by Jane Yolen (Author) Mike Cavallaro (Illustrator)
A quirky, fast-paced urban fantasy by esteemed author Jane Yolen
Aliera Carstairs just doesn't fit in. She's always front and center at the fencing studio, but at school she's invisible. And she's fine with that . . . until Avery Castle walks into her first period biology class. Avery may seem perfect now, but will he end up becoming her Prince Charming or just a toad?
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"Yolen's first foray into the graphic format is a success precisely because she incorporates the best weapon in her arsenal - fantasy. In Aliera she has created a strong, conflicted, and relatable girl hero who wields her wariness for protection. Cavallaro's artwork suits Aliera's monochrome existence, but bursts to life when she finally sees (in color!) the faerie beasties cheering her on." —Courtney Jones, Booklist
"Veteran fantasist Yolen introduces the utterly charming and sassy Aliera, a quirky tenth-grade loner who's both color-blind and an expert fencer, in this charming graphic novel ... An enchanting tale, with hints of a possible continuance. For fantasy lovers, this is an absolute must-read. (Graphic fantasy. 12 & up)" —Kirkus Reviews
"Illustrations complement the text well, with larger pictures reflecting the character's situation and feelings ... The ending will leave readers anxiously awaiting the second installment in the series." —Karen Alexander, Lake Fenton High School, Linden, MI, School Library Journal
"Cavallaro's art is rounded and cartoony, handling action and the fantasy elements well while skimping a bit on characterization-his Avery is just a sorta cute cartoon boy, not a devastating heartbreaker, but Aliera is a strong and likable protagonist. Yolen weaves her knowledge of fencing vividly throughout the plot, powerfully creating romance, mystery, adventure, fantasy, and drama, all rolled into a strong narrative." —Publishers Weekly
Jane Yolen is an author of children's books, fantasy, and science fiction, including Owl Moon, The Devil's Arithmetic, and How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? She is also a poet, a teacher of writing and literature, and a reviewer of children's literature. She has been called "the Hans Christian Andersen of America" (by Newsweek) and "the Aesop of the 20th century" (by the New York Times). Her books and stories have won the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, two Christopher Medals, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards, the Golden Kite Award, the Jewish Book Award, the World Fantasy Association's Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Association of Jewish Libraries Award, among many others.