Synopses & Reviews
An enchanting, riotous, and playfully illustrated debut graphic novel following a young goblin trying to save her best friend from the haunted mall — perfect for fans of Steven Universe and Adventure Time.
In the eerie town of 'Allows, some people get to be magical sorceresses, while other people have their spirits trapped in the mall for all ghastly eternity.
Then there's twelve-year-old goblin-witch Beetle, who's caught in between. She'd rather skip being homeschooled completely and spend time with her best friend, Blob Ghost. But the mall is getting boring, and B.G. is cursed to haunt it, tethered there by some unseen force. And now Beetle's old best friend, Kat, is back in town for a sorcery apprenticeship with her Aunt Hollowbone. Kat is everything Beetle wants to be: beautiful, cool, great at magic, and kind of famous online. Beetle's quickly being left in the dust.
But Kat's mentor has set her own vile scheme in motion. If Blob Ghost doesn't escape the mall soon, their afterlife might be coming to a very sticky end. Now, Beetle has less than a week to rescue her best ghost, encourage Kat to stand up for herself, and confront the magic she's been avoiding for far too long. And hopefully ride a broom without crashing.
Review
"Diversity is a strength in this female-driven
text...a tenderly portrayed LGBTQ love story....wise older women act as mentors, body diversity is casually
positive, and Blob Ghost uses they/them pronouns throughout....[an] inclusive fantasy adventure " Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
Review
"Layne grounds Beetle's
bighearted adventure in earthly settings...and fills 'Allows Town with a gleeful array of fantastic
creatures: no two are alike. A high-spirited debut about learning to
trust one's heart and instincts." Booklist (Starred Review)
Review
"A saturated palette that changes
and brightens amid...resonant interpersonal
elements — including Beetle's bond with her grandmother — work in
harmonious tandem to deliver a stalwart story of magic, witches, and the
mall." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
Synopsis
A Stonewall Honor Book An enchanting, riotous, and playfully illustrated debut graphic novel following a young goblin trying to save her best friend from the haunted mall--perfect for fans of Steven Universe and Adventure Time.
In the eerie town of 'Allows, some people get to be magical sorceresses, while other people have their spirits trapped in the mall for all ghastly eternity.
Then there's twelve-year-old goblin-witch Beetle, who's caught in between. She'd rather skip being homeschooled completely and spend time with her best friend, Blob Glost. But the mall is getting boring, and B.G. is cursed to haunt it, tethered there by some unseen force. And now Beetle's old best friend, Kat, is back in town for a sorcery apprenticeship with her Aunt Hollowbone. Kat is everything Beetle wants to be: beautiful, cool, great at magic, and kind of famous online. Beetle's quickly being left in the dust.
But Kat's mentor has set her own vile scheme in motion. If Blob Ghost doesn't escape the mall soon, their afterlife might be coming to a very sticky end. Now, Beetle has less than a week to rescue her best ghost, encourage Kat to stand up for herself, and confront the magic she's been avoiding for far too long. And hopefully ride a broom without crashing.
About the Author
Aliza Layne is a cartoonist,
illustrator, and storyteller. She is the creator of Demon Street, a
long-form fantasy webcomic for all ages. Her Halloween costumes have
elicited the phrases "theatrical," "don't you think you're going a
little overboard," and "oh, we remember you from last year."
Beetle and the Hollowbones is her first graphic novel. Visit Aliza at AlizaLayne.com.