August Moon

Gr 9 Up—Visitors have arrived in the idyllic, isolated town of Calico. Corporate businessmen are attempting to bulldoze the forests, and Fi is visiting with her scientist father, who is there to investigate a mysterious rabbitlike creature native to the town. Fi, withdrawn since her mother's death, and distanced from her clinical, logical father, begins to open up when she makes friends with Jaden, a mysterious boy who claims to be from the Moon. The surreal tone and fantasy creatures recall Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro, but simple black-and-white drawings in an expressive cartoon style give the comic more of a quirky, indie feel. The whimsical creatures and spirited young characters will appeal to children, but the dynamic action scenes (which include some gun violence) and themes of community activism, environmental devastation, and the limits of rationality make it more suitable for older teens and adults. A worthy addition.—Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY