Paranorthern: And the Chaos Bunny A-hop-calypse

by Stephanie Cooke, Mari Costa (Illustrator)

Overview

A witch named Abby and her three friends—a wolf-girl, a ghost, and a pumpkinhead—band together to try and save their supernatural town from an invasion of rabid (but adorable!) chaos bunnies in this enchanting middle-grade graphic novel for fans of Making Friends, The Okay Witch, and Lumberjanes.

It’s fall break in the supernatural town of North Haven, and young witch Abby’s plans include pitching in at her mom’s magical coffee shop, practicing her potion making, and playing board games with her best friends—a pumpkinhead, a wolf-girl, and a ghost. But when Abby finds her younger sister being picked on by some speed demons, she lets out a burst of magic so strong, it opens a portal to a realm of chaos bunnies. And while these bunnies may look cute, they’re about to bring the a-hop-ocalypse  (and get Abby in a cauldronful of trouble) unless she figures out a way to reverse the powerful magic she unwittingly released. What’s a witch to do?

In this deliciously humorous, cozy, and bewitching graphic novel, sometimes the most of powerful magic comes from our connections to family and friends (but kicking bunny butt is great, too).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780358169000
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	07/13/2021
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	1,037,075
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Stephanie Cooke is an award-winning writer and editor based out of Toronto, Canada. She’s an avid reader, gamer, movie watcher, and lover of puns. Oh My Gods! and ParaNorthern are out now. Her next middle-grade series, Racc Pack will be out in Fall 2023. Pillow Talk is her debut YA graphic novel.

Mari Costa is a luso-brazilian cartoonist and 2D animator. Her works include comics such as Peritale, Life of Melody and The Well by the House on the Hill. She specializes in lighthearted fantasy stories with LGBT themes. 
Website: maricosta.strikingly.com/
Twitter & Instagram: @marinscos
 

Editorial Reviews

03/01/2021

Gr 4–8—Witch-in-training Abby Morgan has been helping her single mom run their magical North Haven coffee shop during Abby's school break, but lately, Abby's magic has been on the fritz. During an emotional moment after Abby discovers that her little sister Ella is being bullied, Abby's magic opens a portal that unleashes chaos bunnies from another dimension onto North Haven. Too scared to ask for help, Abby sets out to learn the advanced magic needed to close the portal herself before the bunnies destroy North Haven. Vibrant blocks of coloring alternate between a warm orange that suggests a crackling fire just off the page and a soothing amethyst with a fantastical feel. Spare backgrounds and greatly simplified or missing facial features suggest that details are not a priority for Costa, but the style evokes strong emotions and reactions during charged scenes. Cooke brings fun and cheesy humor, with somewhat obscure pop culture references, like the 1993 movie Cool Runnings, but it reads authentically. Abby and her family are Black, Hannah is brown-skinned and wears a hijab, there is queer representation via the burgeoning romantic relationship between Abby and Gita, a wolf girl, and multiple types of bodies are depicted. VERDICT An amusing and magical tale that embraces its campiness to full effect. For readers who enjoyed Kat Leyh's Snapdragon, Steven T. Seagle's Camp Midnight, or Whitney Gardner's Fake Blood.—Alea Perez, Elmhurst P.L., IL

School Library Journal

"Cooke’s pleasingly multifaceted characters...navigate internal struggles and engage in amusing rapport as they work to achieve their shared goal. In rich autumnal hues, illustrator Costa’s visuals reinforce a Halloweeny vibe in this supernatural story with an inclusive cast. Deeper messages include themes of belonging, close friend and family bonds, and learning to trust oneself."—Publishers Weekly "The cartoon-style artwork and cozy fall colors set the tone for a fun and heartfelt adventure....An enjoyable story about magic, friendship, and being true to yourself."—Kirkus —

From the Publisher