that elementary school life, particularly in Claustro Field Academy, often feels like a daily jungle. If you were extremely shy in school, or in life, you'll feel an immediate connection to Shelly. Otherwise, the Shy Shelly series provides the more extroverted personalities among us a glimpse into the imaginative mind of an intensely timid character.
In the first title in the series, The Secret Story of Shy Shelly, our titular character is put into a series of difficult and, in the chronological distance of my adulthood, often humorous situations one after the other, until in the end she learns what the value of true friendship is. There's also hints of protecting friends from the class bully, a surprising turning point in little Shelly who is often debilitated by overwhelming shyness.
The fun part is Justine Hail allows you into Shelly's private thoughts, and we understand her completely and root for her and her friends. Watch out, too, for Elbert Or's adorable illustrations, replete with tips, shyness survival guides, craft projects, and even Easter eggs (there's a cameo of a certain "Magnus Robertson" *wink *wink).
Shelly shares the stage with equally remarkable characters, her best friends Vanna, Sophia and Patty, who together make a lively bunch in the classroom or playground. There is also the class bully, Jake, who seizes every opportunity to get a laugh out of his classmates at their expense. Many times Shelly has noble intentions, but her shyness keeps her from acting them out.
In the second book, Shy Shelly Vs the Bully, she and her friends form The Secret Squad, sworn to protect their friends and classmates from embarrassment by bullies. You wonder in the first few pages if Shelly can step up to the plate, and you certainly hope she does. Vanna, Sophia and Patty are joined by a growing circle of friends, boys and girls who were once helped by and later joined The Secret Squad, and Elbert Or provides us cute illustrations of their selfies.
Miss Claustro, their class adviser, tries her best to encourage each member of Coral class to recognize their own specialness, though the pupils don't give her much attention apart from following the rules so as not to get into trouble.
I have a special liking towards Jake Ponce, the class bully and enemy no. 1 of The Secret Squad. In 2011, I was fortunate to be cast in a bully role in PETA's William, and through intense character study found out that bullies become bullies because they are bullied. Shelly finds this out about Jake, and is thrown into a dilemma: shall she forsake her friends' plans of revenge and help Jake, or should she stay safely tucked in her shell? Will she find an inner reserve of courage and do the right thing?
I do know I am so happy with these two books, and happier even to know that there'll be more. The books make excellent gifts for nieces and nephews in grade school. I highly recommend this series. Five stars!
