Fae and the Moon

Readers aren’t likely to be moonstruck by this one.

Gr 3 Up--A young girl named Fae misses her mother and frequently dreams that she is still alive somewhere. Fae is alone in the house, with only a few small creatures to keep her company. She knows that her mother had a strong connection to the moon and thinks that maybe if she climbs into the sky and takes the moon, it will make her mother reappear. But climbing a series of ladders, taking the moon, and hiding it in a chest at home makes everything worse. Suddenly, all kinds of dangerous creatures, from a dragon to a horde of rats, emerge from the darkness to try to get the moon for themselves. It will be up to Fae to survive against the forces of evil, keep the moon safe, and maybe even find her mother. But first, she will have to figure out who her friends and enemies really are, because she will need help keeping the moon safe. This story is illustrated in soft blues, pinks, and purples, and even when the plot takes dangerous turns, the world still looks enchanting. VERDICT For young readers who enjoy fantastic stories that feel like fables, fairy tales, and bedtime stories all rolled into one.--Andrea Lipinski

This cozy graphic novel fairy tale by Aureliani (Peach and the Isle of Monsters) and twin animators and comics illustrators the Satruns examines grief through the lens of a winsome protagonist embarking on creature-filled adventures. Still reeling from the death of her mother, red-haired, pale-skinned Fae finds comfort in her companions, a talking white rabbit named Percival and gray mice named Frik and Frak, who help her maintain her mother's garden. But the vivid dreams she has of her mother convince Fae that the woman is still alive, stalling her grieving process. Desperate to reunite with her mom, Fae builds a ladder out of tree branches and plucks the moon from the sky, hoping that doing "something so big she just has to notice" will prompt her mother's return. But Fae's theft lures villainous creatures to her door. Suddenly being pursued by the Rat King, Fae struggles to keep the moon captive while uncovering secrets from her mother's past and encountering betrayal at every turn. The Satruns enliven Aureliani's familiar character arcs and stakes with brightly colored illustrations rendered in soft lines reminiscent of wide-eyed, Disney-esque protagonists. Easy-to-follow panels and concise dialogue conjure an epic quest that provides audiences with a handy stepping stone into larger fantasy worlds. Ages 8-12. Agent: Marie Lamba, Jennifer De Chiara Literary. (Feb.)

Gr 3 Up--A young girl named Fae misses her mother and frequently dreams that she is still alive somewhere. Fae is alone in the house, with only a few small creatures to keep her company. She knows that her mother had a strong connection to the moon and thinks that maybe if she climbs into the sky and takes the moon, it will make her mother reappear. But climbing a series of ladders, taking the moon, and hiding it in a chest at home makes everything worse. Suddenly, all kinds of dangerous creatures, from a dragon to a horde of rats, emerge from the darkness to try to get the moon for themselves. It will be up to Fae to survive against the forces of evil, keep the moon safe, and maybe even find her mother. But first, she will have to figure out who her friends and enemies really are, because she will need help keeping the moon safe. This story is illustrated in soft blues, pinks, and purples, and even when the plot takes dangerous turns, the world still looks enchanting. VERDICT For young readers who enjoy fantastic stories that feel like fables, fairy tales, and bedtime stories all rolled into one.--Andrea Lipinski