Meesh the Bad Demon (Meesh the Bad Demon #1)

by Michelle Lam (Author)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

A tale of unlikely heroes and myths is made real in this debut graphic novel series about a "bad" demon trying to find her place in the underworld. But she'll have to save it first!

Meesh is a bad demon. "Bad" in that she always sees the good in those around her--which isn't how a demon is meant to feel or act. Bullied by the other demons, twelve-year-old Meesh is more likely to be found reading magazines from Plumeria City--the fairy realm--and fangirling about the fairy princesses. But when disaster strikes and all of demon-kind is threatened, Meesh must journey to other worlds in search of help. As luck would have it, she meets a fairy princess right away. Things in the fairy realm aren't so perfect either, though. As Meesh makes surprising new friends and unites a band of outcasts, she learns there's much more to being a demon than she ever realized. And learning to love herself might just uncover the secret to saving her home.

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Kirkus

Watching children overcome ingrained prejudices is as magical as any winged or fire-breathing creature.

ALA/Booklist

The story has something for everyone fairy princesses, unicorns, demons, werewolves, and high adventure with a cast of brave kids.

School Library Journal

Starred Review

Gr 3-6--Twelve-year-old Meesh is a demon who would much rather spend time with her grandmother and care for flowers than learn to breathe fire or sharpen her horns. Bullied by her classmates for not being "demonlike" enough, Meesh spends most of her time watching fairy programs, but her world is upended when mysterious toxic lava turns everyone in the underworld to stone. Alone and frightened, she heads for Plumeria, the magical fairy realm, and finds herself in an uneasy partnership with Nouna, the star of Meesh's favorite show, and an unlikely group of allies to save the underworld. The first in a series, this graphic novel is a heroine's journey with strong middle-grade appeal. The manga-inspired illustration style features adorable and expressive characters and plays with the magical girl genre; Meesh and Nouna use ancient talismans to channel their powers and represent the popular light versus dark tropes familiar to manga and anime fans and fantasy readers. Characters have fantasy mainstays like wings and horns and present with different skin colors. The fantasy story addresses compelling real-life issues including bullying and subverting stereotypes. VERDICT An excellent first purchase for middle grade collections.--Rosemary Kiladitis

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

Magic, adventure and danger, —Shelf Awareness

Michelle Lam
MICHELLE LAM is a Los Angeles-based story artist who has worked with animation studios such as Netflix Animation, Glen Keane Productions, Tonko House, and more. In Meesh the Bad Demon, her first graphic novel, she pulls her Chinese American childhoos experiences into fantasy so kids can see themselves in the adventure--and realize that you're truly powerful when you love yourself, despite your inner demons.
Classification
-
ISBN-13
9780593372876
Lexile Measure
480
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication date
March 21, 2023
Series
Meesh the Bad Demon
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV008080 - Juvenile Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | Fantasy
Library of Congress categories
Friendship
Bullying
Graphic novels
Princesses
Fairies
Demonology
Comics (Graphic works)
Fantasy comics
Bullies and bullying

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