|
I had this on my Amazon wish list, and someone was kind enough to give it to me as a gift. This is Von Allan's second graphic novel.
Thus far, it really reminds me of the whimsy in The Wizard of Oz. Here, instead of Dorothy, we have Marni, who lives in a typical home in North America. Marni is devastated by the loss of her grandmother, and to cheer her up, her father invites her friends Sophie and Elora over for a sleepover in a tent in the backyard. Marni had been given an odd art piece that used to belong to her grandmother. She brought it to the tent and during the night the girls looked at it and started handling it. There's a flash of light, and "Gee Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas in any more."
Great stuff, too. This new world is a combination of old tech and new tech. It even has a tin man analogy. Without going into too much detail, it's a world that is suitably alien, full of mystery and adventure, without being too scary for children. It's tough to pull off an all ages book, but Von has managed it. The girl characters are believable, with suitable bickering here and there as young girls are apt to do. The story stops at a natural end for part one. I am looking forward to everything being explained in part two, and there is enough mystery to pique my curiosity for part two.
|