Aliza Layne

Take a big caldron. Add in all the aesthetic appeal of Halloween, the solidity of best friendship, the coziness of a giant sweater, a glowing rainbow palette of colors, the budding romance between two girls, and all the haunted hijinks you can think off - stir 'em all together and you've got "Beetle and the Hollowbones". This graphic novel is captivatingly magical, and absolutely bursting at the seams with humor, charm, and some of the most lovable characters you'll ever read.

Here's the show more downlow: Beetle is a young goblin witch who spends her days training under her Gran, trying to master goblin magic, learning how to ride a broom, and hanging out at the local mall with her BFF Blob Ghost and getting into shenanigans. Oh yeah, BG is also mysteriously tied to the mall and they can't leave, so Beetle is trying to figure out THAT situation. And now, Beetle's old friend Kat is back in town, and with Kat's appearance comes a whole lot of other feelings Beetle has to sort through. On top of all that, Kat's cunning aunt has her own plans that could spell THE END for everything Beetle loves.

There is so much to admire about this book: first, the world of "Beetle" is incredibly well realized and fleshed out- the magic system, the citizens of 'Allowstown, even the pop culture embedded in the world feel like you've stepped through that wardrobe and into a very real place with history. The artwork is just downright dreamy; I love the interior shots of Beetle's home and the opening spreads of her flying lesson! And like I said, the characters are so SO good! Blob Ghost is my personal favorite; for a character who doesn't literally speak out loud, they are delightfully expressive and look so huggable. :3 I need a BG plushie in my life NOW.

Literally the only thing I think could have been added is a short explanation of how the Council works/operates, but honestly that's partially just because I'm nosy and like magic councils. But that really doesn't have to do with anything else in the plot (maybe we'll see it in a sequel though?!)

"Beetle and the Hollowbones" is a 5-star book through and through, and I would highly recommend it for both young readers, adults, or really just anyone who wants a wonderful dose of magical reading.
(Preorder link: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Beetle-the-Hollowbones/Aliza-Layne/978153... show less

Initially wasn't sure about this, but it drew me in and I was a big fan by the time the book ended. Wholesome goblins! Adorable ghosties! Exotic bone folks! The surface was good from the beginning, but it was the heart in the story that won me over. Anxious friend dynamics turn into a real story about looking past the surface, and a sweet girl romance. Awesome.

Beetle is a goblin who lives with her Gran, who home-schools her. Her best friend is Blob Ghost, who lives in the mall, but when Beetle's old best friend Kat Hollowbone returns to town as an apprentice to Mistress Hollowbone, they have to figure out how to get Blob Ghost out of the mall - before Mistress Hollowbone razes it to the ground.

I loved the magic, the high stakes, the friendship, and the full-color art on glossy paper, featuring purple, green, and peach.

See also: Unfamiliar by show more Haley Newsome, Castle Hangnail by Ursula Vernon

Quotes

"I think I didn't text you because...I figured that when I saw you again, everything would be exactly the same. Like I was sealing you away, and when I let you out again, our friendship would be the same as it was when I left." (Kat to Beetle)

"I don't care if she apologizes; that's horrible. You have to see that it's horrible. You can't not see it."
"You didn't see how she was when I first got here. She's been nice to me...My parents told me she was kind of tough to be around sometimes, but she's a genius. That's how geniuses are!" (Beetle and Kat)

"You can't just assume you know everything about how people get into places." (Gran)

"Each day we wake up and we make a choice: to give up or to do our best and hope it comes out right." (Gran to Beetle) show less

Beetle is a young goblin hoping to be a sorceress, with a blobby little ghost who haunts the mall as her friend. When her old friend/crush, Kat, returns home from boarding school to apprentice under her aunt, things get awkward because the aunt is evil and wants to tear down the mall. Beetle must find a way to free her ghost friend and also repair her damaged friendship with Kat before it's too late.
A fun little middle grade graphic novel. I think the characters could have been fleshed out a show more bit more and some of the illustrations could have been clearer (I found it difficult to suss out the details of the action sometimes), but overall it's a good read. show less