Oddest of All

A new short story collection from the brilliantly bizarre Bruce Coville

Children's Literature

From stories ranging from weird to heartbreaking to thrilling, Coville has offered up a fantastic book depicting the fantastic. Every tale has its own magic that engulfs the reader and leaves him in a state of wonder. Both boys and girls are shown as the protagonists, overcoming their own fears and uncertainties to face unusual circumstances. In the tale of "The Mask of Eamonn Tiyado," a boy named Harley wore a Halloween mask to finally try on a new persona. In "The Ghost Let Go," two girls use their abilities to see spirits to help reconnect a family. A touch of science fiction brings an ultimatum to the human race in "In Our Own Hands," and a boy discovers an interesting branch of his family tree in "In the Frog King's Court." Some stories are rewritten and reprinted here from other collaborations, while three are making their debut. There is no excessive blood or gore to initiate the eerie adrenaline rush felt from reading these stories, just well-written suspense. Reviewer: Renee Farrah