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
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
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
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