Jason Pamment

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through Edelweiss.)

-- 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 where necessary --

Ember is a very tiny boy living in a world of giants. Each morning, he makes the long trek to Seawinds Elementary - where he longs to attend school - to try to make friends. But the only time a giant takes note of him, the boy mistakes Ember for an insect and tries to squash him. In his escape, Ember falls into a wastewater pipe and is taken out to the sea. There, he meets show more Lua, a kind and wise turtle who tells him about a far-away island where magical creatures such as himself are offered refuge - and an education. Lua offers to take him there, like someone did for her so many years ago.

But the Island of Lost Creatures is not the utopia Ember was hoping for. He misses Lua, who he'd come to think of as an adopted mother, and the other kids either bully or ignore him. His only friend is a silent rock that Em nicknames "Boulder." And a mysterious, glowing orb creature keeps stealing his stuff - including his journal, but not before class bully Viggo reads excerpts to the class. Can Ember overcome his homesickness and isolation and make new friends? Turns out, he's not the only displaced person on the island trying to find his way home.

EMBER AND THE ISLAND OF LOST CREATURES is a sweet middle grade graphic novel about being a little bit different and weird; feeling like you don't fit in or belong; and the magic of found family. The artwork is easily the comic's strongest feature - Ember and his fellow creatures are adorable, and some of the ocean panels are simply stunning. Lua, especially, is enchanting. The story is slow the get started, but the ending is well worth it. show less

More like a 3, but I really liked the charm of this story and the focus on the need for community. There's also the subtle message that your family doesn't have to be who you were born to but the ones who loved and took care of you instead.

The different creatures of the world were fun! There's a mixture of imaginative and realistic creatures. The artwork is simple but extremely effective in conveying the story. The scenes in the cave were a pleasure to look at.

I hope this could become a show more series.

3.5 show less

"The world can be a dangerous place for a little creature." (28)

Tiny Ember (human appearance, but small enough to hide under a cup) wants to join school and have friends, but it isn't working out. When Ember meets sea turtle Lua on the beach, she offers to take him to the island where she went to school. Ember goes with Lua, but the island of lost creatures isn't the haven Ember imagined - at least, not at first. Other classmates make fun, and danger abounds. However, Ember has a good heart show more and a good soul, and eventually wins their classmates to their side.

A sweet fantasy adventure. show less

A coming-of-age story about two friends about to start high school. One wants to be an adventurer and go to a boarding school in the big city while the other is content to stay where he is in their small, boring town. After they discover an unusual town at the bottom of a dried up lake, the two have a fight about their desires to stay or go (in the mysterious town and also boarding school). In their time apart they each learn about the mysterious town and are soon racing to save themselves show more and each other from a dangerous flash flood threatening to submerge the town once more.

This was a great read, and also very quick. A unique story with lovely illustrations and dynamic color work. Highly recommended for juvenile readers and young teens. show less