AGENT CUPCAKE

Twelve-year-old Miguel Mangayayam's encyclopedic knowledge of mythical creatures is put to the test in this bouncy graphic novel by the team behind the Debian Perl: Digital Detective series. When Miguel's essay on unicorn culture garners the attention of the director of the Mystical Beasts Bureau, Miguel becomes MBB's first human detective, tasked with solving mysteries alongside Agent Cupcake, MBB's lone unicorn operative. After receiving reports that unicorns are mysteriously losing their magic, the duo embark on an investigation that leads them deep into the bowels of Hoard, a megacorporation claiming to sell "everything you need--and more!" As Miguel grows into his spycraft skills, he struggles with imposter syndrome and worries about disappointing both Agent Cupcake and his own mother, an MBB engineer. Frenetic energy zings throughout allegorical plotting, which accessibly tackles topics involving workplace mistreatment, corporate corruption, and greed. Confectionery-colored illustrations ensure that spirits are always high, and interactive elements--indicated by a spyglass icon on select pages--encourage readers to join in the protagonists' codebreaking and puzzle-solving. Human characters are portrayed with varying skin tones. Ages 8--12. (Nov.)

Unicorn magic has been stolen, and only spy skills will get it back. It's middle schooler Miguel Mangayayam's first day working at the Mystical Beasts Bureau--as its first human field agent, no less. He meets his very first unicorn when trench-coated, pointy-horned Agent Cupcake is assigned as his partner. And soon Miguel's working his first case: looking into Paleontologie, a high-end fashion brand that may be illegally smuggling phoenix feathers to use in its designs. While investigating, he accidentally uncovers a deeper plot--Paleontologie's parent company is pilfering unicorn power. It's a lot for the new kid to take in, especially since he's hyperfocused on fitting in with the magical team--and a lot for readers as well. A focus on spying and specialized surveillance equipment offers a lot of juicy info for those intrigued by espionage. The authors and illustrator set this graphic novel in a world where a panoply of creatures worthy of a medieval bestiary seamlessly coexist with humans. The conflict between corporations and small, unicorn-based businesses feels rather close to contemporary capitalist realities. Relying on solid story crafting and candy-colored yet noncloying visuals, the work pulls all these points together for an intense, riveting read. Miguel is tan-skinned; his surname suggests that he has Filipino heritage. A spellbinding lesson in spycraft with magical appeal. (spy techniques glossary, profiles of real-life spies)(Graphic fantasy. 9-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.