Book Review - The Inscrutable Doctor Baer and the Case of the Two-Faced Statue

About the Book
In The Inscrutable Doctor Baer and the Case of the Two-Faced Statue the Inscrutable Dr. Baer is at your service!

While he's much too busy to embark on any adventures himself, Dr. Baer is here to help with yours. Are you burdened with an unwanted magical object? Gorgon's head? Monkey's paw? Flaming sword?! Sell it to Dr. Baer; he'll tame its spirit, carefully catalog its origin, and keep it safe and orderly within the walls of the spookiest house you're ever likely to find.

But when novice explorers Taft the Tortoise and Pickles the Pig accidentally enable the theft of Baer's most powerful artifact by the nefarious sorcerer Gallus Lugubrious, the good doctor is forced out of his house to reclaim it. The only problem is, for everything he knows about magic, he knows nothing about adventuring, and he'll have to figure this one out as he goes, far from the comforting safety of home.

In over his head, along with his equally inexperienced new allies, Dr. Baer sets out on a dangerous quest through a world of monsters and magic to set things right . . . and to find his next chapter.


My Take on the Book
I can’t stop smiling when I think about The Inscrutable Doctor Baer and the Case of the Two-Faced Statue. From the moment I opened the book, I was pulled into a world full of quirky characters, magical chaos, and an adventure that felt both timeless and fresh.

Dr. Baer, a fastidious caretaker of magical artifacts, is hilariously out of his depth when forced to leave his comfort zone to retrieve a stolen relic. I loved watching him bumble his way through a quest with the help of Taft the Tortoise and Pickles the Pig. Speaking of Pickles—what an absolute delight! Her unshakeable optimism and her “Hug Magic” moment completely won me over. She’s the kind of character you want as a best friend—full of energy and heart without ever feeling over the top.

The story had me laughing, gasping, and even reflecting. There’s a surprising depth to it, especially in how it explores the ethics of collecting magical (and cultural) artifacts. It made me think about how history is shaped by those who control these objects and how important it is to respect their origins. It’s not heavy-handed, but it’s there if you’re paying attention, which I really appreciated.

The illustrations are stunning. I found myself pausing to soak in the details of every page—there’s so much life in the art that it felt like I was watching an animated show instead of reading. The twist at the climax caught me off guard in the best way, keeping the story from feeling predictable.

By the end, I didn’t want to leave this world. The adventure is self-contained, but I really hope we get more stories with Dr. Baer and his crew. This is a book I’d recommend to anyone who loves whimsical tales with heart, humor, and a bit of magic.

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Book Review - The Firelight Apprentice

About the Book

In The Firelight Apprentice, the bestselling author-illustrator of Garlic and the Vampire, Bree Paulsen, brings her fantastical storytelling and warm, sparkling artwork to this story that celebrates the bond between sisters.

In a city powered by magic and still recovering from a bloody war, Ada is concerned about her younger sister Safi’s developing powers. She understands that Safi could learn how to control her magic under the apprenticeship of a king's magician. But with the memories of war still fresh, Ada is conflicted by this prospect—despite her knowing that she can’t keep Safi safely at home with the threat of deadly, power-thieving liches prowling the kingdom. 

When a traveling group of magicians comes to the city to perform, they immediately recognize Safi’s talents and offer to take her on as an apprentice. Safi is thrilled about her new adventure—even if that means leaving behind Ada and their sickly father. And Ada is right to worry about her sister, for there may be monsters hiding behind friendly faces…

About the Author

Bree Paulsen is a SoCal writer and illustrator who loves spooky monsters, fashion history, and all things autumnal. After graduating from the Laguna College of Art and Design with a BFA in animation, she freelanced on a few independent animation and illustration projects before tuning her focus toward comics. She started her webcomic, Patrik the Vampire, in 2013 and self-publishes its printed volumes. Her first middle grade graphic novel, Garlic and the Vampire, received a starred review from The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, which called it “folkloric…a down comforter of a graphic novel.” Garlic’s adventures continue in Garlic and the Witch. 

My Take on the Book

Bree Paulsen’s Ada and Safi is a captivating fantasy graphic novel that beautifully explores sibling bonds, resilience, and the power of magic. Set in a steampunk-inspired city still healing from a recent war, the story follows two sisters, Ada and Safi. Ada, protective of her younger sister, is torn between wanting to keep Safi safe at home and recognizing her sister’s growing magical potential, especially as mysterious, dangerous liches roam the kingdom.

When a traveling troupe of magicians arrives, Safi’s talents are recognized, and she’s offered the chance to become an apprentice. Thrilled at the prospect of adventure, Safi is ready to leave, but Ada remains wary, suspecting danger lurks behind friendly faces. Paulsen’s warm illustrations and vibrant colors add depth and magic to the sisters’ journey, enhancing the book’s cozy yet suspenseful atmosphere.

Perfect for middle-grade readers and fans of rich, magical worlds, this story balances high-stakes adventure with heartfelt moments, making it a standout addition to any young fantasy lover’s collection.

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Book Review - Miles Morales Untangles a Web

About the Book
Miles Morales is on the case in this original Marvel chapter book with black-and-white illustrations throughout!

Miles Morales loves spending time at the new center that Tony Stark has just opened. There, he and other kids can take classes, play sports, and even work on art projects. Which is exactly what Miles is doing when he discovers that someone is trying to steal top-secret files from the Stark Center.

Luckily, King T’Challa and his sister Shuri are in New York, and Shuri is just the tech genius who can help Miles save the day. Can this team identify and capture the villain before the Stark Center is completely destroyed?

Miles is determined to untangle this web in this chapter book that’s perfect for Marvel fans beginning to read on their own or for reading aloud!


My Take on the Book
If you are a spider man fan, this is a great graphic novel that is bringing Miles Morales back to show him, not only as a regular kid, but also in his role as spider man. The book was a great book that brought in a solid story with action and more. 

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Book Review - Duck and Moose: Moose Blasts Off!

About the Book

In Duck and Moose: Moose Blasts Off, the second book in the series, you get a laugh-out-loud early graphic novel series perfect for fans of Narwhal and Jelly! Quiet-loving Moose's life is turned upside down by free-wheeling Duck. The two will need to put their differences aside if they're ever going to be neighbors...or friends!

Moose loves playing astronaut. Imagining his helmet, his seatbelt, and rocketing off into space are his favorite things to do! One day, Moose invites Duck to play with him. But there’s just one problem—Duck doesn’t know how to use his imagination! Moose teaches him but soon becomes frustrated because Duck doesn’t play astronaut the “right” way. How will these friends learn how to work—and imagine—together?

Filled with zany hijinks and slapstick humor, Kirk Reedstrom's Duck and Moose series showcases unlikely friendships and the power of compromise. 

My Take on the Book
What I love about this book is that you get amazing characters, but also the book delves into great concepts of imagination and how people can see things in different ways and still have fun together, especially if you are willing to be flexible and try new things!

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Book Review - Duck and Moose: Duck Moves In!

About the Book

In Duck and Moose Duck Moves In you geta laugh-out-loud early graphic novel series perfect for fans of Narwhal and Jelly! Quiet-loving Moose's life is turned upside down by free-wheeling Duck. The two will need to put their differences aside if they're ever going to be neighbors...or friends!

Moose loves peace and quiet, relaxing, living alone, and spring! He can't wait for the arrival of sun, flowers, and...a new neighbor?! Duck just landed himself a new home. He loves parties, karaoke, and living with—and on—Moose's head. Moose tries everything he can to send Duck away, but he soon finds that this persistent neighbor might just be the best thing spring could bring.

Filled with zany hijinks and slapstick humor, Kirk Reedstrom's Duck and Moose series showcases unlikely friendships and the power of compromise.  

My Take on the Book

This is a great graphic novel that brings in two great new characters that at first seem like foils but as you read you find that they can also be friends. The characters are so much fun and any young reader will love these characters and the story too! 

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Book Review - Quest Kids and the Dark Prophecy of Doug

About the Book

In Quest Kids and the Dark Prophecy of Doug, it's been six months since the Quest Kids—Ned, Terra, Gil, Boulder, and Ash—saved a village from a furious dragon (no big deal) and turned their questing efforts toward finding Ned’s parents. But when the crew notices a serious sense of doom and gloom across the Seven Kingdoms, they set out in search of Doug, whose mysterious Dark Prophecy has the potential to send the world into even more dire darkness and dread.

With help from new and old friends, the Quest Kids sail through stormy seas, vacation on the newly rebranded Contentment Island, and venture into the Forsaken Lands to find Doug, whose wicked tunes and even wickeder plans are in full force. Can the Quest Kids get it together to counter Doug's plans and find Ned's parents—or must they watch as a triumphant Doug surfs on waves of fire and fulfills his terrible prophecy?


My Take on the Book
I was a fan of the first book and I have to say that I loved the second book as well. Everything that stood out in the first book got amped up in book two as well. Get ready for craziness that ensues within the book with these characters that you have come to know and love. As you read this book you definitely get drawn in from beginning to end and I loved that by the end you are definitely ready for the next book! The book is easy to read and is definitely written with the middle-school reader in mind. Get ready to laugh and maybe even grown with some of the humor that is shared. In the end, this was a great book that was a quick and sun read for all ages!

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Book Review - Pigeon Private Detectives: The Case of the Missing Tarts

About the Book

In Pigeon Private Detectives The Case of the Missing Tarts , the Pigeon Detectives are looking forward to devouring a delectable platter of jam tarts—until the tasty treats are stolen from right under their beaks! With tummies grumbling, the PPD are on the hunt for clues, but can the detectives recover the tarts in time before they are all eaten—or worse—stale? As the list of suspects grows longer, our heroes wonder if they’ll ever catch the thief jam-handed.

Pigeon Private Detectives: The Case of the Missing Tarts, Christee Curran-Bauer’s author-illustrator debut, pokes fun at detective procedurals with kid-friendly humor!


My Take on the Book
This was a great story with a ton of humor and filled with writing that will completely enamor the lover of puns. The book is written in the style of a cartoon with some old style detective style noir thrown into the mix. Get ready for a fun mystery!

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Book Review - Cat Ninja: Welcome to the 'Burbs

About the Book

In Cat Ninja: Welcome to the 'Burbs, everyone’s favorite feline superhero is back for even more hilarious adventures set in the Cat Ninja-verse. Catch up with Cat Ninja, Master Hamster, and the rest of the family as they face...the suburbs!

When Dad buys a new house outside the city, the kids are less than excited about new neighbors, backyard barbecues, and quiet, tree-lined streets. And they’re not alone—a summer in the suburbs is enough to make Cat Ninja miss the villains of Metro City!

Our hero and his family feel like fish out of water when they arrive in Peaceful Valley, but it won’t be long before Dad’s new neighborhood reveals its scaly, golden underbelly.


My Take on the Book
This is a great fourth book in the series that brings you the characters you have come to love along with the humor you have come to expect too. In this book, you will love the story seeing our favorite superhero having to survive the wilds of the suburbs. Hilarity ensues, and you will come to find that this book draws you in from beginning to end and by the end you will be asking for more!

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Book Review - Animal Rescue Friends: Friends Fur-ever

About the Book

In Animal Rescue Friends Friends Fur-ever , Bell, Maddie, Noah, and the rest of the gang are back in Book 2 of Animal Rescue Friends—and they’re about to meet a whole new crew of furry pals in need of a little TLC!

It’s the start of a new school year, and the kids are excited about their new club, Oakville Elementary School’s Club for Animal Appreciation, Education, and Rehabilitation—even if their new club advisor, Mrs. Wen, doesn’t share their enthusiasm. But as they meet a decidedly unusual crew of animals, including a bearded dragon who won’t eat, a therapy pig named Truffles, and a prickly porcupine who needs first aid, the kids and adults alike learn that when people help animals, the animals help them right back.


My Take on the Book
This is a great new addition to this series. You get the whole gang backend they get to introduce you to a whole new crew of animal friends that need their help. This was a fun book that you will love whether you read the first book or not! 

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Book Review - The Bad Guys in the Others?!

About the Book
NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE!

"I wish I'd had these books as a kid. Hilarious!" -- Dav Pilkey, creator of Captain Underpants and Dog Man

In The Bad Guys in the Others, they may look like Bad Guys, but these wannabe heroes are doing good deeds... whether you like it or not in this New York Times bestselling illustrated series.

OK. A lot of the stuff we said on the back of the last book was NOT TRUE. We now admit that The Bad Guys is WEIRD. We also admit that it features ALL the weird stuff we said it didn’t. PLUS there’s now a whole bunch of even weirder stuff involving an over-sharing bat, a really scary new character who lives in the woods, and a strangely confident little guy with a mullet. So, uh, don’t relax, maybe FREAK OUT a little and have your MIND BLOWN by the BAD GUYS!


My Take on the Book
This is a great addition to the Bag Guys series of books! Throughout the entire book, you will be laughing like crazy. These "bad guys" get into a ton of situations, and you will find that there is both action and humor throughout that will keep all ages entertained! 

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Book Review - Unicorn Playlist: Another Phoebe and Her Unicorn Adventure

About the Book
From newspapers to Nickelodeon, Phoebe and Her Unicorn is the most stunning unicorn feature around! This latest collection of Phoebe comics will delight middle-grade readers and unicorn lovers of all ages.

Best friends Phoebe Howell and Marigold Heavenly Nostrils march to their own beat, but life isn’t all rainbows and unicorns. With so many problems in the world and drama at school, Phoebe wonders why unicorns aren’t in charge instead of humans. With Marigold, each day is full of magic, from introducing Phoebe to unicorn music to crashing a goblin popularity contest, and even tracking down long-lost family members like Infernus, the Unicorn of Death (who ends up being surprisingly adorable). In Unicorn Playlist, Phoebe and Marigold play all the hits.

My Take on the Book
This is another great book from the series! You get adventure, humor and more. I loved that in this book you get introduced to so many new characters, but also get to see Phoebe and Marigold Heavenly Nostrils in a whole new way. The illustrations are as great as always and you will get drawn into the book from the beginning to end of the book! 

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Book Review - Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven

About the Book
Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo continue their New York Times bestselling Teen Titans series, and give readers the romantic meet-up we’ve all been waiting for! It seems like years, but it’s only been a few days since Raven Roth recovered her memories, trapped her demon father, Trigon, in her amulet, and had her heart broken for the first time. But she doesn’t have time to worry about the past…she has to focus on finding a way to get rid of Trigon for good. Garfield Logan still can’t believe he has the power to transform into animals. But controlling his newfound abilities is difficult, and their unpredictable nature could have dangerous consequences. Knowing his parents kept this secret hidden from him only makes Gar feel more alone. He and Raven both seeking answers from the one person who seems to have them all figured out: Slade Wilson. When their paths cross in Nashville, Raven and Gar can’t help but feel a connection, despite the secrets they try to hide from each other. It will take a lot of trust and courage to overcome the wounds of their pasts. But can they find acceptance for the darkest parts of themselves? Or maybe even love?

 

My Take on the Book
If you are a Teen Titan/DC comics fan or you love a great graphic novel with amazing images and a solid plot, this is the book for you. As someone that is a Teen Titan fan you really are drawn into the story of Raven and Beast Boy. You get to see their romance while you also get to see some of the light hearted nature that they have together, even though inside they are still struggling with inner-demons. The artwork throughout the book is amazing and the book itself is written in a way that you are transported into the action, drama and more, and it compels you to not put the book down as you want to know what happens next. This is a great story of love, friendship, acceptance and more.

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Book Review - Unearthed: A Jessica Cruz Story

About the Book

Acclaimed author Lilliam Rivera and artist Steph C. reimagine one of DC's greatest Green Lanterns, Jessica Cruz, to tell a story about immigration, family, and overcoming fear to inspire hope.

Jessica Cruz has done everything right. She's a dedicated student, popular among her classmates, and has a loving family that has done everything they can to give her a better life in the United States. While Jessica is a part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, allowing her to go to school and live in the U.S., her parents are undocumented. Jessica usually worries for her parents, but her fears and anxiety escalate as a mayoral candidate with a strong anti-immigration stance runs for office.

As the xenophobia in Coast City increases, Jessica begins to debate whether it's worth renewing her status to stay in the U.S., or if her family would be safer and better off moving back to Mexico. And despite her attempts to lean on her friends and family, she finds herself constantly visited by visions of Aztec gods, one pulling her towards hope and the other towards anger.

But when her father is detained by I.C.E., Jessica finds herself being pulled into an abyss of fear. With her father gone and feeling helpless, Jessica must find her way out of her fears and ultimately become a voice for her community.

My Take on the Book
This graphic novel has such a different style from other books that DC has presented in the past. It is a nice change and the story is fresh and unique. The story itself is action packed and engaging and leaves you sitting on the edge of your seat as you wait to see what comes next. The character in this book is someone that you can relate to and while I did not have a lot of context for this character, outside of knowing it came from Green Lantern mythology, I still was drawn in and completely entranced by the visual elements and the writing as well. The weaving in of concepts of racism, ICE and more make the story relevant and makes you want to read even deeper into the pages to see what will happen next. I was really impressed by the whole story and I think you will be as well!

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Book Review - Evil Thing: A Villains Graphic Novel

About the Book

“Sure, you know the story of those wretched Dalmatians. But don’t I deserve a chance to tell my own side of the story? It is fabulous, after all.

”You may think you know the tale: a happy young couple, one hundred and one Dalmatians, and the woman determined to turn them into a perfectly spotted fur coat.

But who is that monster, that scene-stealer, that evil thing? Who is the woman behind it all? Before the car crash, before the dognapping, before furs became her only true love, there was another story. This is the story of Cruella De Vil—in her own words.

Even the cruelest villains have best friends, true loves, and daring dreams. After all, nothing is as simple as black and white.

In this first graphic novel adaptation of the New York Times best-selling Villains series, Arielle Jovellanos brings Serena Valentino’s darkly captivating world to life with beautiful and haunting illustrations in a stunning new visual format.

My Take on the Book
This is a great way to explore the origin story for Cruella. As someone that loves Graphic Novels, this one really captures the characters but also the story and you get to see that there is a lot more behind the story that makes Cruella the evil person that she becomes. The story is great and the artwork really stands out on the page. If you love Disney and love origin stories, this is one that you will not want to miss! 

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Book Review - Kid Beowulf - The Tarpeian Rock

About the Book

In this action-packed graphic novel, twin brothers, Beowulf and Grendel, are lost in ancient Italy and forced to fight for their freedom in the gladiatorial games. In the arena the brothers will battle fearsome warriors, deadly beasts, and meet another pair of twins, Romulus and Remus. It all leads to the founding of the world's most epic city: ROME!

Synopsis

Twin brothers, Beowulf and Grendel, are lost in ancient Italy and forced to fight for their freedom in the gladiatorial games. In the arena the brothers will discover a part of themselves neither knew existed and the fighter and the monster will emerge. Meanwhile in the Tiber River Valley among the Seven Hills, two tribes are at odds: the high-born Sabines who have made the land their own and the poor Latin farmers who are forced to till it. Compelled toward change, a young Latin girl named Tarpeia incites a revolution no one is ready for, particularly the pair chosen to lead it: twin brothers, Romulus and Remus. Action and adventure. Swords and sandals. The newest Kid Beowulf graphic novel is inspired by history, mythology, and the founding of ROME!

Inspired by the epic poem BEOWULF, Kid Beowulf is an action-adventure graphic novel series following the adventures of 12-year-old twin brothers, Beowulf and Grendel as they travel across distant lands and meet fellow epic heroes therein! The Tarpeian Rock is the fourth book in the ongoing series. The series is ideal for fans of Bone, Wings of Fire, and Avatar: The Last Airbender.

My Take on the Book
I have loved the Kid Beowulf stories in the past and this story did not disappoint as the adventure and fun continue in this great new book in the series. 

What I loved most was the blending of history, fantasy, and more to create a world that you will not forget and characters that really draw you into the book from every page. If you love mythology and history, you will love the story, the art, and the pace of this adventure-laden book. 

The book weaves in humor, history, and more to create a memorable 4th book in the series. Even if you have not read the earlier books, you will love this book and it will encourage you to read the others too! 

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Book Review - I Am Not Starfire

About the Book

Seventeen-year-old Mandy, daughter of Starfire, is NOT like her mother. Starfire is gorgeous, tall, sparkly, and a hero. Mandy is NOT a sparkly superhero. Mandy has no powers, is a kid who dyes her hair black and hates everyone but her best friend Lincoln. To Starfire, who is from another planet, Mandy seems like an alien, like some distant angry light years away moon.

And it's possible Mandy is even more distant lately, ever since she walked out on her S.A.T.s. Which, yeah, her mom doesn't know.

Everyone thinks Mandy needs to go to college and become whoever you become at college, but Mandy has other plans. Mandy's big plan is that she's going to move to France and...do whatever people do in France. But then everything changes when she gets partnered with Claire for a school project. Mandy likes Claire (even if she denies it, heartily and intensely). A lot.

How do you become the person you're supposed to be when you don't know what that is? How do you become the person you're supposed to be when the only thing you're sure of is what you're not?

When someone from Starfire's past arrives, Mandy must make a choice: give up before the battle has even begun, or step into the unknown and risk everything to save her mom. I am Not Starfire is a story about teenagers and/as aliens; about knowing where you come from and where you are going; and about mothers.

My Take on the Book
This was a great coming-of-age story that allows you to meet Starfire's daughter who is very much the anti-Starfire. That being said, you get to go along on a journey of her coming of age and trying to figure out who she was and who she wants to be. She also is trying to figure out who her mother is and how she fits into her own life, especially with how different she is from her mom. The book is great for any middle to high school reader as they will relate to what Mandy is going through and what she is trying to do to allow herself to stand apart from her mother. I appreciated this unique story and how it allows kids to be able to relate to the characters in general.

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Book Review - The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor

About the Book

Nimona meets Paper Girls with a literary twist in this wickedly funny graphic novel about a teenager who is swept up in a strange new universe and must save it from an all-consuming evil in order to return home.

One dark and stormy night, Haley sees a stranger drowning in the river. Since her greatest passion is Gothic romance novels, she knows her moment has come. But when Haley leaps into the water to rescue the stranger, she awakens in Willowweep. It certainly looks like the setting of one of her favorite books: A stately manor. A sinister housekeeper. Three brooding brothers. There’s even a ghost.

Except Willowweep is not what it seems. Its romantic exterior hides the workings of a pocket universe—the only protection our world has against a great force of penultimate evil, and its defenses are crumbling. Could cruel fate make Haley the heroine that Willowweep needs?

My Take on the Book
Christopher Baldwin is a great author and thus, I have been excited to see this hit the market. That being said one of the things I loved about this is the story. The book has a great story with great characters that you really get to know. This is the type of book that definitely has some aspects of horror that is still appropriate to middle-school readers. The book itself was a ton of fun and something that really was an engaging read. I know that my daughter and I read this together, and we did not want to put it down!
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Book Review - The Mystery of the Meanest Teacher: A Johnny Constantine Graphic Novel

About the Book
THE MYSTERY OF THE MEANEST TEACHER: A JOHNNY CONSTANTINE GRAPHIC NOVEL is a comedic middle grade graphic novel about two kids with developing magical powers trying to figure out if their schoolteacher is really, secretly, a witch.

After angering a number of hostile spirits in England, 13-year-old magician Johnny Constantine has to find a way out of the country. Persuading his parents to send him to America, John arrives at the Junior Success Boarding School in Salem, Massachusetts. But once there,he finds himself to be something of an outcast. And he is also convinced that his homeroom teacher really has it in for him. Worse, he's convinced that's she's really a witch.

Fortunately, John is able to find one kindred spirit at school with whom he's able to form an alliance--another misfit named Anna, who also happens to have her own developing magical powers. John recruits Anna in his efforts to uncover the truth about Ms. Kayla and expose the Meanest Teacher's real identity to the world.

Joined by a friendly demon named Etrigan, these two amateur sleuths will uncover clues and stumble upon forces beyond their control in a humorous series of misadventures.

 

My Take on the Book
My 13-year-old daughter loves graphic novels and comics. She did not know what to expect in this book because she knew that John Constantine could be a very dark character, but as she read it she found that it was a great re-imagining of his character from a kids' point of view. As I read the book I loved seeing Constantine, not as the dark character that I knew him as but instead in a whole new light. The book has a great mystery within its' pages and in reading this, anyone that loves comics, graphic novels, and mysteries will really enjoy this!

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Book Review - Poison Ivy: Thorns

About the Book
New York Times bestselling author of The DUFF Kody Keplinger and artist Sara Kipin reimagine an iconic DC antihero with a gothic-horror twist.

There's something unusual about Pamela Isley--the girl who hides behind her bright red hair. The girl who won't let anyone inside to see what's lurking behind the curtains. The girl who goes to extreme lengths to care for a few plants. Pamela Isley doesn't trust other people, especially men. They always want something from her that she's not willing to give.

When cute goth girl Alice Oh comes into Pamela's life after an accident at the local park, she makes her feel like pulling back the curtains and letting the sunshine in. But there are dark secrets deep within the Isley house. Secrets Pamela's father has warned must remain hidden. Secrets that could turn deadly and destroy the one person who ever cared about Pamela, or as her mom preferred to call her...Ivy.

Will Pamela open herself up to the possibilities of love, or will she forever be transformed by the thorny vines of revenge?

My Take on the Book
This was a great book with a great story. It is a fresh take on the character of Poison Ivy and I love how well the author has done to explore all aspects of the characters. You learn about Pamela's secrets, but also why she surrounds herself with plants. There is a reason behind the love she shares with these plants which says a lot about her as an individual. The book explores Poison Ivy and makes her the villain that she becomes. The book is a great backstory that any fan of Poison Ivy will love.

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Book Review - Long Distance

About the Book
From the creator of Fake Blood comes another exceptionally charming middle-grade graphic novel about friendships both near and far, far away.

Vega’s summer vacation is not going well.

When her parents decide it’s time to pack up and leave her hometown of Portland, Oregon, behind for boring Seattle, Washington, Vega is more than upset—she’s downright miserable. Forced to leave her one and only best friend, Halley, behind, Vega is convinced she’ll never make another friend again.

To help her settle into her new life in Seattle, her parents send Vega off to summer camp to make new friends. Except Vega is determined to get her old life back. But when her cellphone unexpectedly calls it quits and things at camp start getting stranger and stranger, Vega has no choice but to team up with her bunkmates to figure out what’s going on!

 

My Take on the Book
This is a great new book from Whitney Gardner. I was a fan of her last novel and this one was just as fun. Inside the book, you not only get an amazing story but it is full of beautiful images that will engage you from beginning to end. The book has some great humor but is also light, strange, and unique too. You will love the characters and the story and by the end, you will be asking for more. 

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