Sanity & Tallulah (Sanity & Tallulah #1)

by Molly Brooks (Author) Molly Brooks (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

Sanity Jones and Tallulah Vega are best friends on Wilnick, the dilapidated space station they call home at the end of the galaxy. So naturally, when gifted scientist Sanity uses her lab skills and energy allowance to create a definitely-illegal-but-impossibly-cute three-headed kitten, she has to show Tallulah. But Princess, Sparkle, Destroyer of Worlds is a bit of a handful, and it isn't long before the kitten escapes to wreak havoc on the space station. The girls will have to turn Wilnick upside down to find her, but not before causing the whole place to evacuate! Can they save their home before it's too late?

Readers will be over the moon for this rollicking space adventure by debut author Molly Brooks.

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Starred Review
Interlaced with spot-on dialogue that is full of humor, this page-turner delivers. 

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6--Tweens Sanity Jones and Tallulah Vega are best friends who live on the space station Wilnik and spend their time causing mischief. When Sanity, a gifted scientist, creates a three-headed kitten named Princess Sparkle, Destroyer of Worlds without permission and Tallulah helps cover it up, their parents are none too happy. Even worse, the kitten escapes and their space station begins to break down, possibly as a result of their furry friend wreaking havoc on the ship's already run-down interior. Sanity and Tallulah are relatable and well rounded, with an equally strong supporting cast filled with diverse characters. The plot moves quickly, and the high jinks will grab readers' attention. The muted palette of blues and reds works well for the outer space setting, and the artwork is clean, engaging, and easy to follow. Happily, the ending promises more shenanigans with the duo. VERDICT Fans of fast-paced sci-fi graphic novels such as Zita the Spacegirl, as well as readers interested in humor, will be drawn to the plucky pair.--Ellen Conlin, Naperville Public Library, IL

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

Two brilliant girls, a whole lot of a science, and a failing space station feature in a series opener with a good balance of wit and action. Sanity and Tallulah's inquisitiveness may be the literal ruin of their families and their entire space station: Sanity uses unstable, obsolete technology to engineer and feed a white three-headed cat, Princess Sparkle, Destroyer of Worlds (a name dedicated to each of her heads), and Tallulah has aided and abetted. The feline escapes soon after, just as people report strange occurrences--a murdered animal, power outages, and chewed wires--throughout the station. Racing to find their cat while avoiding parents and crew members, they stumble upon a much bigger problem that could jeopardize everyone on the ship. But who will believe that it's not their missing pet? Within a trichromatic color scheme in shades of purple and pink with white, line work renders characters and situations close up against the massive station, offering the adventure an intimate feel. Debut author Brooks's inclusive vision of strong and diverse women engaged in science, variously abled bodies navigating the challenges of space, and positive family relationships is both enjoyable and commendable. Ages 8-12. Agent: Heather Alexander, Pippin Properties. (Oct.)

Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.
Molly Brooks
Molly Brooks wrote and illustrated the Sanity & Tallulah series, and is the illustrator of Flying Machines: How the Wright Brothers Soared by Alison Wilgus, as well as many short comics. Her work has appeared in the Guardian, the Boston Globe, the Nashville Scene, BUST Magazine, ESPN social, Sports Illustrated online, and others. Molly lives and works in Brooklyn, where she spends her spare time watching vintage buddy-cop shows and documenting her cats.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781368008440
Lexile Measure
530
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date
October 16, 2018
Series
Sanity & Tallulah
BISAC categories
JUV036000 - Juvenile Fiction | Science & Technology
JUV002050 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Cats
JUV053000 - Juvenile Fiction | Science Fiction
JUV002190 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Pets
JUV008140 - Juvenile Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | Science Fiction
Library of Congress categories
Cats
Lost and found possessions
Lost articles
Animals
Infancy
Graphic novels
Science fiction comics
Space stations

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