Amelia Cole and the Unknown World. Vol. 1

Gr 6–9—Amelia Cole goes back and forth between magical and non-magical worlds. She uses her powers to help whoever she can. However, when a rift between the two lands causes them to leak into each other, she is forced to close them off for good and flee to a third world she never knew existed. She soon discovers that this third world is where she was born. In her new home, magical and non-magical people live side by side, but a growing tension threatens to disrupt that harmony. Amelia tries to keep a low-profile, but her ability to get into trouble may be even stronger than her magical talents, and it's not long before she finds herself under the scrutiny of the manipulative Magistrate and his henchman, The Protector. Although quickly becoming a hero to the city, her attitude and style do not sit well with her new boss, and there is an even greater evil stirring out beyond the city. The first two volumes of "Amelia" Cole tell an entertaining story and set up an interesting premise for future installments. The dialogue is crisp and witty and serves to endear the characters, especially Amelia, to kids. While the main protagonists are fully fleshed out, sometimes the supporting characters suffer from interchangability—but the foundation and potential is there for later development. The artwork is good and has laugh-out-loud moments, including some "Easter eggs" hidden in the crowd scenes. At times, the action scenes are not entirely clear without supporting script, and might confuse readers. Overall, an intriguing story with characters to root for and against.—Erik Knapp, Davis Library, Plano, TX