Next book

W.I.T.C.H.

THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP: BOOK #1

Five average junior-high girls discover their magical powers in this European pop-culture phenomenon. Will, Irma, Taranee,...

[The author is listed as “tk” on Amazon, for all W.I.T.C.H. books. Filemaker won’t accept a blank author field. What to do?]

Five average junior-high girls discover their magical powers in this European pop-culture phenomenon. Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia and Hay Lin (the series title comes from their initials) are an ethnically diverse group of friends who share a big secret: They can transform into more physically mature (and trendily costumed) winged forms and summon the powers of the elements to close the “portals” which permit the monstrous inhabitants of Metamoor to threaten the idyllic Fortress of Candracar. While the two stories gathered here feature some demon fighting, the girls more often use their powers to attract the notice of cute boys, get out of chores and pass pop quizzes. Their indistinguishable personalities exhibit the generic shallow pluckiness that passes for “girl power.” While the clunky script appears to have been crafted by a marketing department, the art is slickly professional, with candy shop–pretty colors and a pronounced manga influence. Indeed, there is nothing here that hasn’t already been done more creatively by shoujo manga creators like CLAMP and Takeuchi, but this might serve as a painless introduction to the genre to those put off by black-and-white illustrations and foreign cultural references. Considering the title’s enormous success overseas, and the popularity of the American cartoon adaptation, expect heavy demand. (Graphic novel. 8-12)

Pub Date: May 1, 2005

ISBN: 0-7868-3674-1

Page Count: 128

Publisher: Volo/Hyperion

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2005

Next book

GHOSTS

Telgemeier’s bold colors, superior visual storytelling, and unusual subject matter will keep readers emotionally engaged and...

Catrina narrates the story of her mixed-race (Latino/white) family’s move from Southern California to Bahía de la Luna on the Northern California coast.

Dad has a new job, but it’s little sister Maya’s lungs that motivate the move: she has had cystic fibrosis since birth—a degenerative breathing condition. Despite her health, Maya loves adventure, even if her lungs suffer for it and even when Cat must follow to keep her safe. When Carlos, a tall, brown, and handsome teen Ghost Tour guide introduces the sisters to the Bahía ghosts—most of whom were Spanish-speaking Mexicans when alive—they fascinate Maya and she them, but the terrified Cat wants only to get herself and Maya back to safety. When the ghost adventure leads to Maya’s hospitalization, Cat blames both herself and Carlos, which makes seeing him at school difficult. As Cat awakens to the meaning of Halloween and Day of the Dead in this strange new home, she comes to understand the importance of the ghosts both to herself and to Maya. Telgemeier neatly balances enough issues that a lesser artist would split them into separate stories and delivers as much delight textually as visually. The backmatter includes snippets from Telgemeier’s sketchbook and a photo of her in Día makeup.

Telgemeier’s bold colors, superior visual storytelling, and unusual subject matter will keep readers emotionally engaged and unable to put down this compelling tale. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)

Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-545-54061-2

Page Count: 256

Publisher: Scholastic

Review Posted Online: July 1, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2016

Next book

THE MYSTERY OF THE MOON TOWER

From the Pathfinders Society series , Vol. 1

Like the pathfinders, readers will be crying, “Plus Ultra!” and hoping for the next adventure.

Five intrepid, young pathfinders explore the environmentally volatile Windrose Valley in search of a fabled treasure.

Deep in Windrose Valley awaits an adventurous summer at Camp Pathfinder, founded by a renowned, eccentric pioneer named Henry Merriweather. Merriweather’s fixation on finding the legendary Windrose treasure serves as a grand catalyst for the campers’ quest. The eclectic group of campers—newcomer Kyle, history buff Beth, zany magician-in-training Harry, cheerleader/math queen Vic, and tinkerer Nate—sets off, running all over town to find Merriweather’s baroque tile markers. Eventually, their efforts lead them to the Merriweather Estate, where the campers slowly uncover the mystery behind the Moon Tower catastrophe. Shortly after the bizarre incident, Merriweather disappeared, and the town’s fortunes failed. As the adolescent pathfinders near the trail toward the Moon Tower and inch ever closer to the treasure, they learn more about the mythical Merriweather and his infamous obsession. Sedita, Seraydarian, and Hamaker’s series debut zips along nicely, mixing cryptic teases with affable characters. Though the quieter moments rarely make much of an impact, the authors’ exposition-heavy worldbuilding incites enthusiasm for the campers’ endeavor. The hints of magic in the snappy illustrations add another layer of allure. Featuring flashes of time slips and a racially diverse cast, this graphic novel hits all the right spots for the inevitable sequel.

Like the pathfinders, readers will be crying, “Plus Ultra!” and hoping for the next adventure. (Fantasy. 8-12)

Pub Date: April 21, 2020

ISBN: 978-0-425-29186-3

Page Count: 176

Publisher: Viking

Review Posted Online: Jan. 20, 2020

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2020

Close Quickview