The Mighty Odds

July 4, 2016
This snappy social drama hinges on the power—and danger—of nicknames and stereotypes within the middle school social scene. A bus accident throws popular student Cookie together with some of the students she normally wouldn’t be caught dead with: friendless Farshad, deemed “Terror Boy” by a racist joke he can’t shake; overweight, nerdy Nick; and quiet Martina, whom no one really notices. After the four sixth-graders discover that they have developed unusual superpowers and there is actual danger at hand, they have to decide if they will “band together to become some sort of crazy explosive-substitute-teacher fighters” or just the “League of Incredible Nerds with Nearly Useless Powers.” Emotions in this group of reluctant friends run from anger, disbelief, and disgust to eventual admiration, dependence, and trust. Framed by posts on a popular gossip blog and peppered with playful comics-style illustrations, this series opener from Ignatow (the Popularity Papers books) packs in plenty of action and edgy dialogue. Though the ending is a bit abrupt, it sets the scene for future installments. Ages 10–14. Agent: Daniel Lazar, Writers House.

Starred review from July 1, 2016
Ignatow turns on its head the classic middle school good kids-vs.-the populars/bullies trope.Four students, a teacher, a bus driver, and an Amish teen are involved in a bus accident that leaves each of them with bizarre superpowers. Cookie, the only black teen in the school and a powerful popular kid, finds she is now able to read minds, but only when someone is thinking about directions. Nerdy, overweight, white Nick (who likes to hang out with his funny but overbearing BFF in the safety of the Understeps) can teleport, but only 4 inches to the left. Iranian-American Farshad, systematically shunned once he was marked with the moniker Terror Boy, has amazing strength in his thumbs. Martina, a white girl nearly invisible to all who draws the graphic novel panels that accompany this romp (in which she depicts herself as having horns), now has eyes that keep changing color--and can see the bus driver, who is suddenly invisible. The teacher uncontrollably lights fires, and Amish Abe can resist those fires (and as an added bonus, his horse has developed superspeed). Thrown together by their new powers, the group must learn to navigate their unexpectedly evolving, eye-opening relationships. Even with plenty of near-farcical action--and a cliffhanger--this engaging read is effectively character-driven. Hilarious and revealing, this series opener is a must-have. (Fantasy. 10-14)

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August 1, 2016

Gr 5-8-Martina, Nick, Farshad, and Cookie are classmates who barely know one another. After a field trip to Philadelphia, the four students end up on the same bus back to school. Disaster strikes when the bus gets in a bad accident. Nick is flung from the vehicle while Martina, Farshad, and Cookie are trapped. The tweens manage to save one another and their substitute teacher, Mr. Friend, in the nick of time, with the help of a local Amish boy. Unfortunately, the accident is only the beginning of trouble for this quartet. After getting out of the hospital, each notices that something is different. Martina's eyes change colors. Cookie can read minds when it involves directions. Farshad has incredible strength...in his thumbs. Nick can teleport but only four inches to the left. What actually happened in the crash, and why is their substitute teacher after them? Ignatow brings humor and a big dose of silliness to this new series. Superpowers always seem tempting, but, as these four tweens discover, there's a downside that comes with their new abilities. This is also the case for the book itself. The cast is diverse, but some of the language is troublesome. Cookie is referred to as a "beautiful black pearl" and a "dearest chocolate-skinned empress" by Nick's best friend, Jay. Farshad is nicknamed "Terror Boy" throughout most of the story. Though Ignatow works to unpack the language, and Farshad's nickname in particular, the descriptions of Cookie remain problematic. VERDICT This offering has plenty of reader appeal, with an ending designed to hook kids into the next installment. However, the microaggressions will be an issue for any librarian.-Sarah Wethern, Douglas County Library, Alexandria, MN

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2017
Oddly matched victims of a bus accident discover they each have a very specific superpower in this novel sprinkled with newspaper articles and cartoon drawings. Who knew the ability to teleport four inches to the left could be useful? The middle-school dynamics and humor (including occasional crassness) are well rendered and realistic.

(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)