The Happy Shop by Brittany Long Olsen was a book I had on my TBR for awhile now. I didn’t know what to expect, except it was a graphic novel and would have some type of magic in it. And in the short run, that is what it is all about: A girl finds a magical shop, magical things happen, she makes magical friends. Yet, there is a bit more.
It is about how and why the girl is in need of a magical shop. It is about how the magic is collected, bottled and eventually sold. It is about family and friendship. It is about mistakes, changes and learning new things. It is about life really. Just not done in an overly complicated manner. It has a simple story, little to no “extras” (or unnecessary story arcs) included and that goes for the illustrations as well. Things are bold, round, bubbly, maybe a bit earthy toned and not as “bright” as it might have been, but that allows for the things that need to stand out, to stand out. It is simple, even simplistic, but not in a negative way. It is meant for the reader who is around 8 to 10 (or up to a young 12). A younger reader could do it, but some concepts might be slightly older, but not inappropriate for most ages.
I didn’t love or dislike it, but found myself saying “this is cozy.” It might wow your child reader, but I think most adults will enjoy it and won’t do a second read. With that said, I am curious about the author and looking to find a few other titles by them.
