Oddly Normal Book 3 Review

"Did your dear mother teach you nothing? Belief itself can be a powerful tool."

Review:

In the latest installment of the Oddly Normal series we get a long awaited showdown, revelations, and a cost for these discoveries.


This volume opens up immediately where the second left off at Oddly learning about a popular sport of Fignation and eventually taking up a challenge from one of her bullies, Tamsin the witch who like others is looking for "extra credit." The challenge involves a broom race which Oddly can't do but luckily her friends help her create a science powered broom that helps her race only for it to end in a tie due to Oddly saving her opponent and bully.


The race itself is a set-up for Oddly finally confronting the real antagonist who has been sending dangerous students after her: Mr. Gooseberry. In the scenes of Oddly and her friends confronting the strange faculty member there are several revelations from Oddly's mother's relationship and possible bargain she did with Gooseberry to who exactly Gooseberry is himself. Book 3 touches on subjects one would not expect being hinted at in a Children's, or well All Ages,  book but it is in fact stated. Gooseberry slowly reveals who he truly is and how the last time his work was taken notice he mentions "an Austrian fellow who stirred up trouble in Europe" and was a bad painter but good orator. With a few song lyrics as well sprinkled in we learn who Gooseberry is and why he's frustratingly thought as fiction to humanity while his acts are blamed on "ideology" and " troubled childhoods." It's a well delivered scene blending such touchy  elements from subtle moments and chilling art colored in a frighten red during the confrontation. Oddly leaves this encounter with troubling news on something her mother may have done as well as probably losing one of her few friends.

This collection of Oddly Normal raises the stakes in very unexpected ways ending with an ominous warning from Oddly's Auntie concerning her supposed lack of magical abilities. The art continues to deliver from the simple moments of friends having fun to broom races through monster-infested canyon and caves up to Oddly finally confronting her devious teacher. Here's hoping for more surprises, like the return of a friend, in further installments.

Recommendation:

Oddly Normal continues to be a solid and unexpected book for All Ages crowd. I can imagine some parents having issues with the matters brushed upon in this book but it is done very interesting way for children to ingest or may not realize or to be honest, are familiar with these subjects someway before hand.