Scan barcode
A review by mariahistryingtoread
Olga and the Smelly Thing from Nowhere by Elise Gravel
3.0
Formatted as an observation notebook Olga, the budding zoologist, is keeping this book to document all the animal knowledge she accumulates. Out of nowhere she finds Meh - a new species.
The rest of the book is basically just her taking notes on him. There is a minor story point running underneath about Olga thinking that humans aren't as good as animals mostly because she doesn't have any friends and is trying to hide that she's hurt about that. Meh helps her see the light in an unexpected way. There are fun drawings and graphics accompanying the writing to add some whimsy throughout.
There is a nonzero amount of internalized misogyny. Two of the girls in her neighborhood - nicknamed the LaLas by Olga - have been mean to Olga for years. But, Olga doesn't just take issue with the mistreatment she thinks she's better than them since she's not into 'silly' things like makeup, boys and magazines.
Many girls have this phase because our cultural demonizes girlhood so I wasn't especially bothered by it. Elise Gravel never gave the impression that it was good to be this way. Olga even expresses embarrassment at the idea that in reading her observations you might perceive the interest in the magazines she has taken pains to hide. This tells me that Olga is not meant to be some harmful girl power fantasy that is praised for eschewing all femininity in order to be taken seriously. She's just a kid working through a (unfortunately) normal stage in development.
In the end the girls have a kind of understanding that implies Olga recognizes she's been narrow minded so I have faith in her yet.
I think it's right in that sweet spot where a girl reading this would feel seen as the 'weird' kid like Olga, but could pick up on the message that people are multi-faceted even if it's only subconsciously. Discovering femininity is not the enemy is a years long process. Books like this are a good way to subtly kickstart the dismantlement.
Personally, I think it added some realism. Still, I wanted to point it out because it is noticeable.
I picked it up because I'm reading the top reads for Florida per grade level according to the Renaissance AR List. It's cute, it's grade level appropriate, and for an adult it's a quick read.
The rest of the book is basically just her taking notes on him. There is a minor story point running underneath about Olga thinking that humans aren't as good as animals mostly because she doesn't have any friends and is trying to hide that she's hurt about that. Meh helps her see the light in an unexpected way. There are fun drawings and graphics accompanying the writing to add some whimsy throughout.
There is a nonzero amount of internalized misogyny. Two of the girls in her neighborhood - nicknamed the LaLas by Olga - have been mean to Olga for years. But, Olga doesn't just take issue with the mistreatment she thinks she's better than them since she's not into 'silly' things like makeup, boys and magazines.
Many girls have this phase because our cultural demonizes girlhood so I wasn't especially bothered by it. Elise Gravel never gave the impression that it was good to be this way. Olga even expresses embarrassment at the idea that in reading her observations you might perceive the interest in the magazines she has taken pains to hide. This tells me that Olga is not meant to be some harmful girl power fantasy that is praised for eschewing all femininity in order to be taken seriously. She's just a kid working through a (unfortunately) normal stage in development.
In the end the girls have a kind of understanding that implies Olga recognizes she's been narrow minded so I have faith in her yet.
I think it's right in that sweet spot where a girl reading this would feel seen as the 'weird' kid like Olga, but could pick up on the message that people are multi-faceted even if it's only subconsciously. Discovering femininity is not the enemy is a years long process. Books like this are a good way to subtly kickstart the dismantlement.
Personally, I think it added some realism. Still, I wanted to point it out because it is noticeable.
I picked it up because I'm reading the top reads for Florida per grade level according to the Renaissance AR List. It's cute, it's grade level appropriate, and for an adult it's a quick read.