The Odds

December 13, 2021
Without any friends at school, young Kip avoids her classmates, imagining herself invisible, and dreads Ms. O’s project to present what makes her unique. But when a small army of fictional characters—including Lance the bunny, the star of her father’s comic, and Mr. Pink, a re-creation of the long-lost stuffed toy Kip’s late mother gave her—spring from Kip’s mind, their assertive personalities (“We don’t hide,” they write when Kip and her father, who both have brown skin, attempt to lock them away) challenge Kip to embrace herself just as she is. In this graphic novel debut, seasoned picture book creator Stanton conjures poignant moments amid a repetitive, meandering plot. Simple, straightforward line art, dominated by head-on shots, creates a quick read—reminiscent of gag-focused works such as the Catwad series—that promises a lesson about embracing oneself and becomes a story of strengthening bonds via mutual grief. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12.

October 7, 2020
The lack of locally produced graphic novels for young Australians has been noted for some time now, but middle-grade and children’s author Matt Stanton has a new book to appease fans of the format. Following in the tradition of his much-loved 'Funny Kid' series, as well as his lively picture books, The Odds is light and silly, with plenty of heart. Perfect for independent readers aged seven and up, The Odds is the first in a trilogy and follows Kip, an introverted young girl who wishes to be invisible. When she wakes up one day to find her quiet life interrupted by a gang of strange creatures, she soon realises they are invaders from her own imagination. This hodgepodge group includes the scary dinosaur from her dreams, a dragon-hunting rabbit from her dad’s own graphic novels, and even the alien-shaped eraser from the end of her favourite pencil. What follows is a slapstick adventure, with Kip and her father teaming up to work out how to send the creatures back to their own worlds. The story is filled with Stanton's trademark humour and irreverence, embedded with themes of friendship, family and identity. Ultimately The Odds finds a new, entertaining way to teach young readers an important life lesson: fitting in is overrated. Karys McEwen is the library manager at Prahran and Richmond High School and the president of the CBCA VIC Branch.