When the imagination goes wild, it goes really wild for Kip in this 8- to 10-year-old reader graphic novel called The Odds.
In this first volume of a new series by Matt Stanton, lives up to its name, The Odds. Kip, our main character, wakes up one morning to see several characters from her dad’s game from his phone, from the television, from her books, a dinosaur her dreams/nightmares, her dad’s comic character, the alien eraser from her pencil, plus a pink elephant that really likes to hide, staring at her from the bottom of her bed. What happens next is one for the records of Crazy Town! Madness, mishaps, and a little electrocution happened to Kip and friends while they realize that in the end, The Odds, might be pretty darn awesome if given half a chance.
This book of acceptance, comfort, growing and even a little letting go of the past and grabbing hold of the present, is fun, but not OMG THE FUNNIEST THING EVER. There is a lot to like (the elephant’s origin is sweet), and there is a lot to be, oh-kay, Why did THAT happen? You can tell that Stanton is not from the states as the tone and some wording is distinctly European (he is from Australia, therefore, close…. ish).
The humor leans towards a bit crass, but never really seems to be too over the top, while his other works seem to deal with farts and more toilet humor. If you like thinks like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and How to Train Your Dragon, this book is probably what you are looking for. Due in January 2022.
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