Funny, Fierce, and Furious: The Freezies [Review]

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Title: The Freezies
Author: Farrukh Dhondy
Publisher: Duckbill (an imprint of Penguin Random House)
Length: 176 pages
Type: Paperback
Age recommendation: 9/10 years+ (8+ for advanced readers)

Kai, Leo, and Sully (short for Suleikha) call themselves the Freezies — a quirky trio pushed to the fringes of their school’s social scene. Set in the quiet British village of Jolyton, the story first hinted of a classic clique war (Freezies vs. Hotshots / Celebeauties). But what follows is an engaging, often thought-provoking look at prejudice, everyday marginalisation, quiet xenophobia, and the hardening borders of the world we live in.

Heavy stuff, right? Immigration. Injustice. Prejudice. Not exactly the kind of material you’d expect in middle grade novel. Not exactly the kind of book that would make you chuckle and sometimes even laugh! But Farrukh Dhondy’s The Freezies does exactly that. And yet, never once striking a false note.

It sings, smiles and mends broken things — just like the star of the book, the enigmatic Mr. Christaki. A Syrian refugee, musician, handyman, and above all, a gentle soul, Mr. Christaki quietly wins over the villagers who had, not long ago, conspired to drive him out. And the observations of the trio — Kai, Sully and Leo, about adults—“They hate what they don’t understand, which is basically everything”—make you chuckle even as they cut close to the bone.

Told with multiple point-of-views, each child narrator brings a distinct voice and sensibility:

• Kai, half Jamaican, half Polish, and a rap artist,  is the voice of dry cynicism.
• Leo, son of a lawyer and a barrister adds the bureaucratic precision of a report.
• Sully (short for Suleikha), the heart of the trio, blends empathy with a kind of quiet fury that’s oddly adorable.

The story begins with the arrival of Mr. Christaki and his bus. He fixes broken things. He plays music. He’s suspiciously kind and disarmingly charming. Naturally, the village greets him with a lot of suspicion. Except Leo’s parents. While the Freezies immediately embrace him as one of their own, the adults start muttering about “illegals” and “security risks.” In response, the kids launch a series of chaotic, small-scale acts of revenge against the rumour-mongers.

Slowly, through music lessons and mended things, Mr. Christaki becomes an important part of the community. Life is fine until it is not. Mr. Christaki reappears one day with a young girl, Miriam whose parents are missing. And then—without warning—he and Miriam vanish. The Freezies, of course, are not about to let that slide. And so begins a tale of finding him, and giving him a legitimate place in their small town.

If there’s a quibble… the pacing wavers a bit and the resolution feels a little rushed.

The Freezies is a sharp, moving, and unexpectedly funny book that proves social commentary doesn’t have to come wrapped in clichés or sermonising. These kids don’t do melodrama, and they don’t need to — their empathy is fierce and focussed. Their small acts of friendship, courage and sacrifice come without a fanfare — quiet, unassuming, and all the more powerful for it…

Just the kind of book the almost twelve-year-old and I both loved. Farukh Dhondy trusts his readers’ intelligence to get the point without having it explained. And that trust — that’s what makes this story quietly unforgettable.

Highly recommended for readers — young or old — who prefer rebellion to righteousness, and would happily form a secret club just to spite the status quo.

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Disclaimer: Mandira is part of the #kbcReviewerSquad and received this book as a review copy from the publisher via kbc. She is the author of the award winning book Children of the Hidden Land. Her new release Muniya’s Quest for middle graders has been reviewed here with high praise and lots of love!