Oddity Woods

Mystery and confusion reign in Oddity Woods, where haunted passages and dangerous dealings with shadowy creatures await. When 13-year-old Marietta's adoptive father disappears after a cryptic SOS call, she seeks help in the nearby town of Perdita, where he worked with the police. But the town's police are dismissive, saying they're too busy to follow up on a "silly ghost story." To keep children out, people say that "deep in the woods, a ghost train appears, which steals your soul if you ride it." Trusting her instincts, Marietta runs directly into those storied woods. Upon crossing a mystical threshold that disappears behind her, she finds herself in an otherworldly realm. A boy named Wyatt with a mysterious past appears to be the only living human in a landscape otherwise populated with monsters and ghosts. After escaping a terrifying encounter with the conductor of the ghost train, the two team up, working together to find Marietta's father and get Wyatt home. Originally released as a webcomic, this series opener features luminescent and evocative artwork reminiscent of chibi-style manga. The illustrations effectively convey threats, movement, and emotions. Though the latter half of the book gets a bit complicated by added characters and side quests, the magical gadgets, compelling characters, and exciting twists give the story strong appeal for young fantasy fans. Most human characters are white presenting. A visually thrilling adventure. (author's note, character files)(Graphic fantasy. 8-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.