Matt Stanton, The Power of Being Odd (The Odds #3), HarperCollins Publishers, June 2023, 192 pp., RRP $15.99 (pbk), ISBN 9780733340659
This is the conclusion of The Odds trilogy, written for ages 7+. This time Stanton tackles more complex themes: those of grief, fear and having the confidence to move through your emotions.
Kip, Dad and the Odds have been taken to Kip’s imaginatorium – a mysterious building in the middle of the desert. This is her imagination in real life Going in is easy. Getting out might be impossible. Dad has created a new graphic novel to help Kip through her worries. All the former strange characters find themselves together in this new place, and each discovers what they want. But there are also new characters, such as the Dots, secret doors, and the need for Kip to face her fears. Should she take the easier path and remain where things are safe, or face the challenge of escaping? Elements of humour remove some of the more confronting concepts.
Stanton’s graphic novel is perfect for young readers, with its easily recognisable cast of characters. His illustrations, simple line drawings, are fun, with the occasional more detailed scenes. The verbal text is easily approachable, though I would have liked to see a slightly larger font, considering the age of the intended audience.
Recommended, along with the earlier two books in the series.
Reviewed by Maureen Mann
