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Review: Extra Normal

By Kate Alice Marshall
New York: Viking, 2023. Fiction. 232 pages. 

Charlie is completely normal in a family of extraordinary individuals. Her parents both work for the Division of Extranormal Investigations, her mother has unrivaled psychic powers, and her adopted siblings include a werewolf, a ghost, and a telekinetic boy. Sometimes though, this makes Charlie feel like she has to work harder to keep the household running to be valuable to her family. When something about their new neighbors seems suspicious, Charlie refuses to ask her parents for help and disrupt their much-neeeded vacation, instead deciding to get to the bottom of things on her own.

Though Charlie worries that she is not special enough to fit in with her family, her siblings never miss a moment to show how much they care about her. Her three siblings band together to support Charlie, each using their unique skills to help in her investigations. This thriller also includes some genuinely heart-racing moments for Charlie and her siblings. A perfect spooky read about family bonds and recognizing what makes you unique.

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