Book Review: The Witching Hour (Secrets of Camp Whatever) by Chris Grine

The Witching Hour is the third (and final) graphic novel in the Secrets of Camp Whatever trilogy by Chris Grine. I would definitely recommend reading this series in order.

After former camp leader Clarence P'sketty Tooter is freed from a hypnosis spell, he remembers everything, including that pesky pre-teen Willow and her scrappy friends. But most importantly, he remembers the ancient mystery surrounding Nowhere's sleep-away camp. Now, Tooter seeks revenge against Willow and her friends, and inadvertently awakens a long-dormant evil which seeks to destroy the world.

The Witching Hour is a solid conclusion to this trilogy and wraps everything up nicely. There is a lot more going on in this volume than the blurb mentions, but I would hate to spoil anything for fans of this series so I will not go into detail. I do think that there was less character growth in this installment, and I wanted a little bit more from our crew of teens reconnecting and figuring things out, although admittedly with everything else happening in the story there was not really time built in for that. I love that the art was consistent, and that there were some really fun twists and turns. I also liked the inclusion and introduction of a variety of creature. I think that this is a must read for those that have read the two previous books, but it was not as attention grabbing or keeping as the previous installments for me. 

Book Review: Otherworldly Izakaya Nobu (Volume 1) by Natsuya Semikawa, Virginia Nitouhei

Otherworldly Izakaya Nobu (Volume 1) is a manga style graphic novel written by Natsuya Semikawa, with art by Virginia Nitouhei. A Japanese style pub called “Nobu” exists in a back alley of the fictional medieval European city of Eiteriach. Its customers? A pair of slacker soldiers, a spoiled heiress, an uptight tax collector, and more. When the citizens of this strange world sit down to enjoy some unfamiliar Japanese cuisine, their troubles simply melt away. The curtain rises on this otherworldly eatery and the gourmet fantasy about to unfold within!

Otherworldly Izakaya Nobu is a well drawn and fun read. It is light hearted and quick to read. There was a good variety of characters, and I liked the undercurrent of mystery. Just where did this shop come from, and how do they get their ingredients? There is good character description and development for the each member of the rotating cast. We get deep insights into a cast of very different characters, more than you might expect in such short chapters.  I look forward to more from this series, because I want to know more about the pub, its two person staff, and its regular patrons. 

Early Book Review: The Moth Keeper by K. O'Neill

The Moth Keeper by K. O'Neill is a graphic novel currently scheduled for release on March 7 2023. Being a Moth Keeper is a huge responsibility and a great honor, but what happens when the new Moth Keeper decides to take a break from the moon and see the sun for the first time? From the author of the beloved Tea Dragon Society comes a must-read for fans of the rich fantasies of Hayao Miyazaki and the magical adventures of Witch Hat Atelier. Anya is finally a Moth Keeper, the protector of the lunar moths that allow the Night-Lily flower to bloom once a year. Her village needs the flower to continue thriving and Anya is excited to prove her worth and show her thanks to her friends with her actions, but what happens when being a Moth Keeper isn’t exactly what Anya thought it would be? Night after night, it is lonely in the desert, with only one lantern for light. Still, Anya is eager to prove her worth, to show her thanks to her friends and her village. But is it worth the cost? And yet something isn’t right. When Anya glimpses the one thing that could destroy what she’s meant to protect, her village and the lunar moths are left to deal with the consequences.

The Moth Keeper is a coming of age graphic novel for middle grade and older readers. First off, I loved the artwork and thought it did a wonderful job of capturing the emotion and details of the story. I thought the book shared a wonderful story of self exploration, community, and friendship as well as how we sometimes put more expectations and duty on ourselves than others would. I liked the world building and that we got to see pieces from a variety of lives in the story- although I would have liked more of everything since I enjoyed it all so much.  I will admit that there were a couple pages that I had to look at more than once to get exactly what was happening from, and I did still have some questions about Anya's past and the other characters when I finished the book. I will honestly be thinking about these characters and the book for awhile now that I have finished it, which is unusual for me. I think many other readers will experience the same.  I think the story will speak to a wide range of readers.

The Moth Keeper is an engaging graphic novel that I think will become a favorite for many. 

Book Review: The Abandoned Reincarnation Sage, Volume 1, by Miraijin A and Kurikaramaru

The Abandoned Reincarnation Sage, Volume 1, written by Miraijin A and drawn by Kurikaramaru is a manga style graphic novel. Belamus was once a great sage with the power of reincarnation...but as all lives must pass, so did his. He reincarnated with his memories, but was suddenly abandoned as a newborn child! Luckily for him, he was adopted by the nearby goblin tribe, but this moment of kindness may mean more for both the Goblins and Belamus than either of them know!

The Abandoned Reincarnation Sage is a charming and well drawn story. I enjoyed the world and character building and thought everything moved at a good pace. I have read a few other reincarnation manga, and I thought that this did a good job with the trope. I liked the village and the collection of characters in it. The growing understanding in Belamus of the similarities of all intelligent creatures is pretty subtle, but the point bis likely to be more obvious as the story continues in future volumes. It was a fun and interesting read, which I enjoyed. I feel like there are many options as to where the story can go next and am interested to see which paths the plot takes us.

Book Review: Girl on Fire (School for Extraterrestrial Girls) by Jeremy Whitley

 Girl on Fire is the first volume of the School for Extraterrestrial Girls graphic novel series by Jeremy Whitley. Tara Smith’s parents are super strict with all their rules and routines, and Tara is a dutiful daughter. Rule #1: No friends her own age. Rule #2: keep her bracelet on, or else. But when she breaks her routine and then loses her bracelet she is in trouble. Outed as an extraterrestrial after wielding fire and losing her humanoid form, Tara is captured by the government. She’s given two options: get shipped far away where she won’t be a danger to anyone or stay on Earth and join a school for other extraterrestrial girls like her. Things at the school aren’t easy, especially for the girl whose only friends were textbooks. But Tara’s goal to learn how to control her powers is soon sidelined by the discovery that the people she’s called Mom and Dad all these years aren’t her parents. With her not-parents still out there, Tara must rely on others for the first time to figure out who she really is before she’s kidnapped a second time.

Girl on Fire is a teen, high school drama with flair. Tara discovers that her childhood has been a lie and everything she thought she knew about herself, her parents, and the world is not true. She has to adjust to that, on top of being a lizard like alien that creates fire. That is a lot to deal with, not add in boarding school with other aliens and trying to make friends while being anxious, awkward, and still not comfortable with herself. I found myself worried for her, relating to her, and cringing as she reacted in ways I cannot promise I would not mirror in her circumstances. The artwork does a good job of capturing the emotion and wonder of Tara facing all these changes. The different aliens, the facial expressions, and the action were very well portrayed and added a great deal to the whole. Despite the strangeness of the setting, the feelings, friendships, and fears of the individuals in the school were relatable and I think the book will speak to a wide range of readers on different levels. I enjoyed the read, and look forward to seeing what happens next. 

Girl on Fire is a wonderful graphic novel for middle school through adult readers. I think there is a little something for everyone here and I am eager to see where the next volume of the story takes us. 

Book Review: Midnight Reynolds and the Spectral Transformer by Catherine Holt

Midnight Reynolds and the Spectral Transformer by Catherine Holt is the first book in a new middle grade series. When twelve year-old misfit Midnight Reynolds takes a job helping out eccentric Miss Appleby in the mansion down the street, she never imagined her work would involve battling ghosts. But as it turns out, Midnight and her new employer have quite a bit in common—they were both born on Halloween and have the power to see spirits of the dead. But when Midnight learns more about the history of her town, she starts to wonder if she’s fighting on the right side.

Midnight Reynolds and the Spectral Transformer is a wonderful middle grade novel. I will admit that it started a little slow for me, but once I got a good understanding of the characters, and Midnight's insecurities, I was fully engaged in the read. Midnight is tired of feeling different and wants to fit in more than just about anything. Unfortunately the popular girls that she wants to fit in are far from perfect. In her strides to appear cool she needs money, which leads her to working for Miss Appleby and embarking on a new adventure. I like Midnight's determination, even though she is not always working toward the best or healthiest goal. I really enjoyed Midnight's journey and how much she grew as a friend, daughter, and person in general. She found her place, her special skill set, and her bravery and learned how to use all of them for good. There were moments that had me cringinging, mainly because the middle school drama was right on point with what I remember, and what I worry about in the future for my kids. I really enjoyed the read and am disappointed in myself for letting it languish in my TBR pile for as long as I did. I have already gotten my hands on the sequel, and plan to get to that one much quicker.

Midnight Reynolds and the Spectral Transformer is a highly entertaining and relatable adventure. While readers might not have the ability to see ghostly energy, but at some point we have all felt like an outside or have been in search for our own special niche or place. 

Book Review: The Bone Thief by Alyson Noel

The Bone Thief by Alyson Noel is a middle grade fantasy novel. Compared to other more ordinary towns, Quiver Hollows is a very strange, very curious place. It is also home to longtime friends Grimsly, Ollie, Ming, and Penelope. In a town where everyone is spectacularly abnormal, Grimsly feels bad about being terribly, unforgivably normal, as the town's pet funeral director. So when a series of strange and disturbing mundane occurrences begins plaguing Quiver Hollows, well, Grimsly fears his growing celebrity just might be to blame since everyone knows that the things you focus on the most have an uncanny way of shaping your world. The group of friends also learn that the bones in the pet cemetery are thought to be the source of the strange magic that binds the town of Quiver Hollows. With the bones now gone, the town's magic is quickly dissipating. Will it ultimately become as common and ordinary as everywhere else? 

The Bone Thief is a solid adventure with plenty of character growth and magic. Grimsly has wanted nothing more than to be magical like his friends, but he has his own role to play. I like that Grimsly thought his pet funerals were nothing unusual when compared to magical abilities, feathers, or scales. I also like that even when he was facing danger he was scared and faced his fears rather than just ignoring the danger at hand. Too often in fantasy the hero just ignores the danger and jumps in, thinking they will deal with the consequences later. Grimsly thinks things through and weighs options and how he can do the best for the greater good. I did wish I had more information or growth with the secondary characters, both in Quiver Hollows and when Grimsly is facing danger in the outside world. I enjoyed the world building and the story as a whole, but it just never grabbed me so much that I had trouble putting down the book. Maybe I just was not in the mood for fantasy when I finally picked it up, it had been sitting in my Netgalley queue for far too long. It was still a solid, enjoyable read.

The Bone Thief is an engaging middle grade coming of age novel with plenty of magic and character growth. I can think of many elementary and middle school students that will love this read. 

Early Book Review: The City on the Other Side by Mairghread Scott, Robin Robinson

The City on the Other Side by Mairghread Scott and Robin Robinson is a fantasy graphic novel currently scheduled for release on April 24 2018. In this story a young girl stumbles into a pitched war between two fairy kingdoms, and the fate of San Francisco itself hangs in the balance! Sheltered within her high-society world, Isabel plays the part of a perfectly proper little girl. She is quiet, well-behaved, and she keeps her dresses spotlessly clean. She’s certainly not the kind of girl who goes on adventures. But that all changes when Isabel breaches an invisible barrier and steps into another world. She discovers a city not unlike her own, but magical and dangerous. Here, war rages between the fairies of the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. Only Isabel, with the help of a magical necklace and a few new friends, stands a chance of ending the war before it destroys the fairy world, and her own.

The City on the Other Side is a coming of age or quest adventure with a fae twist. I like that Isabel is a quiet girl that wants more right from the start, and while she grows and gains confidence she keeps the same core of goodness. She faces the trails of feeling neglected by her parents, and lost in the shuffle. I like how she is kind despite the way she feels, and how she is willing to step up and help, even when she is clearly in over her head. I think the secondary characters and conflict of the fae war is well done, and while it carries shades of what i thought I knew about the fairy world, it was approached in a fresh, new way. The young orphan-ish hero is also a tried and true story, but her challenges were well written and drawn, making the story feel fresh rather than stale- which happens often. I liked while I was often wondering who might betray our main players, and how the story would come together in the end. I liked the art work, but it was a little sharper than I normally like. The humans had a much rounder feel than the fae, which made the differences more pronounced. Since I was looking at a digital galley, I fully expect that it looks even better in the physical copy. 

The City on the Other Side is a well done graphic novel that will appeal to middle grade readers, young adult readers, and adults. I enjoyed the read, and think many readers of all ages will enjoy it as well.

Early Book Review: Scarlett Hart: Monster Hunter by Marcus Sedgwick, Thomas Taylor

Scarlett Hart: Monster Hunter by Marcus Sedgwick and Thomas Taylor is a graphic novel for middle grade readers which is currently scheduled for release on April 3 2018. Scarlett Hart, orphaned daughter of two legendary monster hunters, is determined to carry on in her parents’ footsteps—even if the Royal Academy for the Pursuit and Eradication of Zoological Eccentricities says she’s too young to fight perilous horrors. But whether it's creepy mummies or a horrid hound, Scarlett won’t back down, and with the help of her loyal butler and a lot of monster-mashing gadgets, she’s on the case. With her parent’s arch-rival, Count Stankovic, ratting her out to T.R.A.P.E.Z.E. and taking all the monster-catching rewards for himself, it’s getting hard for Scarlett to do what she was born to do. And when more monsters start mysteriously manifesting than ever before, Scarlett knows she has to get to the bottom of it and save the city whatever the danger!

Scarlett Hart: Monster Hunter had great potential, but I feel like it missed its mark. I was completely unimpressed by the art, but since i had a digital arc I am willing to give it a pass for the most part, because this sort of file never looks as good as the real thing. However, even with the allowances I give for galleys, I found the art to be a little lazy and sadly this carried through the character development. I found Scarlett to be very one dimensional and unlikable, and the big bad to be even less developed. The adventure part was okay, but I thought the character work was poor enough that I really could not care about what happened to anyone. The poor butler that does the majority of the work is not even given a name. I had so much hope for this, and really wanted to like it. Unfortunately I was not given the Buffy-eske heroine I wanted, rather I got a girl that more resembled her winy, incompetent sister. 

Scarlett Hart: Monster Hunter is not all I had hoped, but I can still see a market for it. 

Book Review: Dream of the Butterfly: Rabbits on the Moon by Richard Marazano

Dream of the Butterfly: Rabbits on the Moon by Richard Marazano is a graphic novel for middle grade and older readers. Blown from her home by a great blizzard, Tutu finds herself in a strange village of talking animals, where winter is eternal and the rabbits of the secret police find her guilty of one of the worst crimes imaginable-being a little girl! The Emperor of this strange town holds the key to her redemption, but it will come at a price. This is a  story based on a Chinese parable by Chuang Tzu (“The Dream of the Butterfly”) with a bit of an Alice through the Looking Glass feel.

Dream of the Butterfly: Rabbits on the Moon is a story that caught my attention. I love the art style, it was a perfect presentation of the story and reminded me of some of my favorite manga and anime.  I found myself engaged with the well being of Tutu as she struggles in the new world she has found herself in. I love that she voices many of the things I, as the reader, said to myself- even if it seems to get her into more trouble than it is worth. I will admit that there were a few occasions that I was a little lost or confused, like I missed a page- but after checking I had not. However, since Tutu is lost and confused- stuck in what might be a dream land or something equally full of fantasy and weirdness- that might have been by design. I liked the layers of personality in the different characters, and that no one was fully who they seemed. The spies are not all bad, the rebels are not necessarily all good. There are still so many questions, and few answers. I also like knowing that the story has some basis in folklore, even if it is not a story I know- yet. My biggest complaint is that it is not a complete story- it is the first part of what seems to be a series. It left me with only questions- and no feeling of resolution or contentment. That drives me absolutely crazy, I want some resolution when I finish a book and I was denied that here. I would have given the graphic novel more stars if only I had some resolution rather than more questions at the end of the book. 

Dream of the Butterfly: Rabbits on the Moon is an interesting start to a story, and one that I might just follow up to see how it all plays out. 

Book Review: The Wizard's Dog by Eric Kahn Gale

The Wizard's Dog by Eric Kahn Gale is a children's fantasy that gives a fresh twist to Arthurian legends. Nosewise is spunky, curious, and just so happens to be a dog.  He cannot understand why his pack mates Merlin and Morgana spend all day practicing magic tricks. If it’s a trick they want, he’s the dog to ask! He can already Sit!, Stay!, and Roll Over! But there’s no way Nosewise is Stay!ing when his master and best friend, Merlin, is kidnapped. There’s nothing Nosewise won’t do to get Merlin back, even if it means facing the strange Fae people and their magic-eating worms, or tangling with the mysterious Sword in the Stone. But it may take more than sniffing out a spell to do it! Nosewise’s hilarious escapades and steadfast loyalty get him and his companions through King Arthur’s Dark Ages.

The Wizard's Dog is a grand magical adventure featuring some of my favorite classic characters, all from a dog's point of view. I loved Nosewise's character, and the illustrations and cover image of him just made him even more endearing. The danger, deception, and magic are well written, and engaging without being so dire that more sensitive readers will be turned off the book. I think the character development of Morgana and Arthur was very well done. The only thing that could have made it better was more depth for Merlin, but since he is such a iconic character I can let that go.

I have always been a fan of Arthurian legends, and The Wizard's Dog gives my favorite story a fun new twist. I absolutely loved the canine point of view and will be adding this to my school library's collect as soon as possible. I only wish I had opened this digital galley and read it much earlier! I hope to find the time to go back and read the author's other two books to see if they entertain me as much.

Book Review: Tricked (Fairy Tale Reform School) by Jen Calonita

Tricked is the third book in the Fairy Tale Reform School series by Jen Calonita. The Previous books are Flunked and Charmed. To get a full understanding of the characters and the world, I would highly recommend reading this series in order. Newcomers might still enjoy some of the character development and all of the action, but I think they would not be able to enjoy the story fully without already having read the other books.

Things are changing at Fairy Tale Reform School. At least, that's what Gilly's heard through the Enchantasia rumor mill. Word is, notorious trickster Rumpelstiltskin has taken over management from Headmistress Flora, and he's locked down the school tighter than the Pied Piper's pants. Not that this news concerns Gilly. She's been released from FTRS and is now suffering through attending Jack of All Trades School, where she gets to learn about different kinds of shoe leather and ways to measure feet. Truly riveting stuff. But when Gilly's little sister Anna gets whisked off to FTRS thanks to her trouble-making new friends, Hansel and Gretel, Gilly knows she's got to get Anna out of there. There's only one thing to do; make some serious trouble and get thrown back into FTRS. It's time to out-trick a trickster. 

Tricked is a continuation of Gilly's adventures in a fairy tale world. Life after FTRS is hard for those that have found friendship and themselves on school grounds. Things are changing fast, and not necessarily for the better. I like that while some of the basics remain the same, the adventures, characters, and relationships continue to change and grow. Gilly and her motley crew of friends have quite the challenge, outwitting Rumpelstiltskin is never easy, but I like that friendship and being honorable come through as more important than winning. Gilly grows significantly during this book, and I think her growth, and that of her companions, is well paced and relatable to readers. I would have liked more of the story from Anna's side, or had a chance to see more of her story, but I am fairly certain that she has a major role to play in further installments. I like that there was a solid conclusion to this particular adventure, but openings fort he story to continue on. 

Tricked is another fun and enjoyable read from Calonita. Fans of the author, and the series, will greatly enjoy the read.  This series is holding stead in quality, and I think it still has plenty of life in it for further books, and I look forward to seeing what will happen next.

Book Review: The Baker Street Peculiars by Roger Langridge, Andy Hirsh

The Baker Street Peculiars is a children's graphic novel written by Roger Langridge and illustrated by Andy Hirsh. It puts a supernatural twist on the world of Sherlock Holmes. When a giant lion statue in Trafalgar Square comes to life and wreaks havoc on 1930's London, it seems like the perfect case for the world’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes. With an overwhelmed caseload, however, Holmes recruits the help of three precocious young detectives-in-training (and one cunning golden retriever) to solve the mystery. Molly, Rajani, Humphrey, and Wellington (the dog) will have to work together and use all their wits if they are to uncover the truth behind the living statues and save London. But on the legendary Baker Street, nothing is as it seems and their biggest mystery might be the real identity of the famous detective who brought them together.

The Baker Street Peculiars is a interesting new take on Sherlock Holmes. The art work reminded me a first of the Asterix books, but seeing that Hirsh has done the art for Adventure Time and Regular Show the familiar feel of the work made much more sense to me. The story flips quite a bit of the Sherlock cannon, although some of it I will admit to expecting much quicker than I would have liked. I liked the inclusion of folklore, and the interplay between the main characters. I was glad to see some role reversal, and the fact that while adults do not play a big role in the story- the ones that do are as varied as real adults. They are not all bumbling fools or people eager to punish children. Rather, some are caring and overprotective, while others are vindictive or  oblivious to the odd things going on around them. I liked the take on Sherlock and that the mystery took a supernatural nature, but my favorite part was the odd trio of children that become our main characters. I like that none are quite what you expect in a hero or detective, but they come together as a solid team.

The Baker Street Peculiars is a fun twist on the classic Sherlock Holmes cannon. The graphic novel is a well told and drawn story with a nice mix of characters. While it did not wow me, I liked the story and can think of many middle grade readers that will adore it.