Zatanna and the House of Secrets

by Matthew Cody (Author) Yoshi Yoshitani (Illustrator)

Zatanna and the House of Secrets
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

Welcome to the magical, mystical, topsy-turvy world of the House of Secrets, where Zatanna embarks on a journey of self-discovery and adventure ... all with her pet rabbit,

Pocus, at her side Zatanna and her stage magician father live in a special house, the House of Secrets, which is full of magic, puzzles, mysterious doors, and storybook creatures--it's the house everyone in the neighborhood talks about but avoids. At school one day, Zatanna stands up to a bully and everything changes--including her friends. Suddenly, Zatanna isn't so sure about her place in the world, and when she returns home to tell her father, he's gone missing, lost within their own home.

With thrilling twists from writer Matthew Cody and dazzling artwork by Yoshi Yoshitani, Zatanna and the House of Secrets will delight readers at the turn of every page--and the opening of every door!

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Publishers Weekly

Halloween is going poorly for Zatanna, a middle schooler who lives in an odd-looking house with her small-time stage magician father, Zatara, and his rabbit, Pocus. Changing friendships and social pressures create awkward challenges, and then, after school, an intruder unleashes a deluge of revelations. Her house, it turns out, is really an ancient repository of secrets and power; Pocus is her father's talking familiar; and Zatara is the latest in a lineage of the house's caretakers. Capable of potent magic, she and her father are under siege by a formidable witch, and in order to save them, Zatanna must harness her powers and solve the house's mysteries. Cody (the Supers of Nobles Green trilogy) blazes through twists and turns at a headlong pace, occasionally rushing past opportunities for character development. The artwork from Yoshitani, however, is magical. Memorable characters and gently sinister creatures (kappa-esque goblins, a fantastical paper sphinx) inhabit a world that merges architectural forms from a range of places and times with repeating motifs (keyholes, stairs), all rendered in a consistent, distinctive style that displays aesthetic influences from video games and contemporary animation. More from the inclusive supporting cast would have been welcome, but the groundwork is well-laid here for future adventures. Ages 8-12. (Feb.)

Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.
Matthew Cody
Matthew Cody is the author of several popular books, including the award-winning Supers of Noble's Green trilogy: Powerless, Super, and Villainous. He is also the author of Will in Scarlet and The Dead Gentleman, as well as the graphic novels Zatanna and the House of Secrets from DC Comics and The Bright Family from Epic/Andrews McMeel. He lives in Manhattan, New York, with his wife and son.

Jadzia Axelrod is an award-winning author, illustrator, activist, gadabout, and circus performer. She is the author of comics and graphic novels for Tor, Quirk Books, and DC Comics. She lives in Philadelphia where she cooks overly elaborate meals for her wonderful wife and delightful child.

Dan Nordskog is a graphic designer and writer who has worked on the Cat Ninja and Animal Rescue Friends series for Epic/Andrews McMeel. He also co-created the popular graphic novel and series According to Aggie for American Girl Publishing. He discovered comics as a kid and has loved them ever since. He lives in Wisconsin with his wife and son.

Kurtis Scaletta has written books about sports, snakes, giant fungi, robots, bees, and video games (among other things). He lives in Minneapolis with his wife, son, and several cats.

Chris Schweizer is a cartoonist and toymaker who lives in the western coal fields of Kentucky. He's been nominated for three Eisner Awards. He was a kickboxer when he was young, but he never would have won a fight against Octopunch.

Chad Thomas is an illustrator and cartoonist living with his family in McKinney, Texas. He's worked on books such as TMNT, Star Wars Adventures, and Mega Man and also illustrates activity and educational titles. He loves his family, comic books, and Star Wars and will let his children beat him in checkers, but never in Mario Kart.

Brett Bean is the author-illustrator of the graphic novel series Zoo Patrol Squad with Penguin Workshop, and the illustrator of Rocket & Groot (Marvel), Battle Bugs (Scholastic), and Beasts of Olympus (Workshop). Brett also works in film, TV, video games, and board games, and has worked with Disney Activision, Jim Henson's Creature Shop, and others. He lives in Portugal with a bunch of redheads.

Eduardo Medeiros is a comic book author and artist from Brazil. He has several books published in Brazil and the United States, including Mondo Urbano (Devir/OniPress), Sopa de Salsicha (Cia das Letras), Strange Tales (Marvel), Gotham Academy (DC Comics), Open Bar (Panini Books/OniPress), Joker 80th (DC comics) and Funny Creek (ComiXology). He has a lovely two-year-old son named Gabriel, four cats, and four dogs. He loves to eat sandwiches.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781401290702
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
DC Comics
Publication date
February 18, 2020
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV028000 - Juvenile Fiction | Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories
JUV008040 - Juvenile Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | Action & Adventure
JUV008120 - Juvenile Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | Mystery & Detective
Library of Congress categories
Magic
Families
Family life
Fathers and daughters
Mystery and detective stories
Graphic novels
Secrecy
Secrets
Bullies
Cartoons and comics
Comics (Graphic works)
Middle school students
Superhero comics
Detective and mystery comics
Zatanna
Little Maverick Reading List
Selection 2021

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