Cardboardia 1

August 15, 2021
Anyone who has ever made a fortress from cardboard boxes will enjoy this graphic novel about the power of creativity. Four kids find strange, magical tokens in their cereal boxes and are then transported through a cardboard-box vortex to a strange land called Cardboardia, where everything is made entirely of cardboard. In this parallel universe the friends find themselves awash in creativity, art, and beauty. However, not all is golden in Cardboardia, as an evil force--the Grey Queen--threatens it. It becomes abundantly clear that the friends have not simply happened upon Cardboardia by mistake but instead have been chosen for their individual special powers. Can the friends realize their powers and team up with the residents of Cardboardia to return its light and defeat the Grey Queen before it is too late? The protagonists are racially diverse, with a range of ages and interests, including the arts and science, as well as varied family structures and experiences. The story is told in shifting point-of-view vignettes, with a generous trim, bright illustrations, and splash pages that break up stretches of dense dialogue to engage readers. This is the first in a series, and after a detailed setup, the book concludes somewhat abruptly with a cliffhanger ending. A whimsical homage to creativity so often lost and overlooked in our digital age. (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)

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December 17, 2021

Gr 3-6-After discovering mysterious tokens, four young people find themselves pulled into a parallel world made of cardboard. The only way for Pokey, Mac, Masie, and Bird to enter this world is through a cardboard box, such as a paper recycling bin. Once there, they discover a creative mecca. But this world is threatened by the Grey Queen, and soon it is revealed that these youth were selected because of the magical gifts that they can harness together to save the kingdom of Cardboardia. The youth and their corresponding families are diverse racially and economically, with different family dynamics. The art is sketchy, featuring big-eyed characters. Fairgray uses different types of panels, with a colorful palette that changes between the worlds. Told in shifting perspectives, the story has an overly complicated beginning and ends in a cliff-hanger; still, readers who love tales of magical worlds will enjoy it. VERDICT This start to a new series will resonate with readers seeking fanciful stories that incorporate friendship, creativity, and problem-solving. -Nancy McKay, Byron P.L., IL

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