PetWizards (#1)
Finch Eaglehawk may seem like an average oddball with a taste for the dramatic and glam-rock musical numbers, but he has a secret. Finch is a PetWizard, with the ability to control the animal kingdom—well, the “et cetera” category of the animal kingdom. While other folks got the cool pets, he was stuck with the naked mole rats, bearded dragons, and boa constrictors of the world. He loves them but yearns for more. With the help of his best friend, Aberdeen, a mysterious new kid named Erica, and an ancient PetWizard manual, Finch will uncover the secrets of his powers, thwart his middle school nemesis, and, most importantly, impress his crush, Ken Chu, the star of the upcoming school musical!
Kirk Scroggs has created a glitter-infused blast of a graphic novel, bursting with hilarious characters, adorable animals, and outrageous set pieces. In what other book will you find a dangerous street gull named Merve, an ancient manuscript written in hamster-glyphics, and a psychedelic rock ballad sung to a pigeon? (Rhetorical question.) PetWizards has all that and MORE!
Reviews
"The illustration’s Day-Glo aesthetics and exaggerated character designs combine to deliver an atypical superhero yarn. Bizarre yet relatable characters, off-putting yet cute critters, and familiar messages about identity, fitting in, and being oneself ferried via uplifting storytelling make for a goofy adventure."
"Filled with musical numbers, quirky characters, and humorous dialogue, this graphic novel has a vibrant feel that is complemented by the loud, bright color palette and creative paneling. Characters’ facial expressions are dynamic, and the body language is hilarious while still conveying real emotions of fear, drama, betrayal, and joy. Messages of friendship and being true to oneself are seamlessly layered into the story. An excellent addition where bizarre humor and loud graphics are popular."
"With absurd, offbeat humor and bold, psychedelically colored artwork that perfectly matches the off-the-wall high jinks, Scroggs' laugh-packed middle school story nicely balances the humor with a believable array of emotions to drive the story forward."
"Funny and Fabulous! The author also sneaks in a lot of deeper thoughts, cleverly disguised among the jokes. Bottom line—an enjoyable read."Dav Pilkey, New York Times bestselling author of the Dogman series
"Is there anything this book doesn't have? Laughter! Drama! Drama! Yes, TWO dramas. One for the goofiest theater production ever to grace a graphic novel, and one for middle school angst that's relatable even when it involves human fish-tails, murderous robot seagulls, fluffy pink tarantulas, and the strangest ensemble of animal/human heroes determined to save the day (or in this case, a very bad play)! I've never wanted anything more than to be a PetWizard, and the number of times I snort-laughed while reading this book makes me think I might have a future as a pig-controlling one. A perfect book for every weird animal lover, theater kid, and anyone who feels like a naked mole rat in a world of hamsters. P.S. Please release the PetWizards soundtrack NOW."Colleen AF Venable, author of the Katie the Catsitter series