I received a digital review copy of this graphic novel from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Cat's Cradle:
The Golden Twine
by Jo Rioux
Published by First Second
on June 21, 2022
(first published 2012)
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Graphic Novel
Length: 128 pages
Ages: 8 - 12 years
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Synopsis:
Jo Rioux (illustrator of M.T. Anderson's highly acclaimed The Daughter of Y's) makes her debut as a writer-illustrator in this fantasy-adventure graphic novel.
Suri loves monsters--studying their lore, telling stories about them (for a fee), and--she hopes--one day taming them. Unfortunately, no one takes an orphan street-urchin who travels with a merchant camp very seriously. But Suri's self-confidence, cleverness, and ambition serve her well when a mysterious new wagon joins her camp--holding something very big, very loud, and very monstrous.
And that's before Suri runs afoul of a treacherous family with its own beastly secret--and a prince hunting the greatest monster of all.
My Thoughts:
Suri has wanted to be a monster tamer ever since she was a little girl. Orphaned and surviving off of scraps she musters up within the merchant camp she travels with, Suri is determined to make her own way and grow up to become a monster tamer. She gets her chance when a mysterious wagon containing a huge dark monster within joins the camp but breaks out and Suri meets a few shapeshifting monsters that are after the Golden Twine.
This is a fun fantasy with a brave and independent main character that is determined to hunt and tame monsters. It has a cutesy vibe that makes it perfect for young readers that want monsters and adventure but aren't quite up to reading horror.
My only issue with this book is that it's the first in a trilogy that was never completed but somehow ended up republished a decade later with a new cover but still no middle or ending... and it does not do well as a stand-alone. There's no resolution and the story just abruptly stops. I'm hoping that the sequels will be forthcoming with the new publication date but was unable to find any updates on the trilogy.
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