An amusing marine adventure with that speaks to the importance of friendship and self-confidence.
In this latest comics adaptation of the chapter-book series, a good-hearted monster and his friends explore the world beyond the walls of Castle Grotteskew.
Stich Head, Mad Professor Erasmus’ forgotten first creation, has come into his own, finding kinship with his maker’s 309th effort, a cyclopean, werewolflike monster, and with Arabella Guff, a brave girl who in the series’ earlier installment helped him combat Fulbert, a sinister circus master who attempted to use the castle and the professor for his own nefarious intent. Inspired by a children’s pirate tale, The Daring Diary of Dash Flashpowder, the friends construct a boat and plan an adventure on the “several seas.” In the harbor, they see Fulbert shoving the professor into a crate being loaded onto a cargo ship. Stitch Head, ever loyal despite the professor’s years of neglect, gives chase in hopes of saving his master. Following a reliable rhythm, this installment remains a sweet, silly ride as Stitch Head learns more about himself and his origins and continues to come into his own, bolstered by a supportive community. In the words of Flashpowder, “With…a trusty crew, there’s nothing a handsome, fearless, devil-may-care pirate captain cannot achieve!” Williamson’s endearingly eerie visuals brighten as the castle’s confines recede. Core characters are pale-skinned; the ship where the professor is held hostage has a diverse, rough-hewn crew.
An amusing marine adventure with that speaks to the importance of friendship and self-confidence. (Graphic paranormal. 8-12)Pub Date: July 21, 2026
ISBN: 9798217224449
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Random House Graphic
Review Posted Online: April 6, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
Superbly written and illustrated; keeps readers breathless and guessing until the end.
A 22nd-century picaresque with nefarious characters, chosen family, unavoidable camping, and lifesaving butterflies.
It’s 2101, and most mammals have died from sun exposure—a fate the few remaining humans suffer if they don’t live underground as Deepers. Some Deepers are friendly; others will take what they can get by any means necessary. Since Elvie’s parents departed for Michoacán, Mexico, 8 years earlier in search of more monarch butterflies, ran into danger, and have not returned, 10-year-old Black science whiz Elvie has been cared for by her guardian, Flora, a White scientist. Flora and Elvie hope to make a vaccine that enables humans to tolerate sunlight. They struggle to find food, and Flora’s awful cooking sometimes makes their foraged food inedible. Elvie’s journals, which contain her homework, science notes, and sketches, trace their journey—including tracking their latitude and longitude daily—as they follow the amazing migration path of the monarchs, whose young have the ingredient necessary for making both the sun sickness antidote and the vaccine. The eclecticism of Case’s lively visuals in this riveting graphic novel will keep readers both enthralled and learning. The book teaches some astronomy, botany, biology, entomology, animal science, knot tying, and more. Elvie’s special relationship with Flora, along with her quick wit, scientific knowledge, and careful observation skills, makes her a character worth following. Yet she’s all kid—and one who badly wants to be reunited with her parents.
Superbly written and illustrated; keeps readers breathless and guessing until the end. (author's note) (Graphic fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: April 5, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-8234-4260-7
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Margaret Ferguson/Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Jan. 25, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2022
PERSPECTIVES
An apocalyptic adventure with a whole lot of heart.
Thirteen-year-old Jack Sullivan and his crew of monster-fighting besties are fresh off their victorious battle against the evil Blarg, but there’s no rest for the weary in the middle of a Monster Apocalypse.
First, Joe’s Pizza has become the local monster hangout. And second, the zombies seem to be disappearing. Thankfully, the white boy, his not-so-secret Latina love, June Del Toro, his African-American, science-nerd best friend, Quint, and pre-apocalypse bully–turned-ally Dirk, a large white boy who loves to garden, befriend a man-monster who might have the answers to everything. Equal parts humor, adventure, and warmth, the book offers fans of the series and new readers alike an entirely agreeable outing. Jack’s witty narration and Holgate’s pitch-perfect illustrations make for a terrific read that’s particularly well suited for middle-grade boys who might otherwise be reluctant to pick up a book. There are plenty of foul-smelling, brain-sucking monsters and gizmos and gadgets to delight, but at its core, this is a story about friendship. Orphaned at birth and raised by a foster family he describes as jerks, Jack has always longed for a family of his own. Now that he has one, the only thing scarier than the monsters is the thought of losing them.
An apocalyptic adventure with a whole lot of heart. (Horror. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-670-01662-4
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: July 1, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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