Oddly, the green-haired half-witch who moved to Fignation after the mysterious disappearance of her parents, is still trying to fit in. So when she's dared by a classmate to race through Snake-Bite Canyon on a broom she doesn't have the magic to fly, she accepts the challenge. It's only after the race that she discovers her classmate's behavior is being manipulated by one of her teachers who had also taught Oddly's mother. The quirky artwork, strong colors, and universality of the story will capture readers' imaginations. This volume collects issues 11-15 of the series, with more sure to come.

Gr 4-6 Oddly Normal is anything but normal, no matter where she is. She used to live in the real world with her father, who is supposedly normal, and her mother, who is in fact a witch from the world of Fignation. Because Oddly looked just a little different, people would often tease her and she felt like she didn't fit in. Things don't get better when she goes to Fignation; she looks too "normal" to fit in with the supernatural beings who live there. Yet Oddly never lets it get her down. She finds a ragtag group of misfits to call her friends, including a ghost, a hunchback, and a monster boy who is constantly losing his appendages. Together they try to navigate the routine trials of childhood, such as peer acceptance and homework. They also look for information that might help them find Oddly's missing parents. Strangely enough, their questions often lead right back to their strange new teacher. Readers might feel a little bit lost at first if they haven't read the previous two volumes, but this tale does stand on its own, and newcomers might be inspired to seek out previous installments. The artist's colorful and quirky art is perfect for his story. The palette enhances the atmospheric emotion of the narrative, while the panel layout adds to the sense of action. VERDICT Fans of Frank Cammuso's "Salem Hyde" and Mike Maihack's "Cleopatra in Space" series will find another entertaining adventure here. Carol Hirsche, Barnett Elementary, Payson, UT