August Moon Review

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August Moon by Diana Thung is a great graphic novel for children of all ages who still believe in a little magic.

The story opens in the small town of Calico where we are introduced to the young boy Jaden and his friends. Business is as usual until a new shop owner moves into town. Though rumor has it the new owner will be opening an ice cream shop, it doesn’t take long for readers to find out there is evil afoot. The new owners are in town with a secret mission to wipe out the forest and kill the mystical rabbit-like creatures that live there.

Enter Fi and her father, a scientist called in to examine the corpse of an unknown creature. When Fi meets Jaden she is introduced to the magic that is in Calico and is soon a part of Jaden’s mission to help keep peace in Calico and drive the strangers away.

Though the main plotline is pretty cut and dry, there is a subplot surrounding Fi and her internal struggle to deal with the death of her mother. Though the story does take a while to get rolling this graphic novel is well worth the read with the feeling that the reader is left with at the end.

August Moon is scheduled to be released in October 2012. Here is some more information from Top Shelf:

The townspeople of Calico believe in the legend of the Soul Fire—orbs of light dancing through the night sky, believed to be the souls of dead ancestors watching over the town. But when young Fiona Gan comes to town with her dad, she learns the amazing truth: these "fireballs" are actually the light from lanterns carried by mysterious rabbit-like creatures as they leap across rooftops! Leaping with them is the peculiar street boy Jaden, who rarely speaks and claims to come from the moon. But the games may be coming to an end, because Fi and her dad are not the only newcomers to Calico... when a creepy corporation starts bulldozing the nearby forests, she finds herself uncovering a whole world of secrets, and drawn into Jaden's battle for the soul of a community.

Diana Thung's debut Top Shelf graphic novel is a true adventure, rooted in the diverse local traditions of Asian festival culture, with a modern sensibility and a hint of magic.

$14.95 (US)

ISBN 978-1-60309-069-8

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