Monday, March 19, 2018

Unicorn Power! (Lumber Janes Chapter Books #1) by Mariko Tamaki -OPTIONAL

Tamaki, Mariko Unicorn Power! (Lumber Janes Chapter Books #1), 239 pages.  Amulet (Abrams), 2017.  $15.  Language: G (o swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G.

Started as a graphic novel series, the Lumber Janes can now be read in chapter book format. The name of the camp is Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady Types. The girls of Roanoke cabin are the quirky friends; April, Jo, Molly, Mal, and Ripley. In order to earn badges, the girls have many adventures –starting with meeting a lost unicorn –and discovering that they are quite as pristine as they thought. The girls meet a record holding former Lumber Jane name Lady Dana, try to climb a mountain that disappears when it rains, and enjoy some further adventures with their new unicorn friends. Features quite a few illustrations.

This graphic novel series is quite popular at my library, and we already had this book before I reviewed it.  I had purchased it hoping to bring some readers over from graphic novels to chapter books –but it really didn’t work. Even the big fans just weren’t interested. Also I didn’t enjoy reading this book. It was just so nonsensical –with goofy things happening one after another, it didn’t feel grounded in any kind of reality or set of rules that made the fantastical elements believable. It was just pretty goofy and long.

EL– OPTIONAL.  Stephanie, Elementary School Librarian & Author

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