Graphic Novel Review – Oddly Normal (Oddly Normal, Vol 1) by Otis Frampton (4/5 stars)

“Meet Oddly Normal, a ten-year-old girl with pointed ears and green hair – a half-witch who will be the first to tell you that having a mother from a magical land called Fignation, also known as the Wicked Witch of the West and a father from Earth doesn’t make it easy to make friends at school!

On her tenth birthday, she blows out the candles on her birthday cake and makes a disastrous wish. Now, Oddly must travel to Fignation to uncover the mystery of her parents’ disappearance. Join Oddly as she navigates a strange new school, teenage angst, monstrous bullies, and Evil itself on an unforgettable fantasy adventure through the vibrant world of Fignation in Oddly Normal.”

I got a sampler chapter of this graphic novel at Free Comic Book Day this year and really enjoyed it. It was actually included in the kid’s pack and my 9 year son immediately latched onto it on something he thought “Was really good.” I ended up checking the library to see if they had the full graphic novel and they did. This is a beautifully drawn and colored graphic novel with a decent story that is fun and should appeal to the middle grade age group.

Many kids will relate to Oddly Normal’s feelings of not belonging or awkwardness. Many kids have also probably wished their parents would just “Go away and leave them alone”.

The book blends the social issues of “fitting in” with some excellent humor and ends up being a very entertaining read. I enjoyed all the crazy creatures in Fignation and how excited Oddly Normal is to finally be normal in this crazy school.

Overall this was a fun and cute graphic novel that will appeal to middle grade readers. I enjoyed the illustration and thought the story was cute. While it wasn’t something I found completely engaging (the story is just a bit too simple); I did enjoy it and think younger readers will enjoy it more than adult readers. I will probably read more of the series because these books are quick reads and my son enjoys them.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
– Graphic Novel Reading Challenge
– You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge
– Flights of Fantasy Reading Challenge