Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In this thought-provoking graphic novel debut by Mitchell (The Haunted Serpent), a tween with the power to alter people's personalities struggles to navigate her tumultuous reality. After her marine biologist mother's fish tank business goes under, 12-year-old Millie and her family--including her laid-back physics professor father and her jokester younger sister, Gilly--must move into a cramped apartment. When Millie encounters elderly Mrs. Morrigan, she realizes that her neighbor's mysterious jigsaw puzzles grant Millie the ability to bend reality to her will, and Millie wishes both that stand-up-comedian-hopeful Gilly were more sensible and that her mom's business was successful. While she relishes in the changes, however, reality around her begins to fracture, forcing Millie to confront the cosmic reverberations of playing with fate. Dynamic panel layouts and thinly lined, detailed illustrations evoke a lightly eerie Tim Burton feel that emanates absurdity and warmth in equal measure. Millie's relatable desire to control the events and people around her as she attempts to make sense of her rapidly changing life culminates in an enchanting, emotionally resonant modern fairy tale. Characters are depicted with varying skin tones. Ages 8--12. (May)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4--7--Middle school angst, mythology, and magic make for a captivating read. Practical Millicent feels misunderstood in her quirky family and desperately wants a normal life. She thinks her wishes have been answered when she realizes the jigsaw puzzles belonging to one of her elderly landladies--who may or may not be the Three Fates--seem to have a mysterious influence on people's lives. She decides to rearrange a few pieces in her sister's puzzle, then her classmate's, and her parents' puzzles. Soon, cracks start forming in the fabric of reality, and it's up to Millicent to fix what she's done. With brisk pacing, appealing illustrations, and engaging dialogue, readers will quickly become engrossed in the action. As Millicent struggles to remedy the effects of her meddling, themes of compassion, familial love, and friendship emerge. The story sends a message about the pitfalls of perfectionism but avoids a didactic tone through its balance of humor, tension, and adventure. VERDICT A satisfying tale of magic gone wrong, this title has appeal for fans of fantasy and realistic fiction alike. A welcome addition to large graphic novel collections.--Allison Tran
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
If life were a bookshelf, Millicent Graves would have it organized to perfection. Instead, the harried middle schooler, whose mother has brown skin and father appears white, deals with a chaotic family life. Her marine biologist mother has a struggling fish tank business called Fish Shui, and her physics professor father believes that "chaos is how we adapt and grow." Millie's younger sister, Gilly, dreams of being a stand-up comic (if only she could remember the punchlines). Scrambling to pick up after Gilly and anxious about their dwindling finances, Millie wishes her life were different. When an elderly neighbor's mysterious jigsaw puzzles offer Millie a chance to change her destiny, she begins to rearrange the pieces she doesn't like, replacing the parts representing her family and friends with ones that better suit her vision of an organized life. But each intended improvement brings problems of other kinds and stirs up dark forces that threaten the neighborhood. When a friend falls victim to the malevolent powers, Millie has to muster the courage to face them, undo the consequences of her actions, and accept the imperfections that make her loved ones unique. The briskly paced plot features nuanced, well-developed characters and a clever reimagining of the three Fates of Greek mythology. The muted palette adds to the spooky atmosphere, while the humor in the text and illustrations deftly keeps things from getting too dark. A humorous parable about embracing life's imperfections that's sure to strike a chord with readers.(Graphic paranormal. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
