Review - Mystery of the Map

Mystery of the Map (Poptropica #1)
by Jack Chabert
illustrated by Kory Merritt
Date: 2016
Publisher: Amulet Books
Reading level: MG
Book type: graphic novel
Pages: 112
Format: e-book
Source: library

Based on a concept by Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney comes Poptropica, a brand-new graphic novel adventure series by Jack Chabert and Kory Merritt. In Mystery of the Map, Oliver, Mya, and Jorge take a ride in a hot-air balloon, only to crash-land on an unknown island filled with extinct animals and a horde of angry Vikings. Welcome to Poptropica, an uncharted group of islands whose existence is hidden from the rest of the world. As the three friends embark on a perilous search for a way home, they quickly discover the shocking reason they were brought there—something that threatens the very existence of Poptropica and their ability to ever make it off the island!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I've tried a few middle-grade graphic novel series now, and this is probably one of the weaker ones. It relies too heavily on attempts at humour (I say attempts because I don't find booger-eating Vikings or stupid quips about Pizza Hut particularly funny), and there's very little plot. I'm also not a fan of the drawing style; the noseless characters remind me of Fraggles more than anything (only they're not as fun).

As with many graphic novels, the installment ends just as the plot is getting going. But I really have no desire to read on in this case. The idea of historically inaccurate Vikings in a magical land of extinct creatures described by a sentient map is all just too silly for my taste. And I couldn't connect to any of the characters.

There's a decent premise here underneath all the fluff, but it's too silly, juvenile, and underdeveloped to be enjoyable for most readers over the age of about ten.

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall Rating: 2.38 out of 5 ladybugs