Extra Normal

In a house full of the paranormal it's hard being extra normal.

I absolutely adored this book! This was a 6/5 star read for me. The family dynamic in this book is so fun and heartwarming even while things were going sideways. First, the characters. The Greer family as a whole is heartwarming but each character felt so well developed. They each had their own flaws and strengths that made them who they are and made their interaction in the family unit and with outside characters that much better. Even the villains of the story are fun and frightening, making the perfect villains for young readers. The weight that Charlie feels of trying to navigate a world that she feels she doesn't fit into but is needed in is so relatable (even if I don't have a supernatural mom and siblings). I loved how the agents/ babysitters/ uncles fit into the story along with the other co-works/ family friends of the parents.

As an adult reading middle grade books I always find the parents to be somewhat negligent that always baffles me. But KAT writes a pair of great parents that also happen to have flaws. You can see how much they love their kids and want to keep them safe while also being passionate about their work but also losing a bit of themselves in the chaos. That's a feeling that I know many adults and parents feel. The example of two adults in a relationship needing to find time for themselves and each other in the busyness of their lives is something I know many adults feel, parents and non-parents. And to see that played out and how intuitive Charlie is about it and the weight it put on her was both beautiful and heart breaking.

The way the plot plays out with the new and strange neighbors is, of course, fantastical but so fun. Each of the siblings play a significant role in overcoming the many obstacles they face in trying to keep themselves and the town safe. They each learn so much about themselves and each other. And a HUGE shout out to Miss Sinister. When first learning about this cursed doll I was creeped out but she really became the MVP of the whole book for me.