Doerrfeld, Cori. Believe Your Eyes. illus. by Cori Doerrfeld & Tyler Page. 48p. (CiCi: A Fairy’s Tale: Bk. 1). ebook available. Graphic Universe. Apr. 2016. lib. ed. $26.95. ISBN 9781467761529; pap. $7.99. ISBN 9781467795715.

Gr 3-5 –Ten-year-old Cici has been through a lot. Her parents announce that they are getting divorced, she feels pressured by her friend to grow up, and she suddenly realizes she has magical powers. And now Cici has only one day to decide whether to keep her newfound powers or discard them. The story moves exceptionally fast, rapidly switching between scenes, which makes it difficult for readers to connect with the characters or learn about their motivations. Refreshingly, Cici’s problems don’t magically go away by the end, and while she loses some friends, she winds up with stronger ties to her family. The illustrations are colorful and wonderfully explore the magical world. VERDICT A decent graphic novel addition.–Peter Blenski, Greenfield Public Library, WI

Flores, Madeleine with Trillian Gunn. Help Us! Great Warrior. illus. by Madeleine Flores. 160p. Boom! Studios. Mar. 2016. pap. $19.99. ISBN 9781608868025.

Gr 5-8 –When the Demons from Demonside, led by the fearsome Demon King, start pouring through a newly opened dimensional portal, only one warrior is brave, strong, and powerful enough to stop them: Great Warrior! Unfortunately, she already has plans for the day. Can Great Warrior be persuaded by her friends to act in time? And will Great Warrior even have friends when everyone finds out the terrible secret she’s been hiding? Thankfully, those in need can always count on Great Warrior, especially if there are snacks involved. Flores and Gunn bring this small but powerful hero to life in this work that’s based on the popular webcomic. The art is clean and colorful and ideal for the tone, which is similar to the TV show Adventure Time but a bit more accessible. The book also carries the same message about friendship and self-esteem. VERDICT This worthy addition will appeal to middle school readers looking for high-energy excitement, interesting characters, and a cool female protagonist.–Erik Knapp, Davis Library, Plano, TX

Furman, Simon. Dragons: Riders of Berk Collection Volume 2: The Enemies Within. illus. by Jack Lawrence & Iwan Nazif. 112p. Titan. Apr. 2016. pap. $12.99. ISBN 9781785851766.

Gr 3 Up –Based on the film How To Tame Your Dragon, this entertaining collection contains three stories from the third and fourth “Riders of Berk” graphic novel digests. In “Ice,” teen Vikings go on a hunt when Astrid’s dragon, Stormfly, turns up missing. They end up traveling the icy Northland seas and invading an enemy camp. In “Litter Sitter,” Snotlout is on monstrous nightmare litter duty. He is soon chasing baby dragons that are eating everything in sight. The last tale, “The Stowaway, finds an unexpected new arrival to the Dragon Academy. His name is Hroar and appears to be brave, bold, and popular with everyone except Hiccup, who suspects that Hroar is not what he seems. The artwork comes alive on each page. Readers are continuously reminded that the cold land of Berk offers warmth and a place to expect the unexpected. Glossy, action-packed pages with various perspectives keep readers wanting more. VERDICT Highly recommended for fans of the franchise and of graphic novel adventures.–Lisa Gieskes, Richland County Public Library, Columbia, SC

HoopmaNn, Kathy. Blue Bottle Mystery: An Asperger Adventure. adapted by Mike Medaglia. illus. by Rachael Smith. 64p. Jessica Kingsley. Nov. 2015. Tr $18.95. ISBN 9781853029783.

Gr 4-7 –In this full-color graphic novel adaptation of Hoopmann’s book of the same name, Ben—an adolescent boy with Asperger’s syndrome—and his best friend Andy uncover a mysterious, possibly magical, blue bottle buried at school. Their lives take surprising turns as the wishes they make begin to come true. Divided into 12 chapters plus an epilogue, the narrative combines white dialogue bubbles and yellow blocks of texts for interior monologue, which convey Ben’s narration and self-talk. The artist expertly arranges the panels and offers a wide color palette to express Ben’s emotional struggles as he tries to navigate a world that has difficulty understanding him. VERDICT This graphic retelling, more successful in its execution than the original, is a valuable purchase with wide appeal for school and public libraries who want to diversify their graphic novel collections with a fun-filled fantastical story about friendship, family, and understanding.–Renee Grassi, Glen Ellyn Public Library, IL

Kanata, Konami. FukuFuku: Kitten Tales. illus. by Konami Kanata. 1. 160p. (Chi’s Sweet Home). Vertical. Feb. 2016. pap. $10.95. ISBN 9781942993438.

Gr 3 Up –Hilarity ensues when an affectionate cat owner and her adorable cat reminisce about the feline’s kitten days. Readers will be thoroughly charmed by watching FukuFuku’s antics, told through a variety of sketches. The owner, a sweet woman, just wants to befriend her kitten. FukuFuku, on the other hand, is initially terrified by her owner’s attention. She slowly relaxes, flourishing in her new environment while discovering how wonderful it is to have an owner, especially when it is time for belly rubs. Readers will be delighted by this new series. Fans of the author’s Chi’s Sweet Home will appreciate the warm, sweet tone. The cute black-and-white illustrations are the focal point of each page. Konami draws exquisite, detailed expressions on both kitten and human. The spare sentences will engage struggling readers, while helping develop abstract thinking and story sequencing. VERDICT Readers and pet owners will find this slice-of-life novel endearing. Offer this one to fans of Ashley Spires’s Binky the Space Cat, Nick Bruel’s “Bad Kitty” books, Patrick Jennings’s Hissy Fitz, and Kiyohiko Azuma Yostuba&!–Jessica Bratt, Grand Rapids Public Library, Grand Rapids, MI

Maihack, Mike. Secret of the Time Tablets. illus. by Mike Maihack. 185p. (Cleopatra in Space: Bk. 3). Scholastic/Graphix. Apr. 2016. Tr $22.99. ISBN 9780545838689; pap. $12.99. ISBN 9780545838672.

Gr 4-7 –Dreaming of her childhood friend Gozi, in which he appears as a hostile Egyptian god, Cleo is rudely awakened to face a dire situation. Octavian and an entire fleet of Xerx warriors surround the spaceship. Managing to escape, Cleo then devises tricky entry into the barbarous city of Hykosis, where she and Akila meet up with Antony, the sword thief. Forced to rely on one another, they warily join forces to find the time tablets Cleo needs. The tension among the three is readily apparent, although there are humorous and heartwarming moments, too. As with the two previous titles, the images, verbal sound effects, and enterprising plot create a rewarding comic narrative that weaves together the past and the future. Fans of Star Wars and Egyptian mythology will particularly enjoy this intriguing tale. VERDICT An exciting, humorous, and satisfying conclusion to Cleo’s fate. Purchase where previous volumes are popular.–Gaye Hinchliff, King County Library System, WA

North, Ryan. The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Vol. 2: Squirrel You Know It’s True. illus. by Erica Henderson. 120p. (The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl). Marvel. Dec. 2015. pap. $14.99. ISBN 9780785197034.

Gr 6 Up –In this latest adventure, college student Doreen Green, aka Squirrel Girl, saves a group of hostages, including her cat-loving roommate, Nancy, from robot dinosaurs. She encourages a mutated hippo with a fiery temper to become a demolition worker instead of robbing banks, and she teams up with Chipmunk Hunk, Koi Boi, Loki (who, at the request of Nancy, transforms himself into “Cat Thor” from her Thor fan fiction), and the new and previous Thors in order to defeat Ratatoskr, the Norse God of Squirrels, whose influence makes heroes and ordinary citizens alike turn on one another. Squirrel Girl’s incredible strength, intellect, and genuine interest in making friends make her an unbeatable heroine and a relatable role model. While there are appearances by current Marvel superheroes, prior knowledge of the larger Marvel Universe is not necessary to understand the story. As in the previous volume, each chapter begins with a Twitter conversation among the characters and ends with fan letters answered by the creators. VERDICT A delightful option for those who loved the first installment and for all graphic novel aficionados.–Marissa Lieberman, East Orange Public Library, NJ

Petrucha, Stefan. Harvey Beaks: Inside Joke. illus. by Andreas Schuster. 56p. Papercutz. Mar. 2016. pap. $7.99. ISBN 9781629914312.

Gr 3-5 –This humorous collection of five adventures features characters and plots from the hit Nickelodeon TV series of the same name. Each episode averages about 10 pages in length and aptly matches the pacing of the TV show. Multiple adventures lead Harvey and his friends to interact with monsters or supernatural beings, and friendship is always the end result. Misunderstandings fuel the humor, and several episodes play up Harvey’s gross misreading of a situation, much to readers’ delight. The artwork is vibrant and cartoony and will appeal to viewers of the show and those who are just looking for a good laugh. VERDICT A funny new series that’s sure to please.–Samantha Lumetta, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH

Simpson, Dana. Unicorn vs. Goblins. illus. by Dana Simpson. 176p. (Phoebe and Her Unicorn: Bk. 3). ebook available. Andrews McMeel. Feb. 2016. pap. $9.99. ISBN 9781449476281.

Gr 3-6 –Phoebe and her beautiful unicorn friend, Marigold Heavenly Nostrils, have all summer to go to camp and solve mysteries together. Music camp is full of new friends—a funky yet friendly clarinet player for Phoebe, and the lake monster for Marigold. Of course, there are updates from Phoebe’s frenemy, Dakota, whose hair Marigold magically cursed. Summer must come to an end, and Phoebe and Marigold attend school. Marigold, in an effort to help Phoebe become popular (or at least avoid anonymity) turns off her Shield of Boringness so all Phoebe’s classmates can see her unicorn best friend. Finally, Phoebe and Marigold must save Dakota from the goblins, who have taken her hostage. The adventures of Phoebe and Marigold are just as amusing and eclectic as they sound. The pace is quick, almost to the point of being frenzied and unfocused. However, it fits the characters, who are engaging enough to make up for any flaws. The illustrations are quirky, and Simpson expertly places the characters in a real world setting. VERDICT Middle grade readers will find Phoebe and Marigold to be an exciting duo and will probably want a pet unicorn of their own. Purchase where this series is popular.–Morgan Brickey, Arlington Public Library, TX

Whitley, Jeremy. Princeless: Save Yourself! Deluxe Edition. illus. by M. Goodwin. 168p. (Princeless: Bk. 1). Action Lab. Feb. 2016. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9781632291202.

Gr 4-7 –Princess Adrienne is no hero’s fair maiden, and she is not afraid to say so! She’s the seventh daughter whom her father, the king, has stranded in a tower (his goal is to lure a prince worthy to rule the kingdom of Ashland). Prince after prince has tried to rescue Adrienne, and after Prince Wilcome’s failed attempt, she decides to save herself. Along with her protector dragon, Adrienne decides to save her sisters, but their first mission is to find some armor. Blacksmith Bedelia Smith joins their group with her armor-for-ladies collection, and the princess also lets her brother, Prince Devin, in on her plan. After his failed rescue attempt, the very charming Prince Wilcome is banished to the palace’s dungeon, but he doesn’t bargain on Shadira the elf tricking him into helping her escape. This volume includes the first four issues of the dynamic and female-empowering comic book series. Princess Adrienne is a strong woman of color, and she talks about her femininity in a fresh and fierce new way. Other characters are drawn well, and the side stories of Bedelia Smith, Prince Wilcome, and Prince Devin are engaging. On the whole, the series feels current and skewers well-known tropes. VERDICT Princess Adrienne is not to be missed! Recommended for all middle grade graphic novel collections.–Morgan Brickey, Arlington Public Library, TX