Atana and the Firebird

An uneven but appealing introduction to a fantasy world.

In Zhou's alluring graphic novel debut, the first in a duology, Atana, a tan-skinned mermaid, lives alone on an island. Having been banished from her merfolk community because of her part in a mysterious prophecy, she hopes to be brave enough to explore the world alone. While salvaging ship remains from a small outcropping, Atana--who can shift between her mermaid form and a two-legged human appearance--encounters Ren, a brown-skinned firebird, who crashes into the ocean just beyond Atana's camp. Eager Ren soon persuades Atana to leave her encampment and travel to the places that she's seen in her salvaged maps and books. After escaping human hunters, the two are found by a member of the Witch Queen's guard, who brings them to meet the Witch Queen, a powerful clairvoyant who hopes to study Ren's abilities. When a visit to a local festival turns perilous, Atana uncovers a greater treachery that threatens the entire magical order. Dynamic action sequences are rendered via deceptively simple linework and a vibrant color palette, and an engaging magic system paired with an endearing and plucky cast make for a quick-paced adventure. Ages 8-12. Agent: Thao Le, Sandra Dijkstra Literary. (Nov.)

Gr 5 Up--When Ren, a Firebird, falls to the Earth, she meets Atana, a mermaid living in solitude away from her flock. Together they set out to explore the world but are pursued by magic hunters. They are rescued by the Queen's guardsmen and spirited away to her castle for refuge. There, Ren agrees to aid the Queen in experiments that will help balance the Earth's magic force. But Ren is unaware of how far the Queen will go to pursue her goal. There are many twists and turns as well as characters that emerge who are pivotal to the plot. At times, the magical worldbuilding seems vague, hard to grasp, and not integrated well. But it eventually comes together. This graphic novel adventure is clearly a set-up for future titles, though the story does come to a satisfying conclusion. The artwork, with quiet lines and subtle soft pastel colors, almost underrates the adventure and intrigue that builds in the story. VERDICT Readers looking for a magical story will be satisfied.--Esther Keller