A thin and underwhelming plot that’s buoyed by compelling illustrations.
Andi is a horror film enthusiast who finds herself in the middle of a real-life thriller in this second series entry, a graphic novel based on the popular video game Bendy.
When Andi gets a summer job at her local movie theater, it seems like a great way to feed her scary movie habit. That is, until Bendy starts appearing in odd places at work and at home. Kids are going missing, adding to the unsettled feeling. Andi and her new friends at work realize that their boss has disappeared, and when events take an even darker turn, it’s up to Andi to save herself and escape the evil that feels like a part of the theater itself. Though the story doesn’t shy away from some murderous horror elements, the scares read as conveniently manufactured and the connection to Bendy feels convoluted and tenuous. Andi and her new co-workers have a flimsy bond that does little to build reader investment in them. Regardless, fans of the Bendy universe will be pleased to see another volume, and the illustrations are strong. Arizmendi uses a golden yellow, black, and white palette to great effect. In places, the panels feature wavy outlines with overflowing pools of black ink dripping ominously from them. Most characters appear white.
A thin and underwhelming plot that’s buoyed by compelling illustrations. (Graphic horror. 12-16)Pub Date: March 3, 2026
ISBN: 9781546166672
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Graphix/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Bubble-gum–tinged whimsy abounds in this stylish French graphic-novel import. Cotton-candy–tressed Nola spends her days dreaming in her peaceful town, Alta Donna. Her world is cozy and ordinary until she meets the aloof and mysterious Damiano and Inés. Nola quickly learns that there are strange forces after the siblings and is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery. Nola and her friends radiate a funky fashion sense, constantly changing clothes and hairstyles; it’s hard to imagine a reader who wouldn’t want to raid her closet. This first installment propels forward with the force of a rocket—albeit a very pink, fanciful one. Luckily for the ravenous reader, the whole trilogy releases simultaneously (#2, Ferrets and Ferreting Out, PLB: 978-0-7613-6504-4; #3, Even for a Dreamer Like Me, PLB: 978-0-7613-6505-1). Though it's a fantastic visual experience, the actual plot is thin; even as Nola delves into the mystery in the subsequent volumes, the narrative never really gains any degree of complexity. However, with its upbeat palette (courtesy of Pop), manga-inspired art and hip characters, this charmer is sure to please preteen girls. (Graphic fiction. 9-12)
Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-7613-6538-9
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Graphic Universe
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2010
Whether it’s because she would rather write stories alone than hang out with her gossiping classmates or because she lives in the Visconti House, a crumbling Italianate villa (which, everyone assumes, must be haunted), Year 8 Aussie Laura Horton always feels like an outsider. When Leon Murphy, a loner in his own right, moves in with his odd grandmother, Laura notices that they have more in common than she originally thought, including wanting to solve the mystery behind Mr. Visconti, his once-ornate house and the woman he loved. Debut author Edgar’s quiet, old-fashioned storytelling, in which the children can sound older than their years, celebrates curiosity, hidden treasures and impromptu gatherings with spirited and creative family members. In the process of ferreting out the secrets of Mr. Visconti and his formerly splendid estate (with written letters, interviews and intuition rather than the Internet), Laura also discovers friendship, romance and accepting the differences in herself and others. Fans of Blue Balliett and Elise Broach’s Shakespeare’s Secret (2005) will enjoy another puzzle to solve. (author’s note) (Mystery. 9-12)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-7636-5019-3
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Dec. 29, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2011
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