AMI MOON AND THE GALACTIC PEACEKEEPERS

In Lee’s debut, a trilogy opener, a human girl lost in space becomes a peacekeeper in an alien galaxy.

Ami Moon is the only human in Andromeda, a galaxy with billions of planets and stars and an unknown number of moons. She doesn’t know what galaxy humans come from or how to get to Earth, so she joins the Galactic Peacekeepers Society. She and her alien teammates—Sumo, a large, puffy rabbit, and Rosa, a small shark—go on peacekeeping missions with their AI system, which they call M.O.M. Together, they attend a birthday party on a planet made of paraffin, escort Saturn to see shooting stars, and face a terrifying, spiderlike creature. Some of their missions aren’t action-packed, but they often lead to unexpected moments that evoke strong emotional reactions, such as crying and angry outbursts. The team traverses the galaxy, helping others and maintaining peace, while learning to work through big feelings and support each other. This full-color graphic novel is funny and entertaining but includes moments of seriousness that will resonate with readers. Ami’s “thought records,” journal entries depicted in a handwritten font, are overlaid onto scenes of missions and daily life, which can make the story a bit tricky to follow in places. Bright colors and a variety of illustration styles enhance the worldbuilding. Ami, who presents Asian, has black hair and eyes, light skin, and rosy cheeks.

A vibrant, quirky, out-of-this-world journey.