Reviews

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL -- Gr 5 Up-Teenager Emaline Pixley, aka Pix, performs heroic feats with her ability to fly and superstrength. During a TV interview, Pix claims that she has powers because she's a fairy princess, and the mean kids at school start to ridicule her even more than they did before. Pix is an admirable yet relatable protagonist who tries to save the day, be a good friend, and fit in. Though she makes an effort to avoid relying on her powers in an attempt to be “normal,” she can't escape a destiny filled with talking animals, weird monsters, a pushy prince, and plenty of other adventures. Readers will be rooting for this sweet, funny heroine to find a way to reconcile the ordinary and extraordinary sides of her life. The cartoonlike artwork bursts with color and is bound to appeal even to the most reluctant readers. VERDICT A fast and funny superhero story with lots of heart.-Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library



VOYA -- Schigiel mixes superhero action with fairy tale tropes and lots of humor to create a fun story with a strong, appealing teenage female protagonist. Pix's friends aren't merely there for background, but have distinct personalities and play important roles in the story as well. Schigiel uses a colorful, cartoony style and draws his human characters to look like people, for example, Pix looks like a cute teenage girl with a realistic figure, and her superhero costume is a modest (and cute) dress. Libraries who want to provide good superhero role models for younger teen girls should check out this book.