THE ODDS

Growing up in Swamp Root Manor nursing home with 58 magical grandparents may not sound at first like the perfect childhood.

But it’s the life of prickly, stubborn Begonia Hollowmoor’s dreams. In a world divided into Never Odds (regular people) and Odds (anything from a grandma with horns to a grandfather with secret-hearing abilities), she’s waiting for her own Oddity to appear before her 11th birthday or face memory-wiping and life in an orphanage with Never Odds. David, the manor’s owner and her guardian, is struggling to keep it afloat financially. Worst of all are the ghost attacks leaving residents in a comalike state. Following a riddle that could awaken her Oddity, Begonia and goofy, passionate 10-year-old Barnabas Montgomery (aspiring mortician, grandson of a resident, and thorn in Begonia’s side) set out to save the home she loves. During a quest full of twists and spooky surprises, Begonia figures out who and what she can trust. A narrative voice that breaks the fourth wall to address readers directly is a delightful touch in a story that’s unafraid of wry, macabre silliness. Amid some truly creative magic, there’s earned emotion, in particular Begonia’s experience with chronic pain. Her severe migraines are depicted with compassion and respect for her agency. Begonia and David read white; Barnabas and his family, which includes his two moms, are Black, and the supporting cast is racially diverse.

A rollicking, spooky adventure with a big heart.