In this hilarious British adventure by debut author Julian Clary, two African hyenas steal the passports of two English tourists (who are eaten by crocodiles while on safari) and decide to begin a new life in human society.
Thus, two English-speaking hyenas (they learned it at the nearby tourist camp), come to be Fred and Amelia Bold. "Amelia" has always fancied living in England, with its cooler weather and custom of waiting one's turn vs. "fighting and diving in for scraps of meat." So they stand up on their hind legs, put on safari clothes, tuck in their tails, laugh less and prepare to fake it. What follows is a fabulous send-up of human society--undiggable gardens, having to pay for everything ("What a nuisance!") and "things called 'jobs.' " It's an ongoing struggle--and a goldmine of humor--not to blow their cover in suburban England, especially under the ever-watchful eye of their suspicious neighbor Mr. McNumpty.
Middle-graders will revel in the low-brow silliness, with laugh-out-loud illustrations by British artist David Roberts. The Bolds is not pure frivolity, however. It's also a celebration of ingenuity, tolerance, untiring good humor and big hyena hearts. (Look for The Bolds to the Rescue in April 2017.) --Karin Snelson, children's & YA editor, Shelf Awareness