The Inscrutable Doctor Baer and the Case of the Two-Faced Statue

by Jerzy Drozd (Author) Jerzy Drozd (Illustrator)

The Inscrutable Doctor Baer and the Case of the Two-Faced Statue
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

"A creative odyssey." -- KIRKUS

The Inscrutable Dr. Baer, at your service!

 

While he's much too busy to embark on any adventures himself, Dr. Baer is here to help with yours. Are you burdened with an unwanted magical object? Gorgon's head? Monkey's paw? Flaming sword?! Sell it to Dr. Baer; he'll tame its spirit, carefully catalog its origin, and keep it safe and orderly within the walls of the spookiest house you're ever likely to find.

 

 

But when novice explorers Taft the Tortoise and Pickles the Pig accidentally enable the theft of Baer's most powerful artifact by the nefarious sorcerer Gallus Lugubrious, the good doctor is forced out of his house to reclaim it. The only problem is, for everything he knows about magic, he knows nothing about adventuring, and he'll have to figure this one out as he goes, far from the comforting safety of home.

 

 

In over his head, along with his equally inexperienced new allies, Dr. Baer sets out on a dangerous quest through a world of monsters and magic to set things right . . . and to find his next chapter.

 

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School Library Journal

Starred Review

Gr 3-6--Dr. Baer revels in keeping relics with mystic or monstrous capabilities in the confines of his home. When two bumbling adventurers accidentally release all his artifacts into the wild, it's up to Dr. Baer to save the day, and more importantly, to finally help the creatures that he was unintentionally imprisoning. With this graphic novel, Drozd pulls off a magic trick not seen since Jeff Smith's "Bone" series, as both are filled with rich lore yet remain accessible to young readers. The book is terrifying at times but kid-friendly overall, modern and topical yet timeless, deeply moving and impactful while also lighthearted. The artwork feels just as iconic and enduring. Vivid detail makes the grotesque monsters come to the life, while a watered-down color palette makes the creatures vulnerable, matching the tone of the piece. VERDICT Magical and fresh, this is easily one of the best graphic novels of the year. --Peter Blenski

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Kirkus

A creative odyssey.

Review quotes

"Well-organized and well-told. . . . A home run." — SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (Science Comics: Rockets)

"A plethora of data with crisp visuals that approximate the flow of a top-notch documentary." — PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Starred Review (The Warren Commission Report)


"A creative odyssey. . . . Draws on a tradition of older fantasy adventure comics in a way that's too rarely seen today." — KIRKUS

Jerzy Drozd

Jerzy Drozd is a cartoonist and teaching artist. He wrote and illustrated Science Comics: Rockets with his wife, Anne Drozd, and he is one of the artists of The Warren Commission Report graphic novel adaptation. Jerzy leads cartooning workshops for children and teens in libraries and schools, as well as for teachers who want to bring comics to the classroom. He's also a member of the Ohio Arts Council's Teaching Artist roster and hosts multiple podcasts about comics and how to make them, such as How to Be a Teaching Artist and Lean into Art. Jerzy has drawn special projects for Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, Marvel Comics, VIZ Media, and many others.

Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781638991434
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Iron Circus Comics
Publication date
September 03, 2024
Series
Inscrutable Doctor Baer
BISAC categories
CGN004030 - Comics & Graphic Novels | Fantasy
CGN018000 - Comics & Graphic Novels | Action & Adventure
Library of Congress categories
-

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