Unicorn Boy (Unicorn Boy #1)

Roman (the Astronaut Academy series) concocts a fanciful journey of self-discovery in this charming and introspective graphic novel. Brian Reyes--the eponymous Unicorn Boy who is depicted with brown skin--is an ordinary kid who finds his world turned upside down when, one day, a mysterious bump on his head morphs into a sparkling, singing unicorn horn. Brian's newfound spike initially shakes his confidence, but when his pale-skinned, nonbinary best friend Avery is kidnapped by shadow creatures, Brian intuits that his powers are a gift meant to save them. An eclectic cast of misfits, including a life coach by way of a talking breakfast muffin, a sassy black cat looking to spare one of its nine lives, and an underworld gondolier who accepts payment via app, enliven the goofy premise while providing useful life lessons to Brian as he slowly accepts his unique mission. Roman's cartoony illustrations are zesty, and irreverent dialogue juxtaposes a serious moral core with silly puns and wordplay. Underlying themes of self-love, friendship, and acceptance, and the responsible use of great power, make this superhero-adjacent series opener ideal for readers seeking an upbeat blend of magic and character growth. Ages 8-12. (Mar.)

Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 3-8--Brian Reyes is "totally normal" for the first few years of his life...but then he grows a unicorn horn, meets a talking muffin that is actually a cursed wizard, and his best friend Avery is taken by the Skull-King. Comics-loving, nonbinary Avery has always been a staunch friend, so naturally Brian has to travel to the underworld with a black cat to rescue them. Fortunately, Mandrake Maggie and Lorraine, the Gran Reaper, are on Brian's side. Brian's unicorn horn provides a soundtrack to the adventure (it sings), and along the way, he learns to believe in magic and in himself and use his powers to help others. His actions as narrated omniciently into a volume called "The Legend of Unicorn Boy" (a la Seven-Day Magic by Edward Eager), and with a lot of blank pages at the end, there's room for a sequel. Most pages have five panels, with vibrant colors, except for the Skull-King's backstory, which is sepia-toned. Brian has brown skin and dark brown hair; Avery has pale skin, blond hair, and earrings. VERDICT With the humor of Meggie Ramm's Batcat and the layered hero's journey of Ben Hatke's Things in the Basement, this is a true hero of a tale.--Jenny Arch

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"Underlying themes of self-love, friendship, and acceptance, and the responsible use of great power, make this superhero-adjacent series opener ideal for readers seeking an upbeat blend of magic and character growth." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"With the humor of Meggie Ramm's Batcat and the layered hero's journey of Ben Hatke's Things in the Basement, this is a true hero of a tale." -School Library Journal, starred review

"The story zigzags between characters and mini-challenges, providing thrills even as Brian's quest and Avery's fate seem dire. Gentle throughlines emphasize the value of devoted friendship and the joy of understanding oneself through storytelling." -Kirkus

"Roman's art style is fluid and lovable...middle grade fans of The Kao's Magical Boy graphic novels and the upbeat, equine weirdness of Centaurworld should hoof it over to this title immediately. " —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books