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Dr. Marvellus Djinn's Odd Scholars
The 1920 When famed magician, Dr. Marvellus Djinn, selects a motley crew of talented teens to tour her theme park of magic and mythological creatures, all are elated for the opportunity. Once they arrive, the odd scholars realize Dr. Djinn is more than just a wealthy magician eager to provide Colored folks with an escape from Jim Crow. From cotton candy teleportation to haunted obelisks and swallowing monsters, The Motherland packs a thrilling, and dangerous, punch.
278 pages, Paperback
First published May 24, 2021
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74 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 8, 2021
This is a really good book and a strong first entry for the author. It was hard to put down at times. (Other times it was easier because I was already up too late and too tired to focus.)
The story follows four young scholars in the 1920s (right in the middle of the Jim Crow era) who compete in a variety of competitions to earn a chance to be the first to visit Dr. Marvellus Djinn’s Motherland Park. They have a lot of fascinating encounters and harrowing adventures with an ultimate goal in mind.
The world building was spot on with the magic system, the communities, the Motherland theme park. What Harry Potter was to the 2000s, Odd Scholars should be to the 2020s. There’s competitions, spells, magic, monsters, and something that I don’t think the Harry Potter series ever had: social and historical commentary. FYI, like being in the park, it was easy to become lost in the book and forget to drink my coffee, thus having it go cold and requiring a reheat.
It’s an adventure that spans centuries and introduces many amazing beasts and characters that I’d never known existed. At the same time, it did something else: it educated.
Much in the way that M.A.S.H. was set in the Korean War to talk about the effects of the Vietnam War, Odd Squad takes place in the 1920s yet still deals with current issues and problems in the United States. The story doesn’t hold back when it discusses the murders and lynchings of African-Americans. It also doesn’t hold back at the animosity that some of the characters (and probably real-life African Americans) felt/feel during the story. The animosity was visceral and I often felt flushed with horror and shame at the way White-Amercans treated Africans/African-Americans.
But that honesty needs to be told. And seeing it from the eyes of four young people who have been affected by it in different ways allowed me as the reader to better understand how and why these feelings could be generated. (And how they could be passed down for generations.) Several times I went to Google to research a name or an incident to become better acquainted with them.
Fortunately, I was acquainted with some of the historical figures and historical incidents, but I think that as much as anyone knows, they’ll likely learn something more from this book. (The history of African-American amusement parks for example.)
For emphasis, I didn’t feel like I was being preached to. There were a few scant times it felt like an info dump, but I can’t see how the author could have gotten us to the next scene otherwise. (Plus, I learned something. And I like learning useful things.)
I think that I will come back to this book again in the next year and read it one more time. I’m sure that there are things I missed - little details - that will make it a new adventure all over again. And I sincerely hope that the author gives us another installment so we can learn more about what happens with the Odd Scholars.
The story follows four young scholars in the 1920s (right in the middle of the Jim Crow era) who compete in a variety of competitions to earn a chance to be the first to visit Dr. Marvellus Djinn’s Motherland Park. They have a lot of fascinating encounters and harrowing adventures with an ultimate goal in mind.
The world building was spot on with the magic system, the communities, the Motherland theme park. What Harry Potter was to the 2000s, Odd Scholars should be to the 2020s. There’s competitions, spells, magic, monsters, and something that I don’t think the Harry Potter series ever had: social and historical commentary. FYI, like being in the park, it was easy to become lost in the book and forget to drink my coffee, thus having it go cold and requiring a reheat.
It’s an adventure that spans centuries and introduces many amazing beasts and characters that I’d never known existed. At the same time, it did something else: it educated.
Much in the way that M.A.S.H. was set in the Korean War to talk about the effects of the Vietnam War, Odd Squad takes place in the 1920s yet still deals with current issues and problems in the United States. The story doesn’t hold back when it discusses the murders and lynchings of African-Americans. It also doesn’t hold back at the animosity that some of the characters (and probably real-life African Americans) felt/feel during the story. The animosity was visceral and I often felt flushed with horror and shame at the way White-Amercans treated Africans/African-Americans.
But that honesty needs to be told. And seeing it from the eyes of four young people who have been affected by it in different ways allowed me as the reader to better understand how and why these feelings could be generated. (And how they could be passed down for generations.) Several times I went to Google to research a name or an incident to become better acquainted with them.
Fortunately, I was acquainted with some of the historical figures and historical incidents, but I think that as much as anyone knows, they’ll likely learn something more from this book. (The history of African-American amusement parks for example.)
For emphasis, I didn’t feel like I was being preached to. There were a few scant times it felt like an info dump, but I can’t see how the author could have gotten us to the next scene otherwise. (Plus, I learned something. And I like learning useful things.)
I think that I will come back to this book again in the next year and read it one more time. I’m sure that there are things I missed - little details - that will make it a new adventure all over again. And I sincerely hope that the author gives us another installment so we can learn more about what happens with the Odd Scholars.
March 6, 2022
Dr. Marvellus Djinn’s Odd Scholars is a captivating page -turner that will is full of suspense. It’s the PERFECT mix of history, mystery, and magic. With so many twists and turns, I felt like one of the characters as they uncovered secrets of The Motherland Amusement Park and the world. 5 stars!
June 19, 2021
An intriguing blend of historical fiction and fantasy.
August 29, 2021
Excellent YA adventure 👍🏽
July 1, 2021
A great middle grade adventure with interwoven fantasy elements and Black history.
July 10, 2022
The plot is a mystery for a while. Dr. Djinn doesn't show up to the tour that the kids won, so they're exploring the park and trying to figure out why they were selected. My favorite parts of the book were the descriptions of the park. The menagerie, the Now and Then trains, and the haunted obelisk especially had a good mix of whimsy and menace that made them very memorable. We also get in-depth descriptions of the trials where the kids are chosen, which had a fun sense of atmosphere and mystery.
I think the conclusion fell flat. I thought the reason Dr. Djinn was in hiding was manipulative, and the final resolution felt forced (it involved revealing information that I thought the characters already knew). Other item that didn't work for me was the magic system. It's very technical and intricate, and it got introduced later in the story without much page time, so it felt like an info dump whenever new facts were introduced and was difficult for me to remember.
I think the conclusion fell flat. I thought the reason Dr. Djinn was in hiding was manipulative, and the final resolution felt forced (it involved revealing information that I thought the characters already knew). Other item that didn't work for me was the magic system. It's very technical and intricate, and it got introduced later in the story without much page time, so it felt like an info dump whenever new facts were introduced and was difficult for me to remember.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews