The happy shop

Darcy and her mom have recently moved to a new country far from everyone and everything they have ever known. Both Darcy and her mom are having a tough time adjusting to the change, but her hopeful mom pushes Darcy to give things a chance. While out on an errand for groceries, Darcy stumbles across the Happy Shop, tucked away in a cozy alley. Her interest piqued, Darcy enters the shop and accidentally breaks a handful of bottles containing mysterious glowing auras. A grumpy shopkeeper reprimands Darcy, but another, kinder shopkeeper takes pity on her, introducing them as sisters Flora and Frida. Their shop sells magical jars containing happy moments, and Flora offers Darcy an opportunity to make up for the damaged products by working at the shop after school. But the business is struggling, and as Darcy tries to help, she accidentally stumbles on a brilliant way to save the shop. With expressive cartoon artwork in a subdued color palette, Olsen's thoughtful middle-grade comic lucidly explores the complexity of human emotion: after all, sometimes happiness is not the only feeling we want to experience. Darcy's heartwarming, gradual journey to appreciating her new community is sure to touch readers with its superb storytelling.

Gr 4--7--Adjusting to a new town, Darcy struggles to embrace her nice life while missing her friends who are now in a different time zone. Stumbling upon the Happy Shop, she breaks a jar, tarnishing a first impression with one of the owners. To repay her debt, Darcy begins working at the Happy Shop, learning more about the happiness they are selling to customers. When Darcy tries to go rogue and bottle up sadness in an attempt to help her mom feel grateful, she realizes that the Happy Shop could benefit from broadening its stock to include feelings other than happiness. Through plot development, this graphic novel demonstrates the value of diversity and inclusiveness. The vibrant, comic-style illustrations will appeal to fans of graphic novels. Readers of all ages will find ways to relate to Darcy, as this coming-of-age graphic novel addresses the stress of financial burdens, the weight of loneliness, the fear of trying something new, and various other universal experiences. Through her characterization of the shop owners, Olsen emphasizes the value of honoring tradition, but more importantly, adjusting longstanding ways of life to address today's world and challenges. VERDICT Great for fans of Disney's Inside Out, this graphic novel belongs on classroom and library shelves for all readers.--Angie Jameson