Name: Olga and the Smelly Thing from Nowhere
ISBN: 9780062351265

Elise Gravel

Olga and the Smelly Thing from Nowhere

Wynter

March 15, 2017. A cute little book about a curious girl who finds an unknown animal and has adventures with it. I thought the art was simple, but sweet, the characters were memorable, and the story - engaging. There were all sorts of quirky tidbits here and there and made me laugh out loud. Bonus points for a brief mention of Chris Hatfield! I have no doubt that actual kids will find Olga and Meh impossible to resist. 

My only gripe is not even about the book itself, but where these types of stories are taking their messages in general. You know you want to cheer for the underdog, that awkward girl, who might not be popular, but has an amazing personality, right? Empowering kids that do not belong to the clique elite is important, but why do these types of books have to always divide kids into "us" and "them". The quiet smart girl is a hero, but the pretty ones are evil bitches - always! Why is it not okay to be both smart and care for how you look? I found that Olga dismissed and downright judged the Lalas just because they liked to read fashion magazines and idolized a Korean pretty boy. Shouldn't smart girls be above that? Shouldn't we all accept who we are, and that not everyone is into the same things? In the end it was even revealed that the Lalas had some knack for scientific observation too, which Olga grudgingly accepted. Hopefully there is a lesson to be learned there for the young readers - judging is never smart. I dream of the day when children's books will not lean on old stereotypes of nerds vs. jocks, and just accept that all walks of life are allowed to exist. This rant turned out needlessly long, but I needed to put it out there. Don't let it stop you from checking Elise Gravel's latest book out - it's a great treat.

Oh, and thank you, author, for making me aware that olive and feta cheese muffins are a thing! I'm definitely making those soon. Yum!