Pint-sized heroes triumph again.
Fiery as ever both of hair and temperament, young swashbuckler Claudette tackles a giant sea monster and its progeny in this third exploit.
Though supremely disgusted to discover that the Warrior Games being hosted by the town of Mont Petit Pierre feature competitions in butter churning and like nonwarlike events, Claudette nonetheless enters, enlisting best friend Marie and accomplished chef and little brother Gaston as teammates. Maddeningly, they lose time after time to the three children of the duchess of the sea kingdom while other competing teams mysteriously vanish one by one. Claudette’s mood improves dramatically when the sea folk, shedding at last their human disguises, turn into huge crablike creatures given to hoovering up human prey and, it seems, scheming to free evil wizard Grombach from the spell that had frozen him in Dragons Beware! (2015). Now, here’s a proper knightly challenge! Rosado and colorist Novak give Aguirre’s funny, dashing tale full measures of drama and gusto as, in the cinematically sequenced panels, the easy-to-follow action revs up to a glorious climactic melee. In the end the monsters are vanquished (with significant assistance from Gaston’s spell for instant Aztec chocolate mousse gelato), and in a joyful surprise, all their victims come back to life—including Claudette and Gaston’s long-lost warrior mom. With the exception of one black family friend, the principals are all white; Claudette and Gaston’s father uses a wheelchair.
Pint-sized heroes triumph again. (art notes) (Graphic fantasy. 7-12)Pub Date: March 13, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-62672-180-7
Page Count: 176
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: Dec. 5, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2018
A witty addition to the long-running series.
The Wimpy Kid hits the road.
The Heffley clan has been stuck living together in Gramma’s basement for two months, waiting for the family home to be repaired, and the constant togetherness has been getting on everybody’s nerves. Luckily Greg’s Uncle Gary has a camper waiting for someone to use it, and so the Heffleys set off on the open road looking for an adventurous vacation, hoping the changing scenery will bring a spark back to the family unit. The winding road leads the Heffleys to a sprawling RV park, a setting teeming with possibilities for Greg to get up to his usual shenanigans. Greg’s snarky asides and misadventures continue to entertain. At this point the Wimpy Kid books run like a well-oiled machine, paced perfectly with witty lines, smart gags, and charming cartoons. Kinney knows just where to put a joke, the precise moment to give a character shading, and exactly how to get the narrative rolling, spinning out the oddest plot developments. The appreciation Kinney has for these characters seeps through the novels, endearing the Heffleys to readers even through this title, the 15th installment in a franchise boasting spinoffs, movies, and merchandise. There may come a time when Greg and his family overstay their welcome, but thankfully that day still seems far off.
A witty addition to the long-running series. (Humor. 7-12)Pub Date: Oct. 27, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4197-4868-4
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Amulet/Abrams
Review Posted Online: Nov. 23, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2020
SEEN & HEARD
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
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