Odd & True

Gr 9 Up—Trudchen, a polio survivor who reads tea leaves, is the younger sister to Odette, and both are Maria's daughters. All through Tru's youth, Od would fill her head with magical, fantastical stories to fill the dark times. After a two-year absence, Od returns looking haunted and accompanied by a case full of mysterious weapons that she promises will help kill monsters. Soon, the siblings whisk away on an adventure to find their mother, and many interesting characters and events cross their path. This story, which takes place in early 1900s Oregon, alternates from the sisters' past and their present, and is told through Tru and Od's perspectives. Through the interweaving time lines and points of view, readers will begin to question if the girls really do have magical powers. Teens will be anticipating what lurks in the next chapter. The story is adventurous and fast paced, and Winters' atmospheric writing and exploration of themes such as storytelling, family, disability, and trauma will entice many teens.