Awards

• Short-listed for Grand Canyon Reader Award (Teen) 2012

Overview

A quirky, fast-paced urban fantasy by esteemed author Jane Yolen Aliera Carstairs just doesn't fit in. She's always front and center at the fencing studio, but at school she's invisible. And she's fine with that . . . until Avery Castle walks into her first period biology class. Avery may seem perfect now, but will he end up becoming her Prince Charming or just a toad?

Full Product Details

9781596432796

Table of Contents

Reviews

<p>Review in 3/15 Booklist<p>Aliera may have listened too well to her fencing coach's advice: You must always protect your heart. Besting competitors twice her age in tournaments and keeping to a strict routine of fencing practice, homework, and role-playing games, Aliera is a loner and likes it that way - until she becomes lab partners with the cutest boy in school. She initially resists his charms but is won over when he asks for a date. Turns out her new ruby-handled foil is the key to his interest in her, and to the yet-unseen magical dimension she must keep in balance. Yolen's first foray into the graphic format is a success precisely because she incorporates the best weapon in her arsenal - fantasy. In Aliera she has created a strong, conflicted, and relatable girl hero who wields her wariness for protection. Cavallaro's artwork suits Aliera's monochrome existence, but bursts to life when she finally sees (in color!) the faerie beasties cheering her on. The explanation and source of Aliera's status as a protector of worlds will have to wait for further volumes to be revealed. - Courtney Jones <p>Review in 3/15 Kirkus Reviews<p>Veteran fantasist Yolen introduces the utterly charming and sassy Aliera, a quirky tenth-grade loner who's both color-blind and an expert fencer, in this charming graphic novel. Aliera slinks her way through high school, focusing on fencing practice, reading and engaging in role-playing games with her cousin. When hunky Avery Castle arrives at her school, all the girls are immediately smitten, and Aliera also falls for Avery's good looks and charm, though she tries to downplay her feelings for him. An odd turn of events throws Aliera's routine off balance, and everything in her life she knew to be real--from a practice foil her mother bought her at a tag sale to the lothario Avery to the entire world as she knew it--is suddenly not what it appears to be. This fantastic change brings color into her life, and the drab grays that wash ove

Yolen's first foray into the graphic format is a success precisely because she incorporates the best weapon in her arsenal - fantasy. In Aliera she has created a strong, conflicted, and relatable girl hero who wields her wariness for protection. Cavallaro's artwork suits Aliera's monochrome existence, but bursts to life when she finally sees (in color!) the faerie beasties cheering her on. --Courtney Jones, <i>Booklist</i></p> Veteran fantasist Yolen introduces the utterly charming and sassy Aliera, a quirky tenth-grade loner who's both color-blind and an expert fencer, in this charming graphic novel ... An enchanting tale, with hints of a possible continuance. For fantasy lovers, this is an absolute must-read. (Graphic fantasy. 12 & up) --<i>Kirkus Reviews</i></p> Illustrations complement the text well, with larger pictures reflecting the character's situation and feelings ... The ending will leave readers anxiously awaiting the second installment in the series. --Karen Alexander, Lake Fenton High School, Linden, MI, <i>School Library Journal</i></p> Cavallaro's art is rounded and cartoony, handling action and the fantasy elements well while skimping a bit on characterization-his Avery is just a sorta cute cartoon boy, not a devastating heartbreaker, but Aliera is a strong and likable protagonist. Yolen weaves her knowledge of fencing vividly throughout the plot, powerfully creating romance, mystery, adventure, fantasy, and drama, all rolled into a strong narrative. --<i>Publishers Weekly</i></p>

<p>Review in 3/15 Booklist<p>Aliera may have listened too well to her fencing coach's advice: You must always protect your heart. Besting competitors twice her age in tournaments and keeping to a strict routine of fencing practice, homework, and role-playing games, Aliera is a loner and likes it that way - until she becomes lab partners with the cutest boy in school. She initially resists his charms but is won over when he asks for a date. Turns out her new ruby-handled foil is the key to his interest in her, and to the yet-unseen magical dimension she must keep in balance. Yolen's first foray into the graphic format is a success precisely because she incorporates the best weapon in her arsenal - fantasy. In Aliera she has created a strong, conflicted, and relatable girl hero who wields her wariness for protection. Cavallaro's artwork suits Aliera's monochrome existence, but bursts to life when she finally sees (in color!) the faerie beasties cheering her on. The explanation and sour

<p>Review in 3/15 Booklist<p>Aliera may have listened too well to her fencing coach&#8217;s advice: &#8220;You must always protect your heart.&#8221;&#160; Besting competitors twice her age in tournaments and keeping to a strict routine of fencing practice, homework, and role-playing games, Aliera is a loner and likes it that way &#8211; until she becomes lab partners with the cutest boy in school.&#160; She initially resists his charms but is won over when he asks for a date.&#160; Turns out her new ruby-handled foil is the key to his interest in her, and to the yet-unseen magical dimension she must keep in balance.&#160; Yolen&#8217;s first foray into the graphic format is a success precisely because she incorporates the best weapon in her arsenal &#8211; fantasy.&#160; In Aliera she has created a strong, conflicted, and relatable girl hero who wields her wariness for protection.&#160; Cavallaro&#8217;s artwork suits Aliera&#8217;s monochrome existence, but bursts to life when she fi

Author Information

Jane Yolen is one of the most distinguished and successful authors for young readers and adults in the country. She is the author of more than 200 books--including Briar Rose, Sister Light, Sister Dark, Owl Moon, and the immensely popular The Devil's Arithmetic. Her books have won awards including the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, the Jewish Book Award, and two Christopher Medals. She lives in Hatfield, Massachusetts. Mike Cavallaro is originally from New Jersey. He has worked in the New York comics and animation industries since the early '90s. Mike is a member of the web-comics collective, ACT-I-VATE, where he contributes weekly web comics, including the true-life historic memoir, Parade (With Fireworks), a 2008 Eisner Award nominee. He lives in Brooklyn.

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