ARC Copy...yep Another unconventional and magical adventure from Durst. I very much liked this middle grade has the same writing traits as her adult fantasy: good-atypical female and male leads, and a complex-grounded magical system. I did like the bond between the sisters despite being vastly different in skill and personality.

Even and Odd is a solid and safe middle grade fantasy that younger middle grade/intermediate students would enjoy reading if they like a fast-moving and fun story with magic and humor. The two main characters, sisters Even and Odd, earned those nicknames because they alternate days in which they have the ability to use their magical skills. Their parents have raised them in a gateway community where there is a portal that allows mythical and magical creatures to move back and forth between a magical land and the human world. The problem is that the portal is malfunctioning, and upon investigating, they get stuck, along with a young unicorn named Jeremy, on the wrong side. Readers will be able to connect emotionally with the different characters' situations, such as Jeremy's belief that the always messes things up; Even's frustration that she loves magic but can't practice it every day to prepare for her exams because of the limitations her situation has put her in; and Odd's uncertainty about where she fits in when she has magical abilities, but doesn't really enjoying doing magic. Family also plays a large part in this story, as several characters are separated from their loved ones and struggle to be reunited. Durst mixes in a lot of humor (Even is changed into a skunk several times. Jeremy makes jokes about pooping cupcakes.) that will keep readers engaged, too. Overall, many intermediate readers will enjoy this middle grade fantasy by popular author, Sarah Beth Durst.

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Review copy provided by the publisher.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Imagine a world where border closings are disrupting environments and separating families, dividing parent from child. Further imagine that the villain responsible for these atrocities is confronted publicly and declares that they simply don't care and won't stop. Sarah Beth Durst has done that here, but the border is that between a mundane world and a magical one, and the villain is...a spoiler to be determined later.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Even and Odd are two sisters who share one person's normal amount of magic between them, alternating days. Even loves magic and wants to dedicate her life to its practice. Odd would rather help out in an animal shelter, rescuing strays and socializing new puppies and kittens. Both of them have to help out in their parents' border shop, which sells mundane items to magical beings. But when magic stops working, Even is stuck as a skunk--and their mother is on the wrong side of the border. Distressed centaurs and worried unicorns only add to their complications.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>This is a fun kids' book whose social conscience will probably dawn on some of its target readers only years later. Some of the plot twists are pretty clear if you're an adult who has read extensively in this genre, but one of the joys of MG is getting to be the place where kids discover a particular trope in the first place.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

Even and odd are sisters. Emma and olivia are the girls real names. I liked their relationship. I didn't think the tone was too cutesy. The pacing was good. I liked that the girls only had magic on certain days.

Gives the sense of a sisterhood growing together through ups and downs. Overall a solid read, but have enjoyed other similar series more.

I enjoyed this book about magic and being at peace with yourself. It was very enjoyable and I liked the characters and the themes. Perfect for readers ages 7-10.

This book is everything that young kids dream of.
It's got magic, fantasy and a brilliant storyline to go along with it.
I read this with my son who loves anything mystical and it was a real hit.

It starts off slow and kind of dense, but once the action begins, it's hard to resist the story as it drives forward. It reads as a true epic, one that makes you feel the world really has been reshaped as you read it. Would recommend.

I have read some of Durst’s writings in the past and although I love her ideas, worlds, and characters, I have never been a big fan of her writing style. This book panned out much the same for me.

The idea behind this book was just wonderful for me. Two sisters who share their magic on opposite days was endearing and enticing. I really wanted to know why this had come to pass (and I wasn’t disappointed). The girl’s “quest” was doomed from the beginning and I knew that there would be a much bigger one on the horizon. Each step that the girls took was almost always action packed and filled with excitement.

The worlds that the reader sees were also vivid and great. A secret magic world that connects to ours in many different places isn’t really that new, but to add trading posts at the entrances and having bits of a world mixed up was a great spin. I enjoyed seeing the magical world through these girl’s eyes and taking in the newness with them.

Both girls were mostly relatable and easy to like. They each had their strengths and weaknesses and, of course, worked best together. And then there was Jeremy. I could have read a whole book about Jeremy! He was hilarious while just bordering on completely annoying. Every other character was given some attention and had a wholeness to them.

I think that what bothers me about Durst’s writing is that it wavers back and forth to much through age ranges and reading levels. I will get into a rhythm of a children’s book and then be hit by a larger word that sticks out too much or a more grown idea/situation that these you girls handle to well for their perceived age. I just can’t decide what age this is directed to exactly.

While I do have a few issues with the work, I think on the whole that most children would enjoy this fantasy and be able to pass over these knowledge gaps. Maybe I’m just getting to old.

This middle grade fantasy novel has potential but too often falls flat when in comes to developing compelling main characters. Younger readers might be more sympathetic to Even and Odd's individual personal crises, but older readers are likely to feel both girls need to chill out and quit being in such a rush to grow up and snag adult employment.

This is a fabulous story of two sisters who literally share their magic; one on odd days and the other on even days. their parents run a shop that links our world with a land of magic and the two need to be in balance. When the girls find themselves locked in the other world (as the portals have all closed) they need to find a way to reverse the process and find their way home. I can't wait to have another adventure with this fantastic duo.

I enjoyed this book about sisters, Even and Odd. I liked the message of self reliance whether it was intended or not. There was a lot of searching for someone else to help them or for the adults to take charge and waiting. But that all helped support the “if not us, who” realization. Kevin Hearne and Delilah Dawson had a house with chicken legs too in their Tales of Pell trilogy, just saying.

This is a cute story about two sisters that have magic on alternate days. I really liked the realism of the sisterly relationships. The characters were very fun, especially Jeremy the unicorn. I was a bit confused about why the parents never took the kids into the magical world before the story began. It's almost like living in Orlando, Florida and never going a Disney World. I thought we were going to find out that the magical world held some great danger or something but that didn't really turn out to be the case. We're just left with no explanation as to why the girls weren't allowed to go. Still a decent story over all.