School Library Journal Review for Not Near Normal: The Paranormal

Each volume introduces a different paranormal creature and focuses on the stories surrounding it. Some titles attempt to examine the origin of their supernatural subjects. For example, Ghosts asks, “If ghosts aren’t spirits of the dead, what are they?” which should prompt students to ponder the truth of the paranormal stories without providing hard and fast answers on whether or not these beings exist. Grotesque images and color and black-and-white photos (most look digitally enhanced) illustrate each page. The effect is often artificial and sometimes comical, but delightfully creepy anyway. Text boxes shaped like headstones deliver scary tidbits and anecdotes. Folklore is the main focus of the texts, but there are some notable exceptions for pop culture (e.g., Dracula and the “Twilight” series get nods in Vampires). Features such as “A Werewolf’s Diary” and “Ghosts Around the World” are silly, but nonetheless entertaining.