cbr13bingo Pandemic
Tidesong is the graphic novel adventures of Sophie, her cousin Sage, and Great-Aunt Lan, along with a lost dragon named Lir. The magical journeys they experience bring them into a world of true magic, friendship and the real meaning of family and responsibilities.
Sophie wants to go to the Royal Academy of magic. The best in the land. And not just because her mother and grandmother want her to. Of course, she first must learn to control the magic she has and pass her audition. To help her with that, her mother and grandmother send her to live with her Auntie on the island Sophie’s grandmother grew up on. Impatient and convinced of her powers, Sophie butts heads with an even more stubborn Auntie. Thus, convincing Sophie that Auntie thinks her useless. Sophie, trying to prove herself, causes a magical and dangerous mishap, allowing a runaway dragon called Lir, to save her, but as a consequence, linking their magics together. With no memory of who he is, Lir and Sophie learn what it means to be real friends as they explore Sophie’s magic together. And when the past comes to light, will Sophie understand herself, her family, and her magic better?
Wendy Xu delightfully tops this story of human and dragon off with fun anime inspired art/illustrations. The colors are rich, but not overwhelming. The details are minimal but when needed they are there on the page happy to show you the reader, all their goodness and hidden gems. The classic anime style does not weigh the story down as it can for me sometimes (due to this simpler style format my brain wants “more”, and it is not there and that hurts my brain’s need to “fill things out.” But this time there is enough to move the story along without distractions). However, if I have one complaint/issue it is that I heard the characters voices (you know the stereotypical anime voices) as I was reading. But that just made me want it to become an anime cartoon (just with the voice actors of The Dragon Prince/Avatar the Last Airbender casts please and thank you).
If you have read The Tea Dragon Society, this would be a great next book to read.
Ages 10 to a thousand and ten can enjoy this clever, funny, sweet story.
