A shiveringly good tale for ghost-story enthusiasts who like happy endings.
Two siblings experience spooky consequences after taking a strange pumpkin home from the woods in this text-light, Halloween-themed graphic novel for middle-grade readers.
A young girl is playing Poohsticks on a bridge when her older sibling and their friend steal her teddy bear out of her backpack. She chases the pair into the nearby woods, where they encounter an odd trio of scarecrows. The sibling then discovers a pumpkin that shakes, is covered in goo, and is warm to the touch. The friend leaves, deciding that the situation’s too weird, but the siblings decide to take the pumpkin home. Teddy bear forgotten, the two siblings lug the pumpkin back to their house and find a warm spot for it atop the clothes dryer. Halloween is the next day, and at midnight, something magical happens in the woods; one of the scarecrows comes alive, realizes that the pumpkin is missing, sees the teddy bear, and tracks the children to their home. Illustrator Meaghan Tosi amps up the scares in this section; although the scarecrow won’t be too creepy for middle graders, the images of its angry eyes and clenched fists ratchet up the tension as its inevitable meeting with the children approaches. The result, however, is unexpected, with a sweet plot twist that’s reminiscent of other monster-subverting tales, such as Jorge Aguirre and Rafael Rosado’s Giants Beware (2012). The illustrator uses a subdued color palette to effectively communicate the different seasons (and, later, the spooky Halloween night). The story was originally the basis of a film written by author Thomas Tosi, and it translates beautifully to paneled storytelling; the illustrations capture the pacing perfectly, creating consistent suspense. The limited text requires readers to follow the art to understand the story, but Meaghan's clear, straightforward panel work flows cleanly across the pages. The simple vocabulary and brief dialogue exchanges make it accessible in a way that denser comics aren’t, making it a good selection for reluctant readers who like eerie adventures.
A shiveringly good tale for ghost-story enthusiasts who like happy endings.Pub Date: Sept. 20, 2022
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 78
Publisher: Dooney Press
Review Posted Online: July 12, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
At once a silly, sweet escapade and a dramatic tale of self-discovery in one’s own powers.
A boy inexplicably sprouts a unicorn horn and performs fantastic feats for the sake of friendship.
Brian Reyes initially tries to ignore the horn and the taunts of "Unicorn Boy." But he ponders the protrusion’s potential when a muffin starts talking to him and he realizes he can soar through the air; he also instantly grows a pink-purple mane. His abilities are brought to bear when his best friend, Avery Henson, is sucked into a backyard vortex. Avery has always been shy Brian’s protector, but now Brian must summon his courage and rescue his friend. He bravely follows, his self-confidence growing as he descends ever deeper into an underworld occupied by mythical characters and talking cats. Will Unicorn Boy be able to face off against the cruel, controlling Skull-King? This promising series starter benefits from Roman’s cartooning talents. His streamlined, bold, and bright artwork immerses readers in Brian’s world. The story zigzags between characters and mini-challenges, providing thrills even as Brian’s quest and Avery’s fate seem dire. Gentle throughlines emphasize the value of devoted friendship and the joy of understanding oneself through storytelling; Unicorn Boy’s legend is literally written in a magical book he carries as he delves deeper into his own story. Brian is olive-skinned and cued Latine; Avery presents white and is genderfluid.
At once a silly, sweet escapade and a dramatic tale of self-discovery in one’s own powers. (Graphic fantasy. 8-13)Pub Date: March 12, 2024
ISBN: 9781250830265
Page Count: 208
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: Dec. 16, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2024
Imaginative, feel-good fun.
More magical al fresco adventures abound!
In this full-color follow-up to Aster and the Accidental Magic (2020), Aster and her talking dog, Buzz, return in two new tales. In the first, “Why So Much Wool?” strange accidents repeatedly occur around Aster’s village, and upon investigation, she and Buzz discover a rogue band of muttonheaded sheep (known as the BAAAAAH-ligerent Army) led by a talking ram named Keras, who has proclaimed himself the Great Leader of the Sheep Revolution. Lucky for Aster, the dimwitted sheep are easily outsmarted, but not Keras, whom she must stop before he destroys her home. The second tale, “The End of Everything (and What Was Left),” focuses more on the natural magic from the previous volume. Each season has a royal who helps preserve the balance, passing along a crown to mark the transitions between their reigns. When the crown disappears, Aster ventures to the Labyrinth of Chimeras in an attempt to reforge it and restore the balance before the trickster Rapscallion can escape. This second outing pulls readers into a delightfully wrought world with a strong emphasis on nature and the outdoors and the real and imaginary magic contained therein. Joyous, effervescent illustrations mark this French import. For Aster aficionados, further journeys are hinted at in a subsequent volume in which Aster and her family travel to Japan. Aster and most human characters read as White.
Imaginative, feel-good fun. (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: March 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-12534-2
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Random House Graphic
Review Posted Online: Dec. 14, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2021
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