Beetle and the Chimera Carnival
Aliza Layne
Kristen Acampora and Hans Heisler, flat colorists
Atheneum Books
$15.99 (SC)/ $25.99 (HC)
384 pages
Grades 3 – 7
“Come one, come all to the Chimera Carnival where we promise no one will tell you who to be!”
h. p. heisler
Aliza Layne returns to the ‘Allowstown world she created in her Beetle and the Hollowbones graphic novel which debuted in the summer of 2020. Open the book and you will find a world full of goblins and the undead and other fanciful people. Between its covers the book speaks of love and self respect and acceptance, all empowered by truth. At the heart of the story ready to transport both new and familiar readers are three best friends: the goblin girl Beetle, the undead Kat, and Penny the ghost who communicates in quite a curious manner. Not to be forgotten is Beetle’s wise Gran who is also the town’s beloved witch and protector.
High above in the sky a dragon masked Beetle spins a tale anticipating the arrival of dragons from near and far as the towns people eagerly begin celebrations for the three day long Chimera Carnival festival! Once Beetle and Penny are back on land they join Gran as they await the arrival of Kat from nearby Big Town. With pleasantries exchanged it’s time to start the revelry! It’s a girls night out for Gran and several of her friends while the younger trio wander the streets catching up. The Carnival is a special occasion that happens only once every decade because the energy of usually solitary dragons gathered in one place for too long can pose danger. For Beetle and Kat though…the evening has a much more personal meaning because the two girls are in the throes of young love!
to scale and perspective breathe life into Layne’s cartoon world.
While Beetle and the Chimera Carnival is a story about budding love it soon becomes one in which the girls are caught up in a series of mysteries and adventure beginning with the strange activity happening at the main site of the carnival itself! How will Beetle’s Gran and Kat’s parents Mr and Mrs Hollowbones react to the girls being in love? How and why is Beetle changing? Can she stop it? Should she even try? Will Kat be able — or even willing — to fulfil the obligations put upon her by her parents? What is the Goblin Underground and why does Gran need to visit? Does Beetle find the courage to act in Gran’s absence in the town’s time of need? Who can Beetle trust?
And just where oh where are the dragons?
Not to worry! Beetle and Kat are up to the challenges! By creating these trials for Beetle and Kat to experience either on their own or together Beetle and the Chimera Carnival underscores several important messages for young readers. Being brave sometimes means being afraid at the same time and that’s okay. Children should be proud and able to accept themselves for all the different qualities and traits that make them a unique individual worthy of love even when others they know and love may disappoint them. Trusting in oneself is essential and learning from mistakes is part of life. The most important message Layne conveys within her story is that love is love is love regardless of who we love.
of young readers with each new page and perhaps inspire youthful artmakers to experiment.
Beetle and the Chimera Carnival is the second in a planned trilogy of graphic novels. This book like its predecessor Beetle and the Hollowbones is intended for middle grade readers though older readers of any age may well enjoy Beetle and Kat’s story. Beetle and the Chimera Carnival is in bookstores starting April 29th. The graphic novel will make a lovely birthday or graduation gift for a young reader. But really, is a special occasion necessary for giving a book?
Please visit Aliza Layne’s site.
The quote which appears at the start of this review is a lyric from the song which accompanies the book’s trailer. The song was written and produced by the afore mentioned h. p. heisler and you can watch it on Youtube!
You can support your local indy bookstores by ordering a copy through Bookshop. Looking to shop in person? Bookshop will help you locate an indy bookstore near you! Just in case here are the book’s ISBN numbers: 9781665907477 (SC) / 9781665907484 (HC)
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Order a copy from Amazon if all else fails or if you prefer.