NOVEMBER 2016 - AudioFile
Bringing a graphic novel to audio is a challenge, for obvious reasons. The full cast here gives it their all. Rebecca Soler projects just the right attitude—perky when she’s excited or glum when she’s bored—for Nimona, the shape-shifting girl with an enthusiastic appetite and aptitude for mayhem. Jonathan Davis and Marc Thompson are well matched as archenemies Blackheart and Goldenloin, and the music and sound effects help draw listeners into the mysteries at the center of the story—what secrets are the Institution, and Nimona, hiding? The result is engaging, even if it doesn’t completely capture the winning mix of humor, charm, and darkness in Noelle Stevenson’s art. Seek out the book AND the audio to best appreciate this dark fairy tale. J.M.D. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
[Stevenson’s] voice is clear and precise, [his] drawings confident, [his] use of color growing in depth and assurance as the story progresses.” — New York Times
“Over the course of the collected Nimona, it’s possible to watch artist [ND] Stevenson blossom from a student to a superstar.” — NPR.org
“Nimona, with all her flaws, breaks away completely from what women are allowed to be in popular fiction.” — Vanity Fair
“Funny and vibrant, with wonderful energy in Stevenson’s illustrations and a wicked wit in [his] storytelling.” — Slate
"Filled with memorable character that will delight teen readers." — CNN
“If you’re going to read one graphic novel this year, make it this one.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Sharp visuals, a nifty amalgam of fantasy and science fiction elements, and relationships drawn with complexity, wit, and depth create a world worth returning to again and again.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“At its core, Nimona is a story of rescue. Each of the main characters rescue allies, friendships, the Kingdom, and ultimately, themselves… A vibrant solo work.” — School Library Journal (starred review)
“Nimona…is beautifully flawed and refreshingly unstereotypical in a book that is both darkly witty and surprisingly touching. And Nimona is a protagonist to both love and fear.” — The Horn Book
“Graphic novel fans will finish the book in a gallop and then want to start right back at the first page.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)
“[ND] Stevenson has a knack for capturing the humor and heart in a situation in just a few panels.” — Adelaide Advertiser
“Awesome and adorable.” — Ryan North, author of Dinosaur Comics
"From its first panel, Nimona draws you into a narrative combining shark jokes, a shadowy institution and a startling amount of heart. So whether you’re young or old, a comics newbie or a seasoned veteran, make the decision to explore the fantastical world Stevenson has created. You won’t regret it." — Paste Magazine