Oh My Gods! is the first instalment of a new middle-grade series of graphic novels that offer a new take on traditional greek myths. It’s written by Stephanie Cooke (writer and editor) and Insha Fitzpatrick (writer, editor and founder of a horror genre website) with illustrations by Brazilian artist Juliana Moon. Oh My Gods! will be a pleasant read for all readers, from young ones who are discovering greek mythology for the first time to older ones who already know a bit about it!
Oh My Gods! tells the story of Karen, a teenager who has to move with her father (who she rarely sees) after her mum lands a new job opportunity that is too good to pass up. And so, Karen is sent to Mt. Olympus, where she’ll discover that myths are real. At first she thinks everyone is acting weird and that they must be playing some kind of role. But later on, she learns that she is actually the daughter of Zeus and that her schoolmates are other greek deities who decided to be reborn as teenagers!
Soon after her arrival, students start to get turned into stone. Karen herself, due to being the new girl in town, is accused of being the author of said “crimes”. However, she is determined to clear her name. So, along with her new school friends, she leads a search to find out the real person who is turning others into stone.
The mystery element of the book will keep readers engaged at all times. They will also be introduced very smoothly to each mythological character and their most prominent characteristics! All of this makes this graphic novel perfect to present young readers to Greek mythology in a fun and relatable way. There are also some details from the myths that can be spotted in the backgrounds which makes the book even more fun to read.
The illustration style is bright and colourful which makes it very appealing. It’s also very expressive and the images flow perfectly with the text, the narrative is actually so engaging. The book has more of a high school feel even though it’s stated that the characters are in middle school, but this will only make it more appealing to a wider variety of readers.
At its core, this graphic novel is ultimately about family, and friendships. It’s not always easy to come by a book that deals with what it’s like to go live with a noncustodial parent and it’s done so well in Oh My Gods! Karen’s parents are supporting and loving and we see that they maintain a healthy and friendly relationship even though they are separated. It’s also very sweet to see Karen bonding with her father. On top of that, the friendships in this book are very heartwarming, everyone has each other’s back and try their best to be kind and empathic towards others. Compassion is actually a big theme in the book. It also sort of tackles what it’s like to move to a new school and how it feels to not fit in at first, which would be nice to see for young readers who might be in that situation as well.
Overall, Oh My Gods! is such a fun take on traditional myths and it’s very well executed by the authors and illustrator. It has the perfect mix of mystery, mythology, heartfelt moments, a little bit of drama, and a loveable set of characters. What else could you ask for?!
Oh My Gods! is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of January 5th, 2021.
The sequel, Oh My Gods!: The Forgotten Maze, isn’t coming out until January 2022 but in the meantime, here’s the cover art that’s recently been released! In this second book, Karen and her friends will explore a forgotten maze beneath their school to search for an online troll!
Will you be picking up Oh My Gods!? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Karen is just an average thirteen-year-old from New Jersey who loves to play video games with her friends and watch movies with her mom. But when she moves to Greece to live with her eccentric, mysterious father, Zed, suddenly everything she thought about herself—about life—is up in the air.
Starting a new school can be difficult, but starting school at Mt. Olympus Junior High, where students are gods and goddesses, just might take the cake. Especially when fellow classmates start getting turned to stone. Greek mythology . . . a little less myth, a little more eek! And if Karen’s classmates are immortal beings, who does that make her?
could youmake more oh my gods books please