Affirming girl power and the importance of staying true to yourself, this story will resonate with readers who, like Katia,...
A tale about a ghost who fears other ghosts and two sisters who find more welcome in a graveyard than in school.
This two-plot graphic novel follows both the post-life adventures of Little Ghost and his nearly dead young friend, Modie, and the challenging transition Victoria and her energetic, musical, nonconformist younger sister, Katia, both white, experience as they move from home-schooling on their farm to an exclusive boarding school. When Little Ghost visits Modie, whose father, Nikola, keeps him alive by stealing the souls of live children every 13 years, the boys talk about life, death, and family. The two strands of the plot collide when Victoria, while searching the graveyard for Katia, falls into a pit that Nikola has set to catch unsuspecting children. Victoria fights back, escapes, and finds Katia, whom Nikola also subsequently captures. But he is no match for these determined sisters. Less original than Raina Telgemeier’s Ghosts (2016), this book succeeds visually in capturing the spirit of these siblings and honestly portraying both their conflicts and their unity. The children’s conversations about life and death and also the fact that two children die in the story make it a compelling springboard for these discussions with children.
Affirming girl power and the importance of staying true to yourself, this story will resonate with readers who, like Katia, build relationships on their own terms . (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 10, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-545-88955-1
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Graphix/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: July 1, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
Fans will be left hoping for more adventures about Nothing.
As war between the Volken Court and the Human Empire once again spreads across Nothing, Nathan and his ragtag team of unlikely friends continue their quest to defeat the all-consuming Stryx.
An immediate follow-up to the charged finale of Fantastic Tales of Nothing (2020), this entry finds its heroes torn apart. Having learned of the fae’s demise under the orders of the Volken Court, Haven copes with the loss of their family. Is Haven the last of the fae? While Sina attempts to let go of the past, Baldov embraces the possibility of newfound kinship. Meanwhile, Prince Naoki and his loyal guard, Ren, finally join the adventure as the young Imperial Highness assumes an active role in protecting his kingdom and its citizens, whether human or Volken. With the power of Lerina within him, Nathan dreams of Lerina’s past, and together he and the group need to uncover the knowledge required to defeat Stryx, the malevolent force currently inhabiting the body of Chancellor Aquilla, leader of the Volken Court. To unbind Stryx’s hold on Haven—and his threat over Nothing—the adventurers seek out the truth behind Lerina’s myth. Green and Rodriguez continue to refine and expand on the world of Nothing through jovial humor, fantastical bits of myth-building, and lots of heart. Stronger pacing and richer character development also lend gravitas. The colorful artwork surprises thanks to well-spaced set pieces and excellent creature design.
Fans will be left hoping for more adventures about Nothing. (map) (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: Jan. 17, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-06-283951-0
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
A fun, fantastical romp.
A legacy of magic binds two aspiring hopefuls from different worlds together.
Inspired in part by East Asian cultures, this graphic novel’s prologue reveals that a dragon draws rebuke from her family when she leaves the sea to be with her love, a fisherman. Now known as the Wu clan, their descendants earn respect from the dragons when they combine their collective magic and repel a powerful hurricane the dragons sent to destroy the kingdom. From then on, the dragons promise to always answer the call of the Wu family. In the present day, 12-year-old Sophie Wu, an aspiring witch, is determined to perfect her spells for her audition to the Royal Magic Academy. She travels to stay with her young aunt, Sage, a recent Academy graduate, and her cantankerous great-aunt in Dragon Bay Harbor Town to learn from them. However, her great-aunt’s incessant negativity about her talents—which she hopes to disprove—and her own insecurities cause Sophie to lose control of a spell. A dragon named Lir becomes stuck in human form with no memories of what came before. A diplomatic conflict ensues that threatens the peace between dragons and humans unless Sophie and Lir are able to untangle their intertwined magic. Reminiscent of Kiki’s Delivery Service, the colorful panels are filled with movement, and the manga-style art pops. Characters have skin tones ranging from light to mid-brown and hair in varying shades of brown.
A fun, fantastical romp. (author’s note) (Graphic fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: Nov. 16, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-06-295579-1
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Sept. 28, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
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