Aster and the Accidental Magic by Thom Pico (review)
Buy Issue for $25 at JHUP- Aster and the Accidental Magic by Thom Pico
Library ed. ISBN 978-0-593-11885-6 $23.99
Trade ed. ISBN 978-0-593-12417-8 $20.99
Paper ed. ISBN 978-0-593-11884-9 $12.99
E-book ed. ISBN 978-0-593-11886-3 $9.99
Reviewed from galleys R* Gr. 3-6
City kid Aster is about to perish from boredom now that her parents have moved the family to the mountains. With her ornithologist mother busy working and her brother abandoning her for college, she buries herself in video games and pouting. When her father takes the typical parental stance of forcing her outside to play, Aster quickly discovers that life in the country is filled with magic—literally, when she’s granted three wishes. Since she’s a novice, calamity unsurprisingly ensues: her wishes go terribly wrong, she accidentally steals the powers of the summer goddess, and how was she supposed to know her actions might unravel the fabric of the universe? Packed with mischievous sprites, magical grannies, and a talking pup, this French import is a brilliant introduction to the world of graphic novels. Aster is a ten-year-old everyman, frustrated by school, missing her friends, and desperate for wi-fi. Karensac’s art is expressive and adorable, in vibrant colors that mute some of the potentially polarizing scariness. Full of sardonic asides and general whimsy, this will make readers eager to snag the promised sequel and begin rural adventures of their own. [End Page 317]
