Oddly Normal

Gr 4–6—When a half-witch, half-human named Oddly Normal makes a standard pre-teen wish that her parents would disappear, she is surprised to find it come true. Her aunt, an utterly charming and effervescent witch, decides Oddly is no longer safe in the human world, so they travel to her mother's home realm, Fignation. Oddly's acclimation to Menagerie Middle School is rocky, and she's left wondering where, exactly, she belongs. Many readers will identify with Oddly's attempts to bridge cultures and her struggle to figure out her place, both in her family and at school. The text contains some sophisticated vocabulary and literary references (there is a vampire named Bram, for instance), while remaining accessible. Fignation is a richly imagined world of fantastical creatures. The drawings throughout are engaging and make good use of moody, saturated colors. A recreation of an "Oddly Normal" collection published in 2006 that expands upon the original story and has reimagined illustrations.