Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie Kingsley
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Funny tale of misfit non-gods in Mt. Olympus middle school.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In ODD GODS, younger twin Oddonis and his brother, Adonis, are new to Mount Olympus Middle School but have two very different experiences. Adonis is a god, strong and smart and powerful and seemingly perfect. Oddonis is the opposite, and feels like a disappointment every day. Their dad, Zeus, treats them differently, expecting that Adonis will achieve greatness and Oddonis will just try. At school, Oddonis finds his group of misfit friends trying to survive next to the obnoxious, bullying gods, and soon find there's one way Oddonis can take a stand, and his brother isn't happy about it.
Is It Any Good?
The premise of this fractured mythology romp is fabulous, the names and character descriptions are inspired, and the idea just right for the target age range, but it somehow falls flat. Odd Gods has all the right ingredients and some readers will enjoy the banter between the Odds and the near nonstop fart jokes; other readers will find the story a bit slow and forced. There's a lot to enjoy here for the right audience. Adam J.B. Lane's abundant cartoon-like illustrations help make this a good choice for reluctant readers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Odd Gods addresses the feelings of being left out. What was it like when you have felt like you didn't belong? Have you ever ignored someone else being picked on because it made you feel safer?
How does Zeus make things worse for his sons with his expectations?
What other books about misfits have you read?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Illustrator : Adam J.B. Lane
- Genre : Humor
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : HarperCollins Publishers
- Publication date : May 14, 2019
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 224
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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