Cottons: The Secret of the Wind

In this series opener, rabbits and foxes fiercely compete to control cha, a magical crystal extracted from carrots. Just before she is killed by a fox, rabbit Soozie utters mysterious last words to her bunny friend Bridgebelle. Bridgebelle and Soozie's brother, Glee, must puzzle out the message's meaning about how to weaponize cha, even as they cope with their grief and trauma. Meanwhile, other rabbits are distracted by the demands of cha production, the tension throughout the Vale of Industry between the artists and miners, and the encroaching foxes looking to unleash the Black Sun to gain control of the cha. Arnhold's depictions of the characters as anthropomorphic rabbits are emotive and believable, though the characters are not always distinct; some readers may need to consult the appendix to clarify which rabbit is which. The detailed environments and action scenes will hold readers' attention, though. With a well-paced plot that slowly unpacks numerous story lines and appendices covering history, religion, magic, and characters, this is a good choice for fans of Redwall and Mouse Guard. Ages 10-14. (July)

Gr 4-6--Bridgebelle and her fellow rabbits toil all day in the carrot factory to produce enough fuel for their world. Bridgebell dreams of joining the artists, who can create beautiful things from the fuel, or "cha." However, a clan of foxes are determined to take the cha. This is the first installment in what is sure to be a compelling series. Rich earth tones depict the rabbits' adventures, switching to metallic colors for the factory and dark grays for the home of the foxes. The panels are filled with intense action sequences that will have readers eagerly turning pages. The setting is detailed, and the rabbits have an intricate history and religion. The foxes are appropriately frightening, and the use of jewel tones to portray the cha in some panels adds to the magical fantasy atmosphere. VERDICT Give to fans of Kieran Larwood's The Gift of Dark Hollow and Brian Jacques's "Redwall" books.--Jenni Frencham, formerly at Columbus Public Library, WI

"Cottons is like Wind in the Willows and Animal Farm together in one gorgeous graphic novel!"
—Jeff Smith, creator of Bone, RASL, and Tuki Save the Humans

"A mesmerizing tale of wild rabbits with dark secrets, this remarkably beautiful graphic novel is perfect for readers who love Warriors and Redwall. I couldn't put it down!"
— Tui T. Sutherland, author of the Wings of Fire series