Shadow Island

August 15, 2019
Moon Creatures, missteps, and mayhem lead a young boy to find a place to call home in this new graphic-novel series. Since his parents' deaths, Ollie has been shuffled among various family members and is now sent to live with his elderly grandfather in the small, fictional town of Sueño Bay, "Home of the Supernatural," on Robertson Island off the coast of British Columbia. Unhappy with this remote life, he plots leaving the boring town to go back to the mainland. The day before he plans to make his escape, a few of his new classmates pull him into an adventure in which they encounter the Moon Creatures, horned, raccoonlike mammals that are endangered due to environmental factors. In trying to save the sometimes-adorable, sometimes-terrifying creatures, they embark on a perilous journey. Ultimately the story leads to a satisfying ending for all, with Ollie finding a sense of home. Inspired choices in paneling and use of line keep the eyes moving, propelling the story forward while still bringing readers into the fully realized rainy and rural Pacific Northwest setting. Ollie has pink skin and black hair; side characters are interesting and full of personality and have varying racial presentations. There is a refreshing, realistic economic diversity shown, with characters living in houses, trailers, and refurbished school buses. Underlying messages of environmentalism, friendship, and home make this magical mystery a win. (Graphic fantasy. 6-8)

COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 1, 2019

Gr 2-4-In this series starter, strange things are afoot in perpetually rainy Sueño Bay, the "home of the supernatural." It's the start of a perfectly average spring break for Ollie and his friends-curious Kay, crotchety Jenna, and snot-laden Sleeves-until they investigate rumors of a haunted trailer. There, Ollie and company stumble upon their grumpy gym teacher Ms. Grundle and a pair of strange, raccoonlike horned beasts. Could these be the fabled Moon Creatures of local yore? After a baby Moon Creature (who is later named Conker) sneaks into Ollie's backpack, the kids find themselves on a quest to return Conker and his mother to their home on Shadow Island. Young readers will eagerly follow the fast-paced adventure and identify with the group's tendency to make assumptions without getting all the facts. Ollie's gradually revealed backstory is sad but handled in an age-appropriate manner. Future entries will hopefully expand on the other children, as their character development is superficial at best. The real star here is the artwork, with the muted palette and realistic art style skillfully conveying the naturalistic setting and moody tone. The varied shapes and quantities of the panels propel the narrative forward while shifting perspective almost in real time. VERDICT Hand to young readers looking for slightly spooky shenanigans.-Pearl Derlaga, York County Public Library, VA

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2019
Grades 3-5 Ollie is having a hard time adjusting to his new life in Sue�o Bay, and he's decided he's just going to up and leave. After losing both of his parents, Ollie has been shuffled around family until he ends up with his grandpa, living in a place where it rains over 200 days a year. He's just about to buy his ticket out of town when he and his new friends discover a mysterious trailer in the middle of nowhere that is housing very unusual creatures. There's something else going on in Sue�o Bay, and it isn't until Ollie, Sleeves, Kay, and Jenna see that these creatures are magical do they realize that supernatural forces are afoot. The cute and colorful illustrations are engaging and bring the diverse cast of characters to charming life. The combination of traditional and full page panels move the story forward in an easy-to-read way with a story that is engaging and full of mystery and magic. A fun, magical romp that younger readers will enjoy.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)

September 1, 2019

Gr 2-4-In this series starter, strange things are afoot in perpetually rainy Sue�o Bay, the "home of the supernatural." It's the start of a perfectly average spring break for Ollie and his friends-curious Kay, crotchety Jenna, and snot-laden Sleeves-until they investigate rumors of a haunted trailer. There, Ollie and company stumble upon their grumpy gym teacher Ms. Grundle and a pair of strange, raccoonlike horned beasts. Could these be the fabled Moon Creatures of local yore? After a baby Moon Creature (who is later named Conker) sneaks into Ollie's backpack, the kids find themselves on a quest to return Conker and his mother to their home on Shadow Island. Young readers will eagerly follow the fast-paced adventure and identify with the group's tendency to make assumptions without getting all the facts. Ollie's gradually revealed backstory is sad but handled in an age-appropriate manner. Future entries will hopefully expand on the other children, as their character development is superficial at best. The real star here is the artwork, with the muted palette and realistic art style skillfully conveying the naturalistic setting and moody tone. The varied shapes and quantities of the panels propel the narrative forward while shifting perspective almost in real time. VERDICT Hand to young readers looking for slightly spooky shenanigans.-Pearl Derlaga, York County Public Library, VA

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 15, 2019
Moon Creatures, missteps, and mayhem lead a young boy to find a place to call home in this new graphic-novel series. Since his parents' deaths, Ollie has been shuffled among various family members and is now sent to live with his elderly grandfather in the small, fictional town of Sue�o Bay, "Home of the Supernatural," on Robertson Island off the coast of British Columbia. Unhappy with this remote life, he plots leaving the boring town to go back to the mainland. The day before he plans to make his escape, a few of his new classmates pull him into an adventure in which they encounter the Moon Creatures, horned, raccoonlike mammals that are endangered due to environmental factors. In trying to save the sometimes-adorable, sometimes-terrifying creatures, they embark on a perilous journey. Ultimately the story leads to a satisfying ending for all, with Ollie finding a sense of home. Inspired choices in paneling and use of line keep the eyes moving, propelling the story forward while still bringing readers into the fully realized rainy and rural Pacific Northwest setting. Ollie has pink skin and black hair; side characters are interesting and full of personality and have varying racial presentations. There is a refreshing, realistic economic diversity shown, with characters living in houses, trailers, and refurbished school buses. Underlying messages of environmentalism, friendship, and home make this magical mystery a win. (Graphic fantasy. 6-8)

COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.