AGAINST THE ODDS

A small group of young teens who have suddenly acquired bizarre superpowers are back for a second romp.

Reading series opener The Mighty Odds (2016) is essential for an understanding of the second, but who would want to miss it? During a bus accident, four middle school students, an Amish teen, and the driver acquired strange new powers. Cookie, the only black kid, mocks others’ occasional discomfort with her race and can read minds—but mostly just thoughts involving directions; Iranian-American Farshad has helicopter parents and superstrong thumbs; Nick, white, can teleport four inches to the left; Martina, also white, can see the bus driver, who became invisible, and has eyes that constantly change color; Amish Abe can communicate (politely) with animals but not so well with Cookie. White Jay has no superpowers, but he’s so hilariously irrepressible that he’s oblivious to rejection, quite a strength in itself. It’s become clear that major local employer Auxano is nefariously behind what’s happened. The teens discover that it’s holding prisoner an Amish young adult who may also have powers, necessitating a bumbling rescue mission and setting up the next in the series.

A fantastic hybrid of novel and graphic novel, this is a fine selection for both reluctant readers and anyone who enjoys an exuberant combination of spot-on humor and nail-biting suspense.