Deeply.....Odd

I took a break from reading young adult literature to read the newest in the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz, called Deeply Odd.  Now, I should preface this review with the fact that, in general, I am not a fan of Koontz.  The exceptions are this series and the Frankenstein series.  

Odd Thomas is the given name of the main character of the series.  He is a barely 20 young man that is quite satisfied to work as a fry cook, oh, and he can see dead people and other supernatural phenomenon.  his "gift" helps him solve murders and sometimes allows him to sense when terrible things will happen.  The books are usually exciting and funny....Elvis and Frank Sinatra have made appearances as well as a ghost dog named Boo.

Unfortunately, I found this book just way too....well.....deep.  There was way too much time spent discussing the nature of evil, of being blue and smooth (don't ask), and moping over his lost love.  Blech.  If you cut out the moping and the deep conversations, it's an exciting story.  Odd gets one of his premonitions that a flashy trucker is intent on murdering children.  He starts a wild chase to find him before it happens.  On the way he meets a mysterious old woman in a limo, crosses into hell, and runs afoul of a Satanic cult!  

I suggest you not start with this book if you haven't read any other of the Odd Thomas books.  Not only will you be lost, this would not give you the best opinion of the series.

It's all true

I had heard all sorts do good things about Once by Morris Gleitzman.  Sometimes, I'm afraid to read a book after so much positive hype for fear it can't possibly live up to it.  Nearly every book recommended by Oprah's book club comes to mind.  Fortunately, this book did not disappoint.  It is a story of the Holocaust, told from the point of view of a young Jewish boy in Poland who doesn't quite understand what's happening.  Much like the young boy in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, he has been protected from the truth.

Felix was brought to a remote Catholic orphanage years ago by his parents, who were owners of a book store.  Felix has an incredible gift for storytelling and has made up a whole notebook of stories about his mother and dad and their adventures trying to save authors so they will have books for their bookstore.  Then he receives a sign and he is sure his parents are coming to get him.  However,  before they can get there, he sees soldiers burning books, and sets off to find his parents' bookstore, which he believes is just closed for now.  He intends to hide the books, saving the store.  What he finds, unfortunately, is much different than his stories.  He runs right into the heart of Nazi brutality in Poland.

This is a journey of a young boy from innocence to stark reality.  However, it focuses, instead on his hope and bravery.   It is followed by three more books: Then, Now and After.  I can't wait to read them!

This book is difficult to place for for appropriate interest level.  It is fairly easy to read, and yet, contains some brutal details and images. I am placing it at Junior High because if a younger person reads it, be prepared to discuss the brutality that occurred during the Holocaust.

This is from the front flap of the book:

"ONCE I escaped from an orphanage to find Mum and Dad.

ONCE I saved a girl called Zelda from a burning house.

ONCE I made a Nazi with a toothache laugh.

My name is Felix.

This is my story."