Bird boy

Many years ago, the hero Mali Mani rescued the light of the world from the terrifying Rook Men. But then he was swallowed by the forest and lost to the tribes of men. Now Bali, a foundling raised by the Nuru tribe, is determined to show his worth, despite his small stature and clumsy nature. What he finds in the forbidden forest might be the key to saving the people and defeating the Rook Men. Szabla's plot is mostly world building and prologue to what is clearly a longer tale, but her illustrations keep readers engaged to the end. Her world is part generic Native American, part strange fantasy, with the characters' faces obscured by masks and the creatures around them a mixture of bizarre flora and fauna. With a rich color palette and panels full of small details that pop up on second and third glances, Bird Boy gives readers much to enjoy.--Wildsmith, Snow Copyright 2016 Booklist

Originally published as a webcomic, this graphic novel tells a familiar story: Bali, a young boy, discovers a coveted magical artifact, and adventure ensues. In her print debut, Szabla's meticulously designed pages help this transcend a mundane narrative. She's a deft storyteller, as adept at putting together ripping action sequences as she is at quieter moments. The star element is the imaginative character designs: the opening showcases hunters tracking a herd of sheep-like creatures with sticks for legs and faces like masks. Later, the hunters battle a bear whose head resembles a Viking's helmet and whose innards are rocks and twigs. Despite the book's visual qualities, it's discomfiting how Szabla fetishizes imagery associated with the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest in her imagined Nuru tribe. She surrounds Bali, who is blond and not a Nuru, with the trappings of indigenous cultures-not out of respect, but because it provides an attractive fantasy backdrop. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.