Review - Phoebe and Her Unicorn in the Magic Storm

Phoebe and Her Unicorn in The Magic Storm (Heavenly Nostrils #6)
by Dana Simpson
Date: 2017
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Reading level: C
Book type: graphic novel
Pages: 160
Format: e-book
Source: library

Phoebe and Marigold decide to investigate a powerful storm that is wreaking havoc with the electricity in their town. The adults think it’s just winter weather, but Phoebe and Marigold soon discover that all is not what it seems to be, and that the storm may have a magical cause. To solve the case, they team up with Max, who is desperate for the electricity to return so he can play video games, and frenemy Dakota, who is aided by her goblin minions. Together, they must get to the bottom of the mystery and save the town from the magic storm.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I hate to say it, but... that was pretty awful.

Gone are most of the clever quips. Instead, we have a childish storyline about a power outage and a group of preteens running around with magical creatures. I might've enjoyed this book when I was under ten, but after reading the first five books in the series--which were comic collections with astute observations and challenging language, unlike this dumbed-down graphic novel--I was expecting something way more advanced. The first five comics collections can be enjoyed by all ages. This book is going to turn off a lot of the older fans of the series.

I wasn't that impressed with Today I'll Be a Unicorn, a picture book based on these characters. It seemed like it was simply taking advantage of the popularity of the characters. Phoebe and Her Unicorn in The Magic Storm seems like an all-out cash grab.

It looks like some of the subsequent books go back to the comic format. I hope that's the case and that I can simply wipe this boring, juvenile graphic novel from my memory.

Plot: 2/5
Characters: 2/5
Pace: 2/5
Writing & Editing: 3/5
Illustration: 3/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall Rating: 2 out of 5 ladybugs