Beetle & the Chimera Carnival

 BEETLE & THE CHIMERA CARNIVAL is a sequel to Beetle & the Hollowbones. A middle grade graphic novel, this book primarily follows the titular Beetle as the Chimera Carnival comes to town. Everything seems normal. She’s got her gran’ma, her ghost friend Penny, and her maybe-more-than-friend Kat. But things seem to start going wrong as the carnival and transformation powers grow stronger. Dragons are missing, Beetle discovers new hairy problems, and Kat’s parents are back in town. This graphic novel follows the journey of these kids as they try to figure out the sinister mystery lingering under the surface.

What I Loved:
The art in this graphic novel is stunning! The paint colors are chosen to display the different vibes. Bright, vibrant colors when Beetle and Kat are originally experiencing the carnival. Darker colors when nighttime events are occurring. Each image manages to convey the exact feeling that the author was going for.

The world in these graphic novels is also given space to grow in this graphic novel, both in the foreground and the background. Readers are given explanations to how certain types of creatures exist and what their lives look like. But in the background we’re also shown so much more than that. We get to see other creatures and the world they live in.

This book, on its face, seems like just a regular fantasy mystery. A problem that the protagonists have to solve. But under that major conflict, each character is left fighting to figure out their personal issues. Beetle and Kat are teenagers, or maybe preteens, who are still trying to find their footing in this world. And their problems are those that teens, especially queer teens, have experienced before. Parental judgement, unwanted and unexpected changes, worrying about crushes. The author gives time to allow readers to connect with the characters and feel these conflicts brewing under the surface.

What Left Me Wanting More:
The conflicts in this book were well-established. We understood where the tension between Kat and her parents came from, we got to see Beetle’s panic as her changes began to occur. There could have been more time spent resolving these problems, however. Beetle’s issue was given mainstage, as it should be, but Kat’s problem didn’t get the same level of resolution.

Final Verdict:
BEETLE & THE CHIMERA CARNIVAL is a fantasy graphic novel that takes readers on a journey to find the sinister secrets lingering under the carnival. Stunning illustrations grace each page of this book and readers will have a delight looking at the details hidden in the background of each illustration.

Secrets and teenage woes combine in BEETLE & THE CHIMERA CARNIVAL, making for a wonderful graphic novel.