Odessa Again
Gr 3-5-When fourth-grader Odessa Green-Light gets mad at her toady little brother, Oliver, and stomps on the floor of her attic bedroom, she is shocked to find herself in the same spot exactly 24 hours earlier. The next time she stomps on the floor she finds herself exactly 23 hours back in time. Once she realizes she has unique time-travel capabilities, she employs her powers to go back and right the supposed wrongs in her life, such as when she forgot to study for a quiz, or when she had unexpected flatulence in front of the boy she liked. As the hours tick downward, however, Odessa wonders if she is wasting her powers on selfish changes. Perhaps she can find a way to rehyphenate her divorced parents, or help her brother or mother in ways that really count. Odessa's relationships with friends, family, and her elderly landlord are built upon nicely as she matures with this realization. Though no explanation is given for the inexplicable time travel, the story flows well and will be relished by readers who have ever wished they could go back and fix events that have just occurred.-Michele Shaw, Quail Run Elementary School, San Ramon, CAα(c) Copyright 2013.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.  No redistribution permitted.