Odd Gods (Odd Gods Series #1)

by David Slavin, Adam J.B. Lane (Illustrator), Daniel Weitzman

Overview

Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets Percy Jackson in Odd Gods, the first book in a hilarious illustrated series about the most unlikely, unusual Gods ever to grace the halls of Mount Olympus Middle School.

A Summer 2019 Kids' Indie Next Pick!

Oddonis may be the son of Zeus, but he’s a little bit…odd for a God. He’s so odd, in fact, he’s not sure if he has any powers at all. And if that isn’t enough, his twin brother Adonis is the most popular, most athletic, and most otherworldly handsome God of them all.

Oddonis’s future at Mount Olympus Middle isn’t looking bright, especially when he makes the last-minute decision to run against Adonis to be class president.

With the help of his friends Mathena (Goddess of math and poultry), Germes (God of all things sniffling and snotty), Puneous (the smallest God of them all), and Gaseous (enough said?), Oddonis is determined to win the race, prove that his friends are as good as any Greek God, and maybe, just maybe, find out what his true powers really are.

Read the hilarious new adventures of Oddonis and his friends from debut children’s authors David Slavin and Daniel Weitzman, filled with dozens of black-and-white illustrations by award-winning artist Adam Lane. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062839534
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	05/14/2019
Series:	Odd Gods Series , #1
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	682,578
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.80(d)
Lexile:	580L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

David Slavin is the author of the popular illustrated middle-grade novels Odd Gods and Odd Gods: The Oddyssey. The third book in the series, Odd Gods: The Oddlympics, is coming in Fall 2020.

Adam J.B. Lane was born in London and grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He studied, in the loosest sense of that word, at Harvard University and the California Institute of the Arts. He has labored for the Walt Disney Company, seen his animation appear on MTV, and authored two previous picture books for children, Monsters Party All Night Long and Stop Thief! In his spare time he draws comics for The Boston Globe.

Daniel Weitzman’s children’s stories (Whooosh, Stoneface) have been featured in anthologies and online forums.  A middle grade novel, The 27 Unadventures of Oliver Ordinary, lives in the digital universe (trailer available on YouTube). Daniel’s film and TV credits for children’s material include The Pirates of Central Park (Children’s Film Winner, New York International Independent Film & Video Festival), Schoolhouse Rock/The Next Generation and Row Your Boat Ashore (Nicholl Fellowships Finalist). Daniel has worked with various entertainment companies, creating film scripts, TV treatments, music video narratives, virtual reality presentations, and numerous digital initiatives.  He was a senior producer and writer at AOL and has worked extensively as both creative director and writer at various advertising agencies, where he crafted a number of award-winning ad campaigns. Daniel lives in New York City with his wife, and has co-authored 2 children, whom he frequently turns to for inspiration. They consider him pretty darn odd, and anything but a god.

Editorial Reviews

04/22/2019

In this first in a planned series, Slavin (Young Dick Cheney) and newcomer Weitzman introduce Oddonis, twin of popular, handsome Adonis and imperfect son of deities Zeus and Freya. The opposite of most deities, Oddonis isn’t strong, athletic, or artistic, and he has no idea what his talent is. Oddonis’s similarly awkward cadre of friends includes pal Mathena, goddess of math and poultry, and best friend Gaseous (son of Uranus and Refried Bean Queen Chalupa), whose farts smell of “feta cheese, a wet ferret, and feet.” Running against his brother for class president, Oddonis seeks to become the voice for the “odds” of Mount Olympus Middle School, find his unique godly power, and impress his father. Oddonis’s transition from outsider to a leader who sees his individuality as a strength shines through the nonstop gross-out humor and silliness. Frequent nods to well-known mythological figures will draw in readers interested in the topic, and black-and-white illustrations by Lane (Stop Thief!), which amplify the comedy, will appeal to readers of graphic hybrids. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. (May)

Publishers Weekly

Oddonis’s transition from outsider to a leader who sees his individuality as a strength shines through the nonstop gross-out humor and silliness. Frequent nods to well-known mythological figures will draw in readers…black-and-white illustrations by Lane, which amplify the comedy, will appeal to readers of graphic hybrids.” — Publishers Weekly

“Oddonis and his friends are well developed, engaging, relatable characters who will draw readers into the story with ease. The plot is funny and will resonate well with fans of Jeff Kinney’s “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” and Rick Riordan’s “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” series.” — School Library Journal

“Readers will end up admiring Oddonis for standing up for underdogs everywhere, but may spare some sympathy for Adonis, too, who turns out to be a comically clumsy oaf pressured into a “win at any cost” mentality by his all-powerful dad. Stay tuned for further mishaps and mythic misadventures.” — Booklist

“Middle school is never easy, especially when you’re powerless and your brother’s a perfect God… Newly minted fans will hope that future myth-adventures will be just as silly.” — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

Readers will end up admiring Oddonis for standing up for underdogs everywhere, but may spare some sympathy for Adonis, too, who turns out to be a comically clumsy oaf pressured into a “win at any cost” mentality by his all-powerful dad. Stay tuned for further mishaps and mythic misadventures.

Booklist

Readers will end up admiring Oddonis for standing up for underdogs everywhere, but may spare some sympathy for Adonis, too, who turns out to be a comically clumsy oaf pressured into a “win at any cost” mentality by his all-powerful dad. Stay tuned for further mishaps and mythic misadventures.

Booklist

04/01/2019

Gr 4–6—Everyone knows the gods, but most have never heard of the odd ones. Oddonis, brother of Adonis, is the misfit of his family. He has yet to have any godly powers like his brother, and isn't exactly good-looking like Adonis. When things seem to keep getting worse for him and his friends, Oddonis decides enough is enough and runs for class president. With the odds against him, can Oddonis win the election and bring change to Mt. Olympus Middle School? Oddonis and his friends are well developed, engaging, relatable characters who will draw readers into the story with ease. The plot is funny and will resonate well with fans of Jeff Kinney's "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" and Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series. The illustrations are eye-catching, complementary to the text, and bring the characters to life. VERDICT Recommended for library collections where fantasy/humor mash-ups are popular.—Kira Moody, Salt Lake County Library Services

School Library Journal

2019-01-28

Middle school is never easy, especially when you're powerless and your brother's a perfect God.

Oddonis, son of Zeus and Freya, has never resembled his twin, Adonis. Adonis was born with a six pack and a mane of beautiful, blond hair. Oddonis was born with an "old guy jelly belly." Elementary school was no fun, but Oddonis' hoping that Mount Olympus Middle School will be different. Ha. On the first day, he and his best friend, Gaseous, the flatulent son of Uranus and Chalupa, the Refried Bean Queen, are pranked by Adonis and his God friends on the bus and then refused entrance via the Gods' door. Yep, more of the same. They do make more friends, including tiny Puneous, smart Mathena, and contagious Germes, but the Gods rule the school, and the election for class president will soon make that official. Adonis runs unopposed until a fed-up Oddonis decides to try to beat his conceited brother. Can the Odds beat the Gods? This series opener sports in-line comics and spot illustrations as well as plenty of potty humor (Oddonis' dog's name is Trianus, and the name's appropriate). The whackadoodle mishmash of world mythologies and…other stuff (Germes' mom is Typhoid Mary—go figure) may bug both myth-heads and readers who appreciate consistency in worldbuilding, but even they will have to laugh.

Newly minted fans will hope that future myth-adventures will be just as silly. (Graphic/fantasy hybrid. 7-11)

Kirkus Reviews